1and1 sucks and they will rip you off. Take notice!
This post has nothing to do with the topic of my blog but I feel obligated to share this nasty experience I had with 1and1 regarding domain registration and renewals of some other domain names I own.
In March of 2007 I registered three new domain names with 1and1 at their amazing price of $5.99 for the first year and $6.99 for renewals. I have been using these three domain names successfully since they were registered, right up until today June 13, 2008.
This week I needed to make an update to my DNS and change the name servers of my domains. So I log in to my 1and1 account and attempt to make the changes but I was unable to because my account was in a locked status. As I was a little concerned that my account was locked I immediately got on the phone with the customer service department only to find out that my account is locked because I owe them money for the renewals of March 2008. I then proceed to ask how I still owe them money for the domains if the domains are still active and online displaying my website, which in my opinion is a definite valid point. They begin to tell me that the credit card I had on file with them had expired prior to the renewal date so 1and1 renewed my domain names for me and then with only 1 email notification that conveniently made its way to my spam folder, advised me that I had been sent to a collection agency to pay the renewal fee plus an administrative charge of $18.95 .
I then go digging in my email and sure enough 2 days after the expiration of my domains I had an email stating I had 7 days to log in to my 1and1 account to update my billing profile or I’ll be sent to a collection agency. That is the most ridiculous outrageous policy I have ever heard of.
ANY normal domain registrar would do one of two things when a domain name expires and is not paid for.
- Upon expiration, turn the domain name off making it inactive
- Park the domain to another page
Doing any of the above two options would obviously make me or any other person aware that the domain names I own have a problem. I would then contact my registrar and they would tell me my credit card is expired, and I would update my profile and be done with it… problem solved.
However, 1and1 chooses not to do this therefore I have absolutely NO WAY to know that my domains did not renew properly since they are STILL ONLINE RIGHT NOW.
I needed and still need access to my DNS right now this very instant so I paid a total of $41 to the 1and1 collection agency. That was a charge of $18.95 administration fee for being sent to collections as well as the cost of my domain renewals. I paid that on Monday June 9, 2008 and immediately contacted 1and1 and advised them it was paid. They told me that my account would be unlocked within 2-3 business days once they have confirmed receipt of my payment.
I waited two business days (Wednesday) and contacted 1and1 and was advised I would have to wait one more business day. I call on Thursday and am told I have to wait one more business day. I call on Friday (today) and they confirm that they have received my payment but my account has not been unlocked. They advise me I now have to wait until after the weekend because only the billing department has access to unlock my account.
I am sick and tired of this bullshit. This should have never been sent to a collection agency and there HAS to be something wrong or illegal with how they handle the accounts.
What if I knew that the credit card on my account was expired and just didn’t want my domains…. would 1and1 continue to renew them indefinitely until I receive a notice 10 years later that I owe them for 10 years of domain registration? Unfuckingbelievable.
After first calmly discussing and later on yelling at the useless supervisor Xenia at 1and1 Im given the usual, “we will escalate this with the highest priority” which means dick. So I’m now waiting until Monday to regain access to my account.
I would love to hear from anyone else who has experienced a similar issue with 1and1 and their ridiculous billing policies. I will also be contacting the BBB and filing a complaint against 1and1 for disgusting practices.
I also strongly urge anyone who still currently uses 1and1 for any services to begin looking for a new hosting and domain provider before you get screwed too. This is a sneaky tactic. 1and1 banks on the fact that most people will miss the email and have to pay additional fees.
UPDATE: I am now unable to connect to 1and1’s servers. Any attempts for me to access *.1and1.com results in a connection refused however I can still access it via a proxy and my neighbour and friends can still access it. Did they not like the email I sent to their complaints department? Instead of responding to my email have they locked me out of their servers?
I stay away from 1and1 because I’ve heard enough bait and switch stories and enough problems with their tech support to make me apprehensive about their services. I manage my web services elsewhere (don’t want to be too commercial but happy to post here if that helps).
Thanks for the comments. More than anything I just want the word to get out that 1and1 is as scam and hopefully enough people get the message and move their domains and hosting away.
I am still waiting for access to my account and I can almost bet my life it still won’t get unlocked tomorrow as they say.
this is a warning for lots of people who has similar experience. thanks for sharing. At least we can take precaution in the future.
Sherin
Almost the same situation happened to me.
Today i found out that i have 6 days to pay for my 1and1 bill, or the debt collection agent will come pickup the money and also charge $18.95 fee.
I have 1and1 hooked up with my paypal which has enough money to pay off the bill, but for some reason it hasn’t been sending since the day i started hosting with them(about 3-4 weeks ago).
So i called paypal and they told me that i need a credit card hooked up to my paypal because 1and1 is a ’subscription’. (Basically if i don’t have enough money in my paypal by the next subcription bill they will just grab it from my credit card.)
After calling paypal i call 1and1 to ask if there is any way to have the money sent before the debt collection agent comes, and they tell me that the ONLY thing i can do is to get a credit card and sign it up with paypal. I told the lady on the phone I am only 15 and can’t apply for a credit, and the lady on the phone told me that i should either get a prepaid credit card(which will cost me $34.95 to get plus many fees for both withdrawing and depositing money) Or to get a friend or family member to sign up their credit card to paypal.
I guess i’m going to have to go buy a prepaid credit card within 6 days before a collection agent comes.
I have the same problem with them atm. I was in the army and expected the domain i registered to expire automatically if i didn’t renew it. But now 6 years later, i’m out and collections wants me to pay the damn fee and 6 years for the domain to let me actually cancel the domain
If i don’t pay the fee 1and1 will continue to renew it, even though i said i want to cancel it. 1and1 is the worst company ever. Please stay away.
Just go to another major domain registrar and register there for the same price as 1and1 using coupons you can easily find on google.
Wow Jack… that is brutal. In my case it was only $40 so I paid it to be done with them but with you you could probably contact your credit card company and file a complaint…. i wish you luck though because 1and1 are cut-throat
Am I the only person in the world that likes 1&1?
I think it was not good that you only got 1 email about the need to update your credit card. But I have over 300 domains with 1&1 and I am glad that they will not delete my domains just because they have not been paid.
I have had good experiences with 1&1 as well as bad. I have found their 24 help desk to be very useful and helpful, for example.
I have heard a lot of bad things with other hosts/registrars also - like GoDaddy, for example. Each works differently but I don’t think 1 & 1 are the worst in the world, its just that they have their own way of doing things which can catch you out if you are not careful?
@Ray
I certainly understand your point and you are right, all hosts and registrars have negative feedback as well as good. THe problem with 1and1 is that their billing practices are bordering extortion.
How would you feel if you contacted 1and1 and requested to not renew all 300 of your domains and although they confirmed your cancellation request, they still go ahead and try to renew all 300 domains on your expired credit card, or credit card with no funds.. and although you did ask to cancel your domains and they confirmed, you still get sent to a collection agency for 300 domain renewals + collection agency fees for domains you never wanted.
now you are stuck dealing with a vicious collection agency………..