My Host from Hell!!

I'm really at the point where I should start looking for another host..

My host purchased my VB 3.5.3 for me & then I find out he put it in his name & Now I've been bugging him for about 5 months about how I expect him to transfer it back into my name & so then he becomes harder & harder to get a hold of..
He's changed his number & I dont have his new one.
He hardly ever replys to my e-mails
Even tho he did say he would transfer it to my name for me Still he has not done so..:mad:
& twice within a weeks times my site has gone down with no explained reason from him not even a reply as to whats going on & why is the site down...( not to mention that my regular members have gotten use to the site being down from time to time )
Once for about 4 days!!! :mad:

He has never been willing to give me a copy of my site that he registered into his name..

He has also locked me out of some of the ADMIN CP..
Like for example the maintenance button...
Until the help from you guys I did'nt even know it was there at all. :confused:

Is there anything I can do besides just dumping my current site all together . Its Over a year old with over 200 members & countless threads & Oh Some many Pics etc...
I've Givin so much of myself to build this site to what it is ......
I'd hate to start over...

Can I steal my site back & give it to a new host?

What would you do?

& How do I figure out who would be the best host to have take over?

I wanted to give you a link for you guys to check it out & tell me with what my site seems like, If I should go with this host or that host, But its been off line for about 30 hours now as of this posting.
With no explination?:(

OMG that is SO ridiculous!!! Have you paid him for the vB license yet? I wouldn't expect him to transfer it to you unless you have.

Anyway, I would make my own copy of the site, find another host, purchase the leased vB license and pm your members with the new address.

I would also find out who you could report this ass to, if there is anyone to report him to. There has to be someone or some company that regulates webhosts maybe?

that person is a real jerk

OMG that is SO ridiculous!!! Have you paid him for the vB license yet? I wouldn't expect him to transfer it to you unless you have.
Of Course I paid him! :rolleyes:
Thats how he got it .. & the only way I learned that it was not in my name was when I got the pop up in my Admin CP. that told me about 3.5.3 & when I tried to get the Up-Grade I could'nt because I did'nt have some info So I called VB & they looked up my sites name & said yes thats a legal site But in someone else'es name. I must of looked just like this :eek: at that moment!

So I called him & said hey whats up with this & said oh I did that for tax purposes & I said fine what ever now I want my site back !
Then he plays dumb saying I'm not sure how to do that ?

SO I called VB again & they said he has to call & request a transfer of ownership & I told him & gave him the number & web site & he said ok I'll get it done for you..( AFter I bugged him for a while ) Yet he still has NOT done it! http://bestsmileys.com/nono/5.gif
& then like I said earlier there's the regular off line episodes like right now I am still off line without a single word as to whats up??:mad:

I would make my own copy of the site, find another host, purchase the leased vB license and pm your members with the new address.

I REALLY DONT WANT TO CHANGE MY SITES ADDRESS! :o
Isnt there a way to cut him off from being able to host my site?
Once I had a copy?

But is there a way to make my own Copy of the site??? http://bestsmileys.com/thinking/5.gif
I once spoke to another Hosting company & they told me unless he gives me a copy of the site there's not much I can do ..
Because with out a server copy I'd have to start over.

that person is a real jerk
Yeah everyone that knows him on my site would agree with you..
He's also a member & likes to talk alot of crap..
He's the all mighty knowledgeable one ( In his mind :rolleyes: ) & nody else knows anything.
As long as he did'nt post to much & kept the site running Good I was happy with him , But the final straw is the site going down twice in one week with no replys to my e-mails either time & still not giving me my site! etc etc..
It time to move on...

yeah but damn I hate it that you'd be out the $ that you paid for the license... good grief. DID you happen to get a receipt from him for the $ you gave him to buy it?

DID you happen to get a receipt from him for the $ you gave him to buy it?

No...http://bestsmileys.com/sad/6.gif
But pay pal may have a record of it...
Well they might not keep records this long , Beside its just showing the amount it dont say what I paid for.

So is there a way to make my own Copy of the site without him??
I doubt it being he has never allowed me complete control at the AdminCP. :confused:

Oh & The Site is still off line!!! http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=198340&toggle=thumbnail 3 days later!

Don't you have ftp access to your site? If you do, you can copy it from there.
3 days???????????????? good gawd there's got to be SOMETHING you can do? is this guy the host owner? or does HE have a boss?

Is there more to this story then what's been posted so far? Why the heck would you have your hosting provider buy your vBulletin license or even have them with admin access to your vB installation?

You do not have a backup of your site?:eek:

The most important here to me is to get a backup of your forum. You can easily find another host. If they offered phpMyadmin or another control panel maybe you could still login to it and get a backup of the db.

Hope you get things sorted out. In you final email send them two words :mad: "You're Fired".

Should go with x10hosting, very reliable, infact I am with them now.

But you shouldn't let some one else buy the vBulletin software for you, you should have got it yourself. Now he's got the license for free, under his name.

OK I finally got him to reply & he seem ok with moving on..:rolleyes:
So who would you guys recomend as a host that will host my site ?
I tend to be a PIC Oriented site, So thats VERY important..
I also have an adult section so I dont want a host that is un-Porn Friendly..
Its only a small part of the site but none the less s still part of the site..

So right now I want to find the BEST host possible for my site that is welcome to hardcore & lots of pics in the automotive Wheeling..

Please check out my site before recomending a site host..:D
www.TheWebWheeler.com

& thank you so much for any efforts you put into helping me..cheers

OK I finally got him to reply & he seem ok with moving on..:rolleyes:
So who would you guys recomend as a host that will host my site ?
I tend to be a PIC Oriented site, So thats VERY important..
I also have an adult section so I dont want a host that is un-Porn Friendly..
Its only a small part of the site but none the less s still part of the site..

So right now I want to find the BEST host possible for my site that is welcome to hardcore & lots of pics in the automotive Wheeling..

Please check out my site before recomending a site host..:D
www.TheWebWheeler.com (http://www.TheWebWheeler.com)

& thank you so much for any efforts you put into helping me..cheers

hun did you get your vBulletin license?? or at least get him to pay you back?? or are you out the $160??

Check out my host. They are so great, seldom any downtime, plenty of space for pics and very little restrictions on adult content (obviously, since I'm hosting there).. all they ask is that you protect minors, which I agree with wholeheartedly.
Also, if you see a hosting package at another site that is better... they will MATCH it.

Hostww.net (http://hostww.net)

If you do decide to go with them, please use this referral link below to sign up, so that I get credit ;)
https://secure.hostww.net/modernbill/order/orderwiz.php?aid=exquisi (https://secure.hostww.net/modernbill/order/orderwiz.php?aid=exquisi)

Your host would not allow me to keep my adult section of the site..:rolleyes:

So that wont work out for me...( I am a member of your site & know its restrictions)
But thanks for trying to hook me up..cheers

& thank you for reminding me I have to get on his Butt to get it in my name!!:mad:
I'm gonna e-mail him now.

Your host would not allow me to keep my adult section of the site..:rolleyes:

So that wont work out for me...( I am a member of your site & know its restrictions)
But thanks for trying to hook me up..cheers

& thank you for reminding me I have to get on his Butt to get it in my name!!:mad:
I'm gonna e-mail him now.

yes my host would allow you to keep your adult section. We were going to change hosts, and in order to keep us, they have relaxed alot of their restrictions. They only ask now, that we protect minors. All this means is that in the section where we are going to permit nude pics, etc... that section will be invisible to the general public, but visible to members.

Keep in mind that most hosts do not permit adult content at all. The few that do, require that you take steps to protect minors from viewing the adult content. The only way to get around that, is to go with a company that hosts strictly adult/porn sites, which we almost did.

All this means is that in the section where we are going to permit nude pics, etc... that section will be invisible to the general public, but visible to members.
Funny that you say that...Because thats how I've had it from day one..
If your not a memeber you dont even know its there.
& 1st thing I do with every new member is I check their age & if they did not enter a birth date I block their access to the adult section .cheers Of course once they learn of this section they can always join again under another name & lie about their age..
Not much I can do about that...

Theres one guy that put his birth date making him 22 this year but I know he's only just turned 16 LOL I never allowed him access because I knew how old he was..
But he tried to be sneaky..:rolleyes:

Your Site will alot more fun to me now that I know this..http://bestsmileys.com/misbehaving/10.gif

Don't you have ftp access to your site?
FTP http://bestsmileys.com/thinking/6.gif

He's playing games with me claiming he does not know how to transfer it over to me & I've told him that he needs to contact VB himself because he has all the info they will want.:rolleyes: & he knows this but he's pretending he dont.

He's now become a over the road truck drive & in his last e-mail told me he will be out of town for 6 weeks! :mad: What an A**hole!
So now he has his job as his excuse to not be able to help me..

& to you guys that said I should not of let him buy it for me ETc etc....
Yeah yeah I know this .....Now!:rolleyes:
But I had no clue when I started this site what I was doing ( & still Dont. ) http://bestsmileys.com/clueless/4.gif

In the beginning it was helpfull having him do all the back ups & being an admin on my site to help me get it going.....
But now that I have you guys to walk me through stuff I'm ready to move on..

Funny that you say that...Because thats how I've had it from day one..
If your not a memeber you dont even know its there.
& 1st thing I do with every new member is I check their age & if they did not enter a birth date I block their access to the adult section .cheers Of course once they learn of this section they can always join again under another name & lie about their age..
Not much I can do about that...

Theres one guy that put his birth date making him 22 this year but I know he's only just turned 16 LOL I never allowed him access because I knew how old he was..
But he tried to be sneaky..:rolleyes:

Your Site will alot more fun to me now that I know this..http://bestsmileys.com/misbehaving/10.gif


FTP http://bestsmileys.com/thinking/6.gif

He's playing games with me claiming he does not know how to transfer it over to me & I've told him that he needs to contact VB himself because he has all the info they will want.:rolleyes: & he knows this but he's pretending he dont.

He's now become a over the road truck drive & in his last e-mail told me he will be out of town for 6 weeks! :mad: What an A**hole!
So now he has his job as his excuse to not be able to help me..

& to you guys that said I should not of let him buy it for me ETc etc....
Yeah yeah I know this .....Now!:rolleyes:
But I had no clue when I started this site what I was doing ( & still Dont. ) http://bestsmileys.com/clueless/4.gif

In the beginning it was helpfull having him do all the back ups & being an admin on my site to help me get it going.....
But now that I have you guys to walk me through stuff I'm ready to move on..

tell him that you want to be reimbursed for the cost of the license and then do just that... move in. He is NEVER going to have the license transferred to you, you can forget about that. Unless the domain name and hosting is in your name, for all intents and purposes, that is his site.

as far as the other... you should have no problem whatsoever getting an account with my host. They are one of the best IMHO... they always bend over backwards to help, and are provide both email and telephone tech support. ;)

The Domain name is in my name I did that my self before I ever spoke to him..:cool:

then assuming the hosting account is in your name as well? I would mass email the members, tell them what has happened. Then, if you have full admin or ftp access, I would delete the board. Period. If you don't have admin/ftp access, Get ahold of your host and ask them to remove the site from your account. Then purchase another license and start over.

I can almost guarantee that he'll never have that license transferred to you. And even tho I would demand payment for it, I doubt you'll ever get that either. Expensive lesson :(

then assuming the hosting account is in your name as well? I would mass email the members, tell them what has happened. Then, if you have full admin or ftp access, I would delete the board. Period. If you don't have admin/ftp access, Get ahold of your host and ask them to remove the site from your account. Then purchase another license and start over.

I can almost guarantee that he'll never have that license transferred to you. And even tho I would demand payment for it, I doubt you'll ever get that either. Expensive lesson :(
He is my Host!! :rolleyes:
He has everything in his hands...

He is my Host!! :rolleyes:
He has everything in his hands...

then I'd say you're pretty much screwed. Get another host, have your domain transferred.. you have THAT at least... and start all over

:eek: Start over & Delete this..

Threads: 2,954, Posts: 38,212, Members: 208

No No!! I dont wanna do that..http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=198340&toggle=thumbnail

:eek: Start over & Delete this..

Threads: 2,954, Posts: 38,212, Members: 208

No No!! I dont wanna do that..http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=198340&toggle=thumbnail


We can get your existing data. So assuming you have control over the domain name and setting the DNS servers, we could have you outta there in about an hour.

Then you only have the $160 to worry about. If you continue with this loser, you may lose it all. Let's get you outta there now! I'll help ya. I don't want to see ya accrue any more losses.

We can get your existing data. So assuming you have control over the domain name and setting the DNS servers, we could have you outta there in about an hour.

Then you only have the $160 to worry about. If you continue with this loser, you may lose it all. Let's get you outta there now! I'll help ya. I don't want to see ya accrue any more losses.
I do have The Domain Name! :D But what is this Setting the DNS servers? http://bestsmileys.com/thinking/6.gif

You see thats why I had him in Basic control of everything because I a Novice..http://bestsmileys.com/clueless/4.gif
I think I need to call The Sweethearts Host or who do you recomend? :confused:

Ummm..... Hey OhioSweety can you give me the phone number to this host? :confused:
I'd like to talk with them 1st...

But when I tried on the site I could not get their Number..:confused:

ubet... hold on and I'll get it

here you go darlin... you'll talk to either John OR Phil...
1-866-355-7723

it's at the very bottom of their site's main page... kind of small

Thanks Sweety I'm talking to him now & Only trust him because of you....:o
He wanted my pass word so he could see my site.....:( that makes me nervous...)
But I'll let you know what he says.

Thanks Sweety. cheers

you can trust him darlin, I promise. and I don't say that about too many people. ;)

STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!!:o
your teasing me......:D

Well he confirmed that I'm Fawked until I get BOZO to cooperate & give me the Site...:(

But John did seem like a cool guy he told me you called him ahead a time about my probable call..
Thanks...cheers

STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!!:o
your teasing me......:D

Well he confirmed that I'm Fawked until I get BOZO to cooperate & give me the Site...:(

But John did seem like a cool guy he told me you called him ahead a time about my probable call..
Thanks...cheers

yeah I did. I was hoping he could help you. dammit...

STOP LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT!!:o
your teasing me......:D

Well he confirmed that I'm Fawked until I get BOZO to cooperate & give me the Site...:(

But John did seem like a cool guy he told me you called him ahead a time about my probable call..
Thanks...cheers

you don't have full admin controls?

You were who informed me that I dont have all the options in the admin roomm....
Remember I dont have the maintinance button..:(

You were who informed me that I dont have all the options in the admin roomm....
Remember I dont have the maintinance button..:(

right butthought you said something to him and he gave you full control.
damn him anyway... he took YOUR money and he now has himself a forum, that he didn't even work for. For all intents and purposes darlin, that's not your board... only the domain is.

you're screwed unless he gets an attack of guilty conscience.

Well i just got off the phone with Phil & he does seem very helpfull...
I'm having him contact my current host personally through E-mails maybe that will get me a good response from my current host or Worst case I will have to shut down & start over again! http://bestsmileys.com/computer1/18.gif

IF anything can be done, if any pressure can be put on this jerk to do the right thing, Phil is the one who can make it happen. He KNOWS his hosting stuff!

IF anything can be done, if any pressure can be put on this jerk to do the right thing, Phil is the one who can make it happen. He KNOWS his hosting stuff!
Well thats why I wanted to give him Direct access to my current host! :)

Well thats why I wanted to give him Direct access to my current host! :)

yayyy! I can't wait to see what he comes up with ;)

yayyy! I can't wait to see what he comes up with ;)
You & me both!
Hey if he does a good job this would serve a great Promotion for him Huh? cheers

You & me both!
Hey if he does a good job this would serve a great Promotion for him Huh? cheers

naw... he's co-owner of my hosting company. Can't go much further up ;)

Wholly Crap I think he trashed my site:eek: after being contacted by phil & me e-mailing him telling him my intent of changing host & that I wanted either my money back or my VB Lic back..

Look at what you get when you try to visit my site!
http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums

Wholly Crap I think he trashed my site:eek: after being contacted by phil & me e-mailing him telling him my intent of changing host & that I wanted either my money back or my VB Lic back..

Look at what you get when you try to visit my site!
http://www.thewebwheeler.com/forums


yup, looks like he removed your site.

Yeah its still down!!

Try either of these www.thewebwheeler.com or www.thewebwheeler.com/forms

Ok I guess I'll just buy another Lic.http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=198340&toggle=thumbnail

At this point I think he Killed my site I've made every possible type of way to contact him..
E-Mail
Yahoo chat
AIM chat & after I did he seems to of blocked me from contacted him any more Via AIM. :mad:
I tried PM him on his web site & he blocked me from being able to PM him.
I even posted publicly on his site asking whats going on with TWW & he deleted the post!

Is there anything I can do to this guy?

OK I just removed him from Hosting my domain & moved it over to your Guys Sweety..
http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=185250&toggle=thumbnail http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=198374&toggle=thumbnail

Now the queston is should I pay the $120.00 extra for ..
Branding Free Option
This allows you to remove all vBulletin/Jelsoft branding from this vBulletin Forum installation. This refers to the copyright information in the footer. The logo may be changed without purchasing the Branding Free license.

Note: This is in addition to the cost of the license.

what do you think?

nope I wouldn't bother with that babe, I didn't. Just get your license and get your forum going again.
Do you have a way of contacting your members? Or are you literally starting all over?
I'm so glad you made the move over to my host. As you know by now, from all the help they've given you, they are the best, IMO.

http://www.exquisitelyerotic.net/forums/images/smilies/kisses.gif

Yeah They ROCK! cheers
But now that I'm back & operational again!!:D Its the BIG job of building the site back up on the assumtion That I'll never get my database...:(

I know I'll be on here constantly asking questons now that I have to completely rebuild my Site...:rolleyes:
I had so many long a very detailed threads that will never be rebuildable though & thats really killing me right now......I the site was not a bussiness or anything that effects my income but it was over a year of my life making that site what it was!
Everyday I'd be on there working making it better & better....& now.....http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=250686&toggle=thumbnail

Thanks again peggy http://www.supermotors.org/getfile.php?id=185917&toggle=thumbnail

you're very welcome sweetheart

You sound like you were with some one-man operation host.

I have nothing against one-man operated hosts (because I am one too!), but I feel that there has to be a basic sense of responsibility to the customers (especially paying ones at that!), or else you are really doing a dis-service to the money you took from the customer.

Basics, like having a mobile number that can be reached in case there is a problem, sending of receipts for all money transactions are what the host must do for the sake of accountability.

Your ex-host is tarnishing the reputation of one-man operations throughout the world! Perhaps you might care to share his website with us so that the community will know who to steer away from...

You sound like you were with some one-man operation host.

I have nothing against one-man operated hosts (because I am one too!), but I feel that there has to be a basic sense of responsibility to the customers (especially paying ones at that!), or else you are really doing a dis-service to the money you took from the customer.

Basics, like having a mobile number that can be reached in case there is a problem, sending of receipts for all money transactions are what the host must do for the sake of accountability.

Your ex-host is tarnishing the reputation of one-man operations throughout the world! Perhaps you might care to share his website with us so that the community will know who to steer away from...

I have to strongly agree with this...

Perhaps one-man operations could offer free trials to potential customers before asking for any commitment: that's what the biggies are doing right now, and probably the only way to let people out there know that you are trustworthy...

You sound like you were with some one-man operation host.

I have nothing against one-man operated hosts (because I am one too!), but I feel that there has to be a basic sense of responsibility to the customers (especially paying ones at that!), or else you are really doing a dis-service to the money you took from the customer.

Basics, like having a mobile number that can be reached in case there is a problem, sending of receipts for all money transactions are what the host must do for the sake of accountability.

Your ex-host is tarnishing the reputation of one-man operations throughout the world! Perhaps you might care to share his website with us so that the community will know who to steer away from...
I am SOOOOOO ready to tell you his name & More but I dont want him seeing it & never giving my me my data base!??? :o

Hmmm... I don't think you will ever get your database back, certainly not after he has swindled your money like that, and deleting your site without giving you any advanced notice.