Wondering what any of you all think are the biggest warning signs that might indicate you're Web host is in danger of going under. Has this happened to anybody? Where there warning signs? What are some good ways to "check up" on your hosting service to make sure their business is stable?:confused:

I think the first factor would be lack of support. If your host does not answer any support request for several days, then something is wrong.

If start getting strange billing errors (in the hosts favor) that have no explaination from your host might be another sign.

I'm sure their are other signs, can't think of them right now though.

I had a host go under on me. He didn't answer e-mails, didn't come on ICQ, just dropped off the face of the earth. As a matter of fact, if I didn't hear through the grape vine that he was going under, I would still be looking for him. And that was almost 2 years ago. LOL

If you're considering signing up with a host but want to make sure they're not in trouble, ask them for a list of references. Get in touch with their customers and get their opinion on their level of service. As mentioned above, support is key. If a company stops giving it, they are in trouble.

If you're already with a host and you suspect something is wrong, then ask them about it! Confront them with your issues. If they do not respond then something is probably up.

If you want to confirm your suspicions, go to a forum like this one and ask! Ask if anyone's heard anything bad (or good) about them.... you should get some sort of response.

Cheers!
Rob.

Happened to me with the infamous TrueHosting...

For a couple of weeks before TH folded, I got no reply to support e-mails -- just an autoresponder with the same "Thank you for your support request! A technician will answer your request in 24 hours... blah blah blah."

Finally, the server went down -- and get this -- it happened on the DAY that my colleagues and I had spent hours canvassing the local college campus with stickers and ad material. We returned home to find that the server had been disconnected. I called the tech support line -- which was overseas, to my chagrin -- and talked to someone who was either exceedingly hard-of-hearing, soft in the head or just plain brushing me off. (It was most likely a combination...) The server went down for good two days later, presumably bought up by Burst.net.

So to sum up: if the support is good and fast, you've probably got nothing to worry about. If support slides, raise the red flag.

References is the way to go. Also, this forum is a great tool. A quick search will reveal interesting information. Also, you may want to do a quick search on dejanews.com. You may find some useful news group threads on the company.

To play Devil's Advocate:

References may make you feel better but they don't really many anything.

You have no idea who the reference is. Could be the guy's girlfriend, his uncle, golf buddy, brother-in-law etc etc.

Definately check the references but take them at face value. It's too easy to fudge.

Originally posted by vizi
References is the way to go. Also, this forum is a great tool. A quick search will reveal interesting information. Also, you may want to do a quick search on dejanews.com. You may find some useful news group threads on the company.

Many hosts are reluctant to give out references, or they simply say "That's againist out policy to divulge such information"!

tabernack is right, you are most likely commiting an illegal offence by offering contact details for a customer to a third party.

Data Protection Act.

Hosts that offer details of customers, can/will someday offer your details to a third party, and that you most likely won't appreciate.

Originally posted by bigmattyh
Happened to me with the infamous TrueHosting...

For a couple of weeks before TH folded, I got no reply to support e-mails -- just an autoresponder with the same "Thank you for your support request! A technician will answer your request in 24 hours... blah blah blah."

Finally, the server went down -- and get this -- it happened on the DAY that my colleagues and I had spent hours canvassing the local college campus with stickers and ad material. We returned home to find that the server had been disconnected. I called the tech support line -- which was overseas, to my chagrin -- and talked to someone who was either exceedingly hard-of-hearing, soft in the head or just plain brushing me off. (It was most likely a combination...) The server went down for good two days later, presumably bought up by Burst.net.
So to sum up: if the support is good and fast, you've probably got nothing to worry about. If support slides, raise the red flag.

Wow, what a horror story! You have my sympathies. Just wanted to say thanks to all for the informative responses!

Originally posted by tabernack


Many hosts are reluctant to give out references, or they simply say "That's againist out policy to divulge such information"!

ABSOLUTELY! I would actually be a bit worried if a hosting company freely offered you their customers' information. We don't and never will. When potential customers ask why - we point them to our privacy policy.

--Tina

Also if your site is half time down, it's a sign that you must think about moving :)

Originally posted by cabalstudios
tabernack is right, you are most likely commiting an illegal offence by offering contact details for a customer to a third party.

Data Protection Act.

Hosts that offer details of customers, can/will someday offer your details to a third party, and that you most likely won't appreciate.

It depends, my friend, it depends.
For example, sometimes hosted company can ask hosting company to give references to it just for publicity reason.

Unless you specifically got permision from the hosted, you should not be giving out contact information. You can loose business by giving out your clients contact information.

I simply point them to our Privacy policy.
If they insist on it then i'd tell them to go check out http://tophosts.com


cheers,
elijah john :)

I'd say that even if your host *isn't* dead, if they don't return email for days, time to find another one. I don't need support often, but when I do, I'd like to feel that there is *someone* logging onto to check their mail once a day at least. I can't stand 3 days response times GRRRRRRRR.

What's wrong, Chicken? Don't like just hanging around the coop waiting for something to happen? :)

That's one bad sign. The other way to know if a host is in trouble is to go to their site and find it's been replaced with a "we're shutting down immediately" notice, which has happened a few times. Another item that seems to be pretty common is a general degradation in public commentary (that is, people who show up at sites like this to complain about various pieces of the service, especially if there are a bunch of them within a short time frame).

References are ok, but always back it up with other available commentary in public fora such as sites like this one and newsgroups (alt.www.webmaster, alt.internet.providers.uk, and so on). We ask for volunteers as references to provide to inquiries, but our privacy policy forbids anything else.

Degradation of tech/billing support is a sure sign your host is either going bankrupt, out of business, or being bought out. Also watch for longer response times.

Originally posted by Annette
The other way to know if a host is in trouble is to go to their site and find it's been replaced with a "we're shutting down immediately" notice, which has happened a few times...

yes, this is *often* a casual indicator that the host *may* be in trouble. :D