Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Web Hosting : I cancelled my godaddy account

[~kev~]

Just wanted to let everyone know as to why godaddy lost a customer:

1. When I signed up for godaddy, I started out with their most basic package 9.99 a month. When I upgraded (maybe really downgraded) to their virtual dedicated server, I needed some help moving the mysql database to the new account. Tech support would not help. Their instructions were not very exact, and failed to describe how to import the database to the new server. I finally gave up and rebuilt the site from scratch.

2. When the server was highjacked on thanksgiving weekend of 2005, tech support refused to help. My server was used in an attach against a government contractor, one of the biggest int he world. Even though this server, owned by godaddy, leased my the company I work for was being used to attack a government network - godaddy tech support (several of them) told me it was not their problem. I was worried about a visit from the FBI the next week, but good ole godaddy tech support could not have cared less. The vice president of godaddy go an email from me the very next week expressing my concerns about the level of support. He told me it was my problem. I dont think he really understood the FBI could get involded. The attack was on a government defence contractor. The kind of people that build missles and jets. From the top level of godaddy down, they could not have cared less.

3. My email server is receiving massive amounts of spam from networks in asia. When I contacted godaddy about blocking these networks, their reply was to upgrade to the next level of plesk. Even though linux comes with a firewall, which could be used to filter packets from certain networks, that feaure is disabled on the virtual dedicated server.

4. Back to the start - when I signed up with godaddy, if more then 3 or 4 people got on the site at one time, no more connections were allowed. When I contacted tech support, they told me my little 4 user at a time site was "high traffic" - I am not kidding. They told me my server was freaking high traffic at 3 - 5 users, give me a break.

5. On the virtual dedicated server, you are allowed 250 tcp/ip connections. HOWEVER, an apache config file limits http connections to 50. So where are the other 200 connections?? I had to edit the config file myself to beable to use all the connections that I was paying for. After that, I wondered if on the 9.99 package godaddy limited the number of connections to 5 or 6?

6. Even though I installed webmin, and was using it to control the server, godaddy refused to remove plesk from the server or my bill. I told tech support, I am not using plesk, take it off, I do not want to pay for something I do not use. Tech support and billing refused to remove the extra charge on my bill for plesk.

7. Godaddy denied root access to the server without telling their customers first. Its been about a year ago, all of a sudden I can not connect using root. So I finally called tech support and they told me "oh we denied root access network wide?" WHAT????? You changed a configuration on the server I am paying for, without telling em FIRST???? ---> Give me a freaking break!!!! Some of the files on the webserver had been uploaded as root, so they could not be over written by another user. I had to call, and beg to get root access again. This took almost a month to get access again. During this time the website was not updated. I know it is a bad thing to upload files as root, I have since learned better.

The serious lack of tech support is why I left godaddy. The reply I usually got was, "its not our problem" or "maybe you should hire a server admin." Come on guys, hire a server admin for one website, and 30 email accounts? GIVE ME A BREAK !!!!!!!! What am I paying you (goaddy) for if your not going to help me?? I am well aware that some of the problems I had are from my own lack of experience, that is what tech support is for.

[qrees]

I was thinking about buying hosting at Godaddy, but as far I have never found any good opinions about this company...

[jcwebii]

I am not specifically defending GoDaddy nor trying to argue with you, but I am wondering what exactly they advertised that their "virtual dedicated server" service came with.

In my experience dedicated servers are typically non-managed by the host or at least they do not include the same level of tech support that you receive with a shared hosting account. People typically get dedicated server account so they have more control over the server environment, rather than relying on the host to operate and manage things. So the host assumes that you either have the IT knowledge or you have a professional admin. Sometimes the provider will offer some add-on options for "management" of your server, so they can help you with the kinds of requests that you were asking about.

[~kev~]

The virtaul decicated specs where something like 256 megs gaurenteed memory, 1gig burst memory, and something like 250 tcp/ip connections.

You brought up a VERY good point! I was supposed to have control over this server - just like a dedicated server but with less memory, cpu and tcp/ip connections then a full fledged dedicated server. This is NOT what happened. godaddy blocked access the the linux firewall, denied root access, and denied packet filtering at the netwwork card level. So if I could not fully manage the server, and godaddy did not to provide support, just what am I supposed to do??

And when your property is used to attack a government agency, I expect your help. That is the kind of stuff the FBI kicks in doors for. My name was on that server as well as godadddies and they refused to help! I will not have the company I work for searched by the FBI, nor my home. I needed help, our government needed help, and godaddy tech support turned its back on both of us. Just what the server was used for doing during the attack, I dont know.

[datamansystem]

We booked few domains with them but finally transfered to other registrar. They have robots who reply to emails. Don't even read the email before they reply.

[~kev~]

Oh yea, I forgot the uptime. Its been awhile back, godaddy was having some network problems and was down for a few hours on and off for a couple of days. When I called and asked them about a credit for the down time - which was not my fault, the guy on the phone got VERY rude. I was told flat up "we do NOT give refunds." I finally got to the person right under the owner and he almost laughed at me. A refund, we dont give refunds is what I was told. When I asked to speak to Bob Parsons, the owner of Godaddy, the guy told me "Bob is too busy to talk to people like you" and hung up on me.

[e-hostdotus]

Noone is hosted with godaddy....

Thats terrible! But godaddy is my #1 for domains

#2 is enom

[myhken]

Some replies:

1. You know that they offer unmanaged servers / VPS plans, and you can not expect them to help you with issues like moving your databases.

2. If you server was highjacket, why did you not change password on your server from your account manager?? And since they offer unmanaged servers they do not have to help you with this problem. You have used a weak password or have some weak protection on your server, and that's not GD's problem.

3. They offer unmanged plans, you have to fix the firewall and make filters.

4-5. It's seems like a GD problem.

6. You install a program not supported by GD. And why did you not use your account manager?? Why send a ticket to support, when you can use your account manager and downgrade your plan there?? It's easy and fast.

7. It's a GD problem.

So why blame it on lack of tech support, when you know they offer unmanaged plans?? It's seems like you don't have the experience to manage your own server, and blame it on GD. You get what you pay for, so in the future go with a managed hosting provider.

[loveacrossborders]

GoDaddy's privacy rules bite.