Web design & hosting forum: AVOID IPOWER WEB AT ALL COSTS

I started off with Hostway back in 1999. They were good with good support, but a bit expensive for me at that time. I switched to FeaturePrice. Anyone who knows anyhting about them knows what a nightmare THEY turned out to be. But my choice was based on good reviews at the time...
I switched to iPowerweb after that in either 2002 and have been with them ever since. Up until about 6 months ago, my experience with both phone and (mostly) Live Chat service was great. (I have left the Live Chat window running for hours three days in a row with no sign of an operator.) Maybe their current horrific performance is due to switching platforms. I don't care. I am jumping ship as well. It will be fairly painless: my domains are all at a separate registrar. And if they charge me for renewal, I will simply call my credit card company.
NOW...
Given that foot dragging (and worse) are common sour grapes tactics practiced by web hosts on their departing customers, why isn't the NUMBER ONE RULE of webmastering: NEVER register and host your site in the same place?!!!

Being that this is my first website and Ipower was my first hosting company I didn't realize how bad this company was until they forced me and my website to a new server.

The server switch rendered my site useless and I was down for over a month and I never recovered because they never fixed the problem.

it was truly a nightmare and my biggest mistake was thinking that Ipower was going to help and they never did. all the prior complaints are true. 2 hour waits were not uncommon just to be disconnected or given the run around. the tech support was ungodly.

the only thing that took me by surprise is that they did refund my money. I wan not expecting that. maybe they are realizing the hole they are in.

well, it was a wake up call. now I use Servint, It costs much more but the speed and the reliability and the tech support is top notch. If you own a website for the sake of running a business don't be foolish, not only would I avoid Ipower but I would avoid shared hosting altogether.

But I would have to say that Ipower is a true bottom feeder at this point. Do not do business with this company !

I thought I would give iPower a stay of execution the other night. (I was having unresolved PHP issues.) I got on Chat Support. After about ten minutes, I started poking around 1 and 1's site. By the time "Jim" in Bangalore finally got on an hour later, I was already signed up with a new host. I just closed the chat window. Disgraceful. Don't misunderstand me: I expect my new host to let me down too at some point. My experience has been that web hosts have a finite lifespan of decent customer service. As more and more people get online and prop up websites, the dollar/pound/yen/euro signs light up in the eyes of these companies and they forget how they got where they are. I predict that within five years or so, there will be laws passed in this country to help protect consumers from unscrupulous web hosting companies. Again, I can't stress keeping your registrar and host separate enough.

You're so right. Ipower has lost my business as of tonight. Mary in India tech support could not help me. Finally moved my site to a temporary host and it works great! Goodbye ipower!