Incompetent Web Hosts

[SlowMove]

What do you do when you have a site with a host that's nothing but problems. They're always changing my password, they never update stats, sometimes there are no log files, they discard all the changes that I made to the site and restore a backup that's several months old, they have incompetent kids on the help desk, etc. I try to be polite to them, but they're really bad. I'd like to post the name, but I know that's not allowed here. I've never moved a domain from a host, but does anyone know if that's something that I can do at any time?

[dickbaker]

Why shouldn't you be able to move to another host? Do you have a long-term contract with them?

I've moved sites from one hosting company to another with no effect at all on search results.

One site I worked on is hosted by a company that is as bad as the one you mention. Or worse. Unfortunately, the guy who runs the hosting outfit is a cousin of the president of the company I did the site for, so you get the idea.

[longen]

I've never signed up with a web host, or any internet service without first seeing them reviewed in a respected mazazine. It saves me a lot of hassle. If its for business use put quality before price.

[onlineleben]

I even went so far and made sure the hosting company was in the same city as I am. It was good to get an idea of what people run the shop and I have received lots of support from them over the last 6 years.
Always check out what other sites are hosted by your webhost of choice and check these sites performance and maybe even ask their webmasters about them.

[zeus]

Im in the middle of a move right now, I have had 3 bad hosting now moving to no.4, I hope this time everything will be OK, but until now the support with more has been great.

[PatrickDeese]

Been there, done that: [webmasterworld.com...]

I feel your pain, brother - I am still mopping up after moving 100+ domains.

[quadcity]

Hello SlowMove.
>I've never moved a domain from a host, but does anyone
>know if that's something that I can do at any time?
All you have to do is sign up with a new host and then change the nameserver listed for your domain. Then tell your old host. (That way they can't shut down your site out of spite while it is being changed over.)

If you want any advice on switching the nameserver, post. If you would like some tips on the new host, PM me. I can vouch for a few I've used personally.

Have a nice day!

[SlowMove]

I think I'll remove the "Hosted By _____________" affiliate links and make the move. It would probably be wise if I read some reviews and searched the newsgroups to find the best companies first.