topic Re: Ending a Webhosting Package in Archive

Ending a Webhosting Package

btuser10 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:50:02 GMT

I've reached a decision regarding the BT Webhosting Service which is that although I''ve only recently bought it, I'm unlikely to continue with it as a result of having to spend excessive time dealing with problems.

What I would like to know now, if possible, is answers to the following questions:

1) at point should I cancel to avoid BT from automatically renewing the contract, next October? There are no refunds and if I cancel now the starter discount will be deducted as an early termination charge. So even if I do not use it; I'm stuck with it for 12 months - I just don't want another year!

2) How and when can I transfer my domain name to another web hosting service and what will BT charge (if anything) for this?

Thanks for any help anyone can give.

regards,

Brian Aird MISTC

My reasons in detail for leaving are:

1) I'm busy running a business and I have no time to spend using what is essentiiall a domestic user interface (i.e. constant calling to different call centers around the world and absolutely no in-account support ticket interface.)

2) The technical specs and general user-experience is well below that offered by other web hosting packages (e.g. madcow, the new blueglobe hosting service or indeed most of the competing services out there.)

3) I had to tolerate a non-working service for nearly a month and emails to a published BT complaint service and a published business billing email didn't get answered. Eventually I found a business chat service and billing telephone line that did work - but it was much harder work getting support than it should have been.

4) In general, the experience as a customer with BT Business has been extremely poor in almost every respect. I will be writing to the Complaints Review Service Manager in Durham and I have liaised with Otelo in this regard.

Sorry, BT that it didn't work out but I have to place my business needs first.

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

rhosyn — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:19:28 GMT

Hi there

You can transfer your domain out at any time without incurring any charges. With luck and a phone call to BT this should revert your account to the email only package - depends what level of twit you get on the other end of the phone.

I have just cancelled a webhosting package, but you have to wait until literally days before it's due to expire, I think BT depend on you forgetting exactly when you took it out....

mark it in your diary and make sure you ring a month before is the only advice I can give.

I hope you get a better service for your business elsewhere, I'm stuck for another few months yet!

Rhosyn

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

dave — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:56:11 GMT

It will not be renewed for a second year. When you get to the end of the first year, it is renewed on a monthly ongoing basis and you are free to cancel any time.

.uk domains can be transfered at any time, but if you have a .com there is a rule (not BT's) that it has to remain with a provider for 60 days before it can be moved. There won't be a problem with just pointing the A record elsewhere though in the meantime.

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

Eaglebev — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:59:05 GMT

I am experiencing your pain.

No help is available. All BT wants to do is sell more rather than help - the number this afternoon says no one is available and they will ring back when they can!!

I have just started the package in the last three weeks and regret doing so with BT

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

btuser10 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:09:34 GMT

Thanks Dave and Rhosyn. With free help like that from users i feel like staying!

BTW, is there a way to send an email to a free technical support service staffed by BT employees?

If not, then why not; isn't it an unwritten obligation?

Is forcing us to use an 0845 number (no guarantee that's a local call) just part of BT's business plan?

I asked once what the call costs and the operator (sounded from abroad) said politely sorry I don't know; that's a different department.

Brian

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

dave — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:43:28 GMT

Hi Brian,

You should be able to contact somebody through the following form:

http://btbusiness.custhelp.com/app/contact/cj_cat/1995

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

btuser10 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:07:16 GMT

Looks good

Thanks

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

btuser10 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:46:33 GMT

One more question:

at present my email with BT Business is name.surname@btconnect.com

Will there be there an option to have emails of the form anyname@mydomainname.com (or .co.uk)

once my domain is activated - (and even if I transfer the domian name)?

Thanks

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

rhosyn — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:57:01 GMT

I'm pretty sure they'll still come through - I'll send an email to myself now and let you know tomorrow!

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

Fiona — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:41:55 GMT

With BT Business, you would set up anyname@mydomainname.com (or .co.uk) as an email alias of your BTConnect email address, you can set up BTConnect email accounts for other users and assign them email alias's @mydomainname.com as well.

There is information in the BT Business Help and support pages on 'What is an email alias?' and also 'Personalising domain names and email addresses' which should explain and give instructions on how to setup the email accounts and their alias's.

If you transfer the domain to another registrar, you would be transferring the mail management of the domain to the other registrar as well. If you continue to use BT Business as the registrar but decide to have the webhosting elsewhere, BT Business would still manage the mail and the above setup for email address's and alias's would continue.

I hope this helps

Kind Regards

Fiona

BT Business Forum Moderator

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

btuser10 — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:38:11 GMT

Thanks Fiona.

A have a question about domain name structure. If it should be posted elsewhere please let me know.

I have discovered that my domain name is unfortunately the same name as used by a another business, though in a different industry. Is there any way I could create a sub-domain name, such as functionname@mydomainname.co.uk?

Thanks

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

rhosyn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:59:20 GMT

btuser

You say your domain name is used by another company in another industry - is this necessarily a bad thing? Particularly if it's based in the UK, looking at it in a positive light, you may end up with more traffic due to people typing in the wrong address........

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

rhosyn — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:00:30 GMT

Thinking about it further, particularly if they operate an affiliate scheme, you could always put 'are you looking for 'company', if so click here.... (sorry, I'm ever the opportunist!

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

btuser10 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:11:44 GMT

Starter package URL.

I note from one of the screens following 'activate web hosting package', that the url for the 50M space is of the form home.btconnect.mydomainname. Is this just a temporary url to enable one to manage it, or will the BT branding remain?

thanks

Brian

P.S. I realise that email aliases can be created, so emails can be anyname@mydomainname and not limited to name.name@btconnect.com.

Re: Ending a Webhosting Package

dave — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:25:03 GMT

This 50MB of web space is the free web space that comes with ALL accounts and is nothing to do with your web hosting package, or domain name.

You should have a separate option to activate your paid for hosting package which will activate using your domain.