I bought a domain name with BT and am now trying to point it to my own hosting package. This is a two-step process for most domain name registrars, so naturally I expect the same of BT. I login, access the advanced DNS options and see the entries I want to change greyed out. I follow the instructions anyway and am greeted by the following:
BT Error: "you can't change nameservers as you have a hosting package with us".
Erm, no I don't. You've assigned a 'host space' to me which is too small to put anything worthwhile in (unless you want a text-only site like the 1990s). That's not even a logical reason to disallow transfers. Anyway, my site is already written and configured and running somewhere else. Please switch to it.
BT Error: "No".
Oooo K. Can you just remove the 'free' hosting package? (I say 'free' since it at this point it has already cost me more than £50's worth of head-scratching).
BT Error: "No".
Why not?
BT Error: "It's free, don't be ungreatful"
Hmm.. OK, if I signed up for a paid hosting package, could I remove it then?
BT Error: "I'm not sure, try it"
Hurmm.. no. I don't trust you and I think it won't work.
BT Error: "It miiiiight.."
Aaahhh, obviously, they can't stop me using my own host, that would be criminal, but they can make it FAR TOO HARD to switch to someone else's.. "Don't leave us! We'll eat you up, We love you so!".
BT, get a grip. Except perhaps for some tragic cases of domestic violence, making it hard to leave doesn't make people stay. Being open, friendly, helpful, intuitive and solving people's problems might. Try it. It Miiiiiiight!
