I'm having a very nasty experience with Hostwinds.com, and I want to share it with you all.
Their host manager, Peter, came to me when he heard I was looking for a new Host. He offered me a sensible deal. After awhile, I learned the server he gave me wasn't suitable for me. He persuaded me to upgrade to a higher server. Some time later, I learned the server he gave is again not suitable for me, and Peter become more and more hostile towards me. When I decided enough is enough, and asked to cancel my deal and a refund, Peter refused and instead promised that if I upgrade again, my problems with the server will be solved. Reluctantly, I agreed, but made sure to add to our agreement a clause for a 12 months refund, if I find the server unsuitable anymore. This is the transcript:
(3:39:42 AM) Me: i might settle for 7/7/12 but the 12 months refund agreement still stands
(3:40:13 AM) Hostwinds: only if we fail to provide you with great service
(3:40:22 AM) Hostwinds: your not getting a refund because you find a better deal
(3:43:06 AM) Me: ok, but write down everything that we agreed to
(3:43:17 AM) Me: in the client area or whereever
(3:43:56 AM) Hostwinds: I am
Now, a time has passed, and my server has become dysfunctional. I asked Peter for a fix, but instead of helping, he demanded a ransom payment of $100 for an OS reload, and adding additional costs to every future host action.
After arguing with him about it, he finally accepted to doing the OS reload, but then came up with a story that a hacker used a script that wiped my server, and sent "MAGNETIC WAVES" to destroy the CPU & RAM. Even his support staff know this is ********.
At that point, I demanded a refund, as it seemed like he was just wasting my time in purpose, and keeping my server down. He begged to give him more a bit more time, and I waited almost 6 days till he gave me a new server. When trying to access this new server, the SSH was broken, and couldn't even work with it.
I had enough of his business behavior, and the conducts of his Hosting company, and requested a pro-rated refund per our agreement. He waived me off and wrote that he will not honor our agreement, and will not provide me with any refund. The last we spoke he closed my hosting account and claims that by his ToS asking for a refund is threatening.
So to give you all heads up, if you are not looking for a hosting provider that will behave in a degrading, dishonorably, and censorious manner towards it's paying clients, stay as far away from this awful host!
Biggest Pro: seem cheap AT FIRST
Biggest Con: bad support, don't hold up to their word, add more billing clauses as they want
This person does NOT recommend Hostwinds.
