I bought 1and1 hosting as recommended by my friend because of a cheap promo code where you can avail a hosting and free domain for $11.88 for 1 whole year and it's a very good deal!
They billed me after 3 days I think and off I go setting up my website. They have a different Cpanel of their own by the way, not used to it but it's just as good because I can still see the same features I got when I used Cpanel.
Then after 1 month, I was surprised to receive a billing for $14 for a website builder plus. It's payable for 1 year so you will be billed with $3 something every 3 months. Obviously, I didn't order this, I can't remember ordering a website builder plus and when I reviewed my purchase, there really wasn't any website builder plus at all. And my billing of $11.88 dollar is proof, because that's the only thing I really paid for 3 days after my purchase.
I contacted their support via email and asked about it, their answer was this:
"Our records show that the Website Builder Plus has been in the account since creation. Cancellation of this item will take down any website that was created and mainted through the additional feature and any data in said website would be lost."
They said that if I don't want the website builder plus, it would also mean cancelling my domain and hosting for one year and that I have to confirm this if this is the case.
Of course I didn't agree right away because this wouldn't happen at all if they didn't added it.
So it turns out that they automatically added the website builder feature when I made my purchase and then they billed me 1 month after for it. Wow. Total scammer move there. Sneak the product, then surprise you with a billing 1 month after so there's nothing you can't do, otherwise they'll take down your entire website and hosting. If that's not scamming, I don't know what is.
And when I pointed out to them that they're the ones who added it anyway and not me, and that they should take the "website build plus" down and leave my original purchase of domain and hosting alone, they suddenly sent me an email of a credit refund for that $14 or so.
No notice of whether they'll also take my website down or not but I don't want to work with them now anyway, not with this shady business because if they can do this to us once, no reason they can do it over and over again specially when our website is bigger and we'll have no choice but to give in.
I hope they can still refund my $11 though but if not, then it's theirs.
This is an honest review based on my experience. And if any says this is not true, then I don't mind sending them a screen shot or forward them the email replies that I got from them.
Take care when buying your hosting guys.
