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Just over a year ago WebHostingPad successfully charged my credit card for a year of service. It was without any notice, but I was happy enough since I had had no serious problems with them. However, the did not renew my domain name even though they had successfully charged for it. My web site went dead. I tried to log into my account (billing) but was locked out. Tech support couldn't get me access. Meanwhile they told me my domain had entered the "redemptive period", a period of a few weeks in which domain registration mistakes can be fixed before the name is given to someone else. They promised to take the required steps to retrieve my domain out of the redemtion period, but didn't. Next thing I knew, Epson had become the registered owner of my domain, all my advertising $ on that site were now wasted and my website identity was gone with nothing I could do. Despite many phone calls and emails with them, and even a lengthy correspondance through the BBB, all they ever offered in way of appology was two months free hosting and a free domain name! (Well the free name wouldn't really be free since they had charged me for it! Plus I'd have to be CRAZY to ever have my domain registered with them again!!)

During the exchange through the BBB they were either alarmingly ignorant of the domain registration business, or else they outright tried to deceive the BBB by claiming that domains could not be retreived out of the Redemption period.

Then, to add further insult to insult and injury, after a year they attempted to charge my account for another year (the two free months never having been actually given to me). Thankfully the credit card had expired.

I refused to pay the $72 they were asking for (despite me having cancelled the account) only to within days receive a letter from a debt collection agency!!

In corresponding with them they have been very insulting.

I bet my experience of loss of domain isn't unique, I'm wondering if they routinely purposely lock people out of their accounts when a third party makes an offer to buy a domain name, and then pocket the sale money themselves.

Be warned. WebHostingPad are a company from hell.