FRAUD: EnchantHosting / DragonStar

[Radiant]

WARNING, please spread the word.

The hosting service known as "EnchantHosting" or "DragonStar Networks" (DSN) has been known to cater towards independent game authors, and people who create adventure games. Essentially, they're a standard hosting service, offering a domain and bandwidth for money. Some of the people involved may be known to this community, such as Johan Botes, aka Gronagor, and a guy named Chagall.

EnchantHosting is a fraud.
DragonStar is a fraud.

The hosting fee is quite reasonable. But when you start using them and your initial registration expires, they will suddenly charge you ludicrous amounts to continue their service. This is extortion: you pay $5 for the first year, and are unexpectedly charged a $100 fee for the next, or have your domain permanently removed. And of course they will prevent you from moving that domain to another host.

Forewarned is forearmed. Don't make the same mistake I did, do not do business with these people.

[auriond]

Thanks for the warning Radiant. These guys don't seem to have an official website of their own even, so yes, they seem dodgy right off the bat. Though not having a website is not necessarily a mark of unprofessionalism, it does mean that you can't readily refer to a set of terms or whatever unless the host provides you with one upon purchase.

Some tips on buying web hosting:

1. Buy and manage your own domain, from places such as Namecheap.com . Don't buy it from your web host unless they give you full control of the domain. This way, if your web host screws you over, you can simply change your nameservers to point to another host. They can't hold your domain hostage.

2. If possible, try not to pay upfront for a year. Find a host that allows you to pay monthly or quarterly. That way, if anything happens, you can bail out quick.

3. Keep backups of your site. Lots and lots of backups. And keep them often.

This is speaking from my experience as someone who used to sell web space.

[Trisk]

Thanks for the heads up, Radiant. Folks, I would seriously suggest the use of the Better Business Bureau whenever you are going to purchase something online.

Personally, whenever I am going to buy anything online from a questionable website, I check bbb.com and if they aren't listed, I FORGET IT. If a company isn't registered, it doesn't instantly mean it is a fraud, but to me it puts up alot of warning bells. It just isn't worth the risk.

For our UK friends: is there a UK equivalent of the Better Business Bureau?