Escape from iPowerWeb: How to leave iPowerWeb.
After countless hundreds getting in touch with us over continuing iPowerWeb problems, we decided it was time to write a thorough guide on how to cancel an iPowerWeb account.
The success of our free ipowerweb transition program hasn't gone unnoticed, so we're still continuing it.
Below, we'll document the movement process step by step! It's a surprisingly simple process and the only arduous part of the journey is actually cancelling with iPowerWeb. If you follow the guide below, you should be able to get over to a new web hosting provider within 24 hours.
Choosing a new web host: The first step
The first step of getting out of iPowerWeb is to choose a new web hosting provider. In order to have a place to move your content and domain name, you'll need a new web host. Given the thousands of reviews Hostjury currently has from real clients, you've come to the right spot.
You can check out our web hosting reviews to help you select a new provider. There's a number of companies that clients moving away from iPowerWeb have had success with including:
You're certainly more than welcome to research your own though on our site. There's more than enough information here to get a good idea of who is who in the web hosting industry. Remember to thoroughly research each web hosting provider that you're considering -- after all, you don't want to be stuck with another iPowerWeb. There's a number of other companies out there actually owned by the same folks at Endurance International Group as well including PowWeb, so be very careful!
Here's a list that we know of:
AccountSupport
BizLand
BlueDomino
Dot5 (Dot5 Hosting)
DomainHost
eHost
EntryHost
FatCow
FreeYellow
HostCentric
HostYourSite
HyperMart
ImOutDoors
iPowerWeb (iPower)
NetWorksHosting
PowWeb
PureHost
ReadyHosting
Startlogic
USAnetHosting
VirtualAve
Xeran
Avoid the above companies like the plague!
Try testing the companies support prior to signing up. The more testing you do, the higher the likelihood you'll end up with an excellent web hosting company. Once you've selected one.. you're ready for step two!
Retrieving your domain name
This step only applies to those clients who have registered their domain name through iPowerWeb. If you haven't, you can skip this step entirely and move onto the next one. If you have, the information below should allow you to get the access details to manage your domain name.
The first step to retrieving your domain name is contacting the OpenSRS Compliance Officer. OpenSRS is a domain reseller system owned by Tucows. It's also the system in which iPowerWeb sells domain names through so you'll need to get in touch with Tucows to retrieve it.
The compliance officers' contact details are:
E-mail: compliance@tucows.com
You'll need to explain that you've exhausted all methods of retrieving your domain name details & that you're just looking to move at this point. The provider will give you what are known as 'OpenSRS' login details or at the very least -- they'll resend them to the original e-mail on file. You may need to provide them with some additional information in order to verify your identity, but as long as you're the contact on file you should have no trouble with Tucows.
Unlike iPowerWeb, they're a great company.
Once you've retrieved your login details, you'll be able to access their OpenSRS system through the following link:
iPowerWeb Domain Management Panel
Inside you'll find all sorts of goodies including the ability to manage your nameservers / DNS. As long as you can modify your DNS / Nameservers, you can change hosting providers fairly easily. Now, onto step three!
Moving your content
Now here's where things might just get a bit tricky. In fact, that's why we have our free ipowerweb migration assistance program for users who need help moving. A number of the providers we have on our review list probably won't hesitate to assist you move though, so don't be bashful and forget to ask! It might save you a lot of hassle.
Moving your content itself though is essentially as easy as reuploading your data. If you have your new account details, you can FTP your information using them & that should just about sort everything. One step that a number of users may need to take though if they have dynamic sites like forums & other content management systems though is 'backing up your database'. Backing up your database through iPowerWeb can be done via your control panel.
Once inside your iPowerWeb control panel, you'll see a mysql or database management section. You'll need to login using your databases' login details (Contact us if you don't have them, this part could be tricky!). Once inside follow the directions at this site for backing up and restoring databases from phpMyAdmin. That part isn't necessarily going to be a cakewalk, so if you have any questions at all don't hesitate to contact us at feedback@hostjury.com and we can try to help.
Once you've moved all of your content, you're ready to point your domain name!
Pointing your domain name
By now, you should have received an e-mail from the Tucows Compliance officer about your domain name if you registered it through iPowerWeb. If you have access to openSRS, these changes can be made via the 'nameservers' panel there. If you've registered your domain name elsewhere (you smart cookie, you!) you can manage them through your specific panel.
You'll want to switch the nameservers over to your new providers' (the one they've given you) only after you're sure that 100% of your content and databases have been copied over. You'll also want to ensure that any e-mail accounts you require have been created ahead of time to avoid any e-mail loss. The rest, of course is history!
Once the switch takes place there will 'potentially' be some availability of your domain name for DNS propagation but that's almost ancient history these days. If you change your dns and still can't see your new site, try clearing your DNS cache on your local computer.
For windows uesrs, it's simple:
1. start, run, type: cmd
2. ipconfig /flushdns
3. try reloading your site!
For the rest of you, google it!
Once you're done with that, bravo. You've escaped from iPowerWeb.
The remainder of the steps are fairly easy.
Cleaning up with iPowerWeb!
The last few steps are just insurance of sorts. The first thing you'll want to do after escaping from iPowerWeb and seeing your site back up and online is cancelling with iPowerWeb. Cancelling is surprisingly easy and can be done via phone. On average it takes about 30-60 minutes to cancel so be sure to have some free time before sitting down.
“In order to discontinue your services we will need for you to contact our billing department at 888-511-4678 or 602-716-5399. Our billing department is available 24/7.”
Be sure to have your customer ID, mother's maiden name, city of birth & last 4 digits of your credit card number available before calling. They'll help you through the process fairly promptly. Note that a number of users have experienced 'rebilling' from iPowerWeb even after cancellation in the past so keep an eye on your credit card payment logs.
After cancelling, you'll want to transfer your domain name to another registrar. I'd personally recommend using the one with your provider or Namecheap. The only information you'll need to perform a transfer is the AUTH or EPP code from your OpenSRS panel. The information is readily available there & Namecheap and other companies should be able to provide you with instructions for transferring.
Enjoy the new provider, thousands of others already are.
Escape from iPowerWeb
Mon, 17 March 2008, 16:02
I run a music school and recording studio here in Norway. I am from the UK and have been with IPW for around 10 years plus some. I have no entry to anything regarding my URL - no website, no e-mail, nothing. I rely on my website for customer registration for new and existing pupils. When I run the whois in my browser, it tells me that my URL is available????
Thu, 13 March 2008, 20:32
I have made the escape!! Thank you thank you thank you! I HIGHLY recommend MediaLayer. You won't believe this, but they answer emails and phone calls IMMEDIATELY. I about fainted. NO waiting. VERY helpful, made the switch for me with ease including wordpress blog, 100 page site and more. I am so in love I sent them a care package!!
Thu, 13 March 2008, 14:12
Ron, which hosting server have you switched to? Any reliable out there?
Wed, 12 March 2008, 23:01
IPowerWeb cost my company $8500.00 last year, when they canceled one of our clients' database driven, e-commerce websites we had designed for them... the reason? "We can not locate an account under that domain name, and so we deleted that account"... Does that even make sense?!? IPower did not even help us retreive all the programming files our developers had put on the server. They whiped everything clean, HOWEVER they billed my client every month for the service. We had to pay out of pocket for a complete new website for our customer, who immediately switched to another host.
Wed, 12 March 2008, 19:29
I've been with iPower for 7 years. Have 11 clients on their servers. The problems started about a few months ago since they moved to Vdeck 3.
There is no technical support, no billing support. They even cancelled my account and charged 2 others twice! After a phone conversation (35min. waiting for a person!) they will reactivate the accounts in 12-24 hours! It sucks!
The tech person could not help me with email forward issue that does not work the way it should.
I've arranged my personal account with StartLogic which, as turned out, is the same company as iPower!!! The StartLogic charges 1/4 the price but it sucks as much as the iPower. I'll gradually move my clients accounts as they are close to expire to different hosts (which one??)
Please, DON't consider iPower at this time unless they improve and prove that they did.
Wed, 12 March 2008, 02:37
I have successfully moved all of my domains away from IpowerCrap and have them hosted by 1and1.com. I had to file a claim with the Phoenix BBB to get one of my domains refunded, but I'm done. Been with 1and1.com for a month now and smooth sailing. I know there is a lot said about 1and1.com's support, but every Phillipine person I talked to has been excellent AND they answer the phone! Plus, they're main office is only around the other side of Philly, PA. Only a 45 minute ride to yell at someone if things go south.
Tue, 11 March 2008, 20:49
I am switching our host from IPower to CrystalTech today! For the past few months we have had nothing but email issues, vDeck login issues, downtimes, slow response from the technical support, etc. For the past week, no one in our office can use CuteFTP Pro 7 to upload or download anything without getting errors.
Thu, 6 March 2008, 20:50
Jesse,
As far as I am aware, Site5 is not owned by Endurance.
Thu, 6 March 2008, 17:38
You mention some of the companies in your introduction that people have had success with. I thought that Site5 was one of the Endurance brand hosting companies. i.e. StartLogic, iPower, etc.??
Mon, 3 March 2008, 19:13
Ehost absolutely sucks. I'm sorry. I don't spend time posting crap like this often, but i am so beyond my wits end with those nitwits. If anyone has an issue can attest to, you try their online chat person who never seems to notice ANY performance problem that you can notice from multiple internet providers, etc. It's a joke... They 'escalate' issues by putting a ticket into their system and saying 'Please allow 24-48 hours for your issue to be resolved'. I ask them what the issue is - and they say 'sorry, we can't see any problems'. So then I ask, "What are you going to resolve in 24-48 hours then!?!". Complete disconnect. I've had countless performance tickets in because I believe my MySql is unavailable or the server is otherwise taxed...but they don't give a crap - there's thousands of idiots like me with their server data on ehost...what's one less if I decide to leave. Honestly, the lack of interest with my problem just amazes me.
Sat, 1 March 2008, 04:25
I mistyped and meant to say that I didn't realize that the domain had to be transfered to a new registrar. WHOIS says that onlinenic owns it and ipoweredb is the tech organization. It also says the account is locked and client update is prohibited. HELP
Sat, 1 March 2008, 04:56
Unfortunately I didn't read all of this until my problem got very deep. I too had issues with service from ipowerweb. I was able to move the service and point the name servers to a new host but didn't realize I had to change the service as well to a new company. My domain expired on 2/25/08. Now Onlinenic won't answer my emails and ipowerweb says I have to start a new account with them reactivate the account. I point blanked asked the ipowerweb online chat person if that was the only way to get the domain name reactivated and they said YES and then ended the chat promptly.
Is there anything I can do?
Thu, 28 February 2008, 01:25
Similar scenario here. We have been with them for about 4 years or so . things were fine for all that time. Last year we stopped being able to enter our control panel at all. Our usrnames and passwords were all changed for no apparent reason and many things were in turmoil for weeks. No matter who you are with or what problems you have you should have some customer service and these simply do not. I have spent can you belive 35 hours on the live chat this wek alone, usually to just get kicked off by someone spinning me around in circles. To make thinsg worse they let our account close even tho on auto payemnt for years and then have charged us 3 times the going rate for domian name renewal after we had it free with our package for 4 years!
IM looking as we speak for alternative providors. Im shocked at the treatment we have had. Hostgator seem popular in the states. odologic in canada and clook and unitedhosting in the uk. These seem to be the companies that can hamdle thier clients with due respect.
Avoid ipower like the plague at the moment seriously. I rarely make negative comments on things but here i implore peope with genuine business interests at stake to look elsewhere whether you are already hosted with them or not.
Tue, 26 February 2008, 17:14
I am on the last step of this process, and I want to thank you for putting this guide up. It has helped out a great deal, especially the domain management panel link!! They would not give this out.
Right now, I have been on hold for billing for 72 minutes. I used my cell phone to call sales, and they answered in ONE RING.
What a horrid company.
Thu, 21 February 2008, 00:08
Thanks for all of the info. I signed up with IPW not a week ago and after reading all of this I am going to make the most of the 30 day money back guarantee. So not cool, now I have to find someone else!!
Wed, 20 February 2008, 23:28
I have been using IPowerWeb as the host for three websites for since 2003. IPowerWeb was great for the first couple of years but since then I have experienced major problems every year at renewal time.
In addition to that, IPower moved one of my websites to the new platform in December 2007. Since that time I haven't been able to use FrontPage extensions at all despite numerous emails and phone calls. The website became totally useless. The new control panel is impossible to use.
So when renewal time came around this month, I decided to move to a local webhost here in my hometown. I called and cancelled the website and was told that I could transfer the domain name but I would have to have the user name and password for the domain name. I told the woman at IPower that I had never had a user name and password for the domain name. All I had was a user name and password for the control panel.
She said they could email it to me and then I could email them back with the same information and they would unlock the domain name so that I could transfer it. I did receive a user name and password from them as promised but whenever I recontacted them to unlock the domain, I get the run around and they would tell me that I didn't have the correct user name and password. I have been going back and forth with them for over a week.
Through my own efforts, I did find out that the domain name is registered through OnlineNIC but when I contacted them about transferring the domain name, they said I would have to contact IPowerWeb.
Does anyone know how to tranfer a domain name that was registered through OnlineNIC if I don't have the user name and password or don't have the correct one? I am totally at my wits end.
Tue, 19 February 2008, 21:19
OK.. I am 51 and it would be hard for me to relearn what I have worked so hard to learn in the past 2 years... ie., how to use ipower's vdeck etc.
On the other hand, if we don't get out of there, I'll have a heart attack.
I have 80 domains with them and 2 hosted sites, one of which is on a secure server.
Frankly I am frightened about changing anything... help.
Tue, 19 February 2008, 14:11
As are many other, I am in the process of leaving ipowerweb now. I do have a question that I'm hoping someone here might be able to answer; I was able to gain control of my domain name, and after doing so I change my password and my domain auth code, as well as all the contact information.
After all that though, the reseller information listed at manage.opensrs.net still lists ipowerweb as the contact. I don't know if that's a problem or not and was hoping someone could advise.
(My domain is teamwasp.org if you'd like to look it up).
Thanks!
Mon, 18 February 2008, 22:52
Thanks for this! Ipower sure was getting under our skin.
When I called the corporate office at 1-866-897-5421, they were really nice and got us the EPP/Auth code within five minutes.
Sun, 17 February 2008, 12:46
Melissa,
You can use a site like http://www.v3whois.com to check where your domain is registered.
2. That, no one but them can help with. :/