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
Sun, 17 February 2008, 03:48
I am getting away from ipower ASAP, i won't even start with the details. I have 2 issues, though:
1) I don't remember who I registered my domain name with, it might have been ipower but I don't think it was. How do I find out?
2)I can't bring up the mysqladmin in the control window to access the database so that I can make a copy. I've tried to explain this to ipower but they keep sending me to a website optimization site. I will keep trying to get through to them but I am a work-at-home, home-schooling mom & don't have time for hour plus hold times... Help!
Sun, 17 February 2008, 02:13
I've actually had few problems with IPower, but for the last 7 days or so I haven't been getting any email through them (and TODAY they post a message on their sign in page saying, "If you haven't been getting any email, the problem is fixed now.") Because I'd messed with my Outlook Express on the same day it went down, I had just assumed it was something I'd done, and tried to fix it on my end. Now I find out it was indeed them.
Also, today I was moved to Vdeck 3.0 which is a piece of garbage. I can no longer create files within folders. I can only upload files, and the uploads don't go into Public HTML but rather the "top page" and I can't move them anywhere. I will be backing up my entire site tonight and moving it within the next week, I hope.
Fri, 15 February 2008, 12:29
antipowerweb,
These aren't just random issues occurring, and no one said they're making millions: Obviously, everyone should find a solution that fits both their budget and needs...
At this point, sticking it out with ipowerweb seems painful.
Fri, 15 February 2008, 12:30
John,
A quick fix is to e-mail compliance@tucows.com
They'll be able to sort things out for you, as long as you've got some proof that you're the registrant. Even with some you might be able to discuss it over with them..
Best of luck!
Fri, 15 February 2008, 12:38
James,
It's possible to be honest, you could try using opendns:
http://www.opendns.com/start
Steamed,
One thing to note is that if they take too long to accept it, it'll 'expire'. You may need to reinitiate it a couple of times but at least take safehaven in knowing you're halfway out.
Fri, 15 February 2008, 01:23
I can't view my website hosted with IPOWERWEB.
They are trying to tell me that the reason website won't show up is because of a router (opticaljungle) not having proper DNS information. I can indeed view my website through proxy server. Does this seem reasonable or is this a bunch of ^&%*?
Thu, 14 February 2008, 12:15
I am going through typical iPower BS right now, trying to switch to a different registrar (I've already switched my hosting). To change the domain contact e-mail, I had to use their AWFUL live chat feature and get the operator to handle it. So, it can be done.
At the moment, I'm stuck trying to get iPower to accept the transfer. I'm switching the registration to GoDaddy, and all that remains to be done is for iPower to accept the transfer. If it happens in less than 7 days, I'll be pleasantly shocked.
Wed, 13 February 2008, 22:59
Unfortunately iPower has found a very clever way of preventing people from leaving their service. They change your domain contact information to an invalid email address listed as "yourdomain@contactprivacy.com". This makes it utterly impossible to transfer your domain away from them, since all email (including the domain transfer auth codes) sent to the listed address are blackholed and vanish without a trace. The "contact privacy" feature cannot be disabled through the opensrs.net interface, either; attempting to do so results in an error message.
Wed, 13 February 2008, 17:43
Dear readers, I TOTALLY HEAR YOU... i mean, I have a multi million dollar business and I have my website hosted with ipowerweb, and I've been having NOTHING but problems ever since I signed up. I mean commin, I'm paying close to $100 a YEAR!!! <-- this is the type of shit that baffels me. If you have a big business, dont be fucking cheap and signup with ipowerweb.. if your site is the main driver of your business, GO WITH SOMETHING MORE EXPENSIVE DONT BE A FUCKING IDIOT... you people are getting what you pay for, its less than $10 a month... i mean fuck.. use your fucking heads
Tue, 12 February 2008, 15:01
Mark,
It's listed under 'domain extras', the odd little code there is your EPP / Auth. code.
Tue, 12 February 2008, 03:49
I can't find my EPP authorization code on the open SRS panel. Where should I look.
IPOWER cancelled my site and I have moved it after tedious reconstruction, but need to transfer the registrar and cannot get ipower to talk
Fri, 8 February 2008, 17:57
I finally received my email cancellation number in an email today. It took them 2 days to send it to me.
I also was told that refunds were not guaranteed but that if they did happen it would take 15 business days for it to post.
Fri, 8 February 2008, 17:47
I think out of all of the replies here, I've had the worst of it happen to me and my sites. Recently, all of my sites were hacked, replaced with phishing sites, my vplesk was locked out, and Bank of America and Lloyds LTD. fake sites were placed up on my dedicated server.
When I found out about it, I tried to go in and took 4 days and 3 cease and desist notices for IPOWER to finally unlock my plesk and bring my VPS services down. Since then, IPOWER refused to reimage my server, citing that they did not understand my request.
I've spent an average wait time of 1 hour and 15 minutes waiting for a rep and then at times while trying to cancel, been told that their system is down but that I could call back at another time.
I finally was able to cancel my account for good today but have not received any email from IPOWER as I requested, showing my cancellation is confirmed.
Over the 4 years I used their services, my site had an average downtime of 10% per month, numerous DB failures and site load times were tremendously slow.
Ipower is by far the worst hosting provider I have ever encountered, lacks security (they still use an old outdated redhat fedora 4 custom image that cannot be altered and has horrible security flaws).
Stay FAR FAR away from this provider.
Wed, 6 February 2008, 23:40
ipower used to be a good company, but I have moved my 5 domains elsewhere. It is impossible to get a call through on the billing or the tech support line, but amazingly enough a Josh, Dave and a Tom answered in one ring on the Sales line. ipower is evidently avoiding their customers since this vDeck 3.0 upgrade is in shambles. Lost email, bounced email and other assorted problems are not good for business. I will probably have to resort to contacting my credit card company to get the charges taken off since calling is a joke and emailing them never gets a response. I am also going to report them to the BBB to see if anything can be done there.
Wed, 6 February 2008, 05:04
IPower is absolute the worst web hosting serviceless in the country if not the world. They have practices that should be banned. Do not let them pay for your domain name, as they will have the power to shut it off should you file a charge back or dispute your bill, or anything else they do not like. Do not allow them to automatic renew, as one day they will not do it and you will lose your domain. In my opinion, iPower's CEO, Thomas Gorny, is little more than a crook who does not have the guts to use a gun. My advise, avoid iPower at all cost. The reason their support is so bad, is that it appears they are rated on how many support calls they close, so the tendency is to try and close as many as possible without actually doing anything.
My solution? I rented my own server from thePlanet and plan to move completely away from iPower, as soon as is reasonably possible.
Tue, 5 February 2008, 16:18
I have been dealing wih ipower he!! for 10 days. My site was migrated and since then two of my dbases were not transfered. Nobody can help me get back up and running. Looking for a solid host and will be transfering next week. Just trying to get all my data from the old platform before I cut the cord. They are the worst.
Mon, 4 February 2008, 02:25
Patrice,
You won't necessarily lose it, you can give the ipowerweb folks a call.
I'd recommend reading the other related articles on this site as they'll provide more details than I could ever pack into a single post!
Sun, 3 February 2008, 18:08
Hi, I am so glad I found this site. My website is down through PowerWeb and I can't get anyone there to help. I had no idea all of this was happening and that so many people were having problems too. I used FrontPage to design my site and the password no longer works, and then suddenly my website was gone. My account just renewed in January, however. Will I loose my yearly fee I I leave now? Is there a way to recover that money?
Fri, 1 February 2008, 20:49
Linda,
Correct, there's a number of users who are with OnlineNIC as well -- which makes the instructions a bit off in some cases.
I'll see what I can do about putting an update in.
Thu, 31 January 2008, 22:06
I should proofread before I post. A clarification:
My domain is registered at OnlineNIC, and "the response I received" to my e-mail request addressed to compliance@tucows.com indicated that I should contact the registrar who has my domain.
Sorry for any confusion.
Linda