I've had a bit of trouble with one of my web hosts lately, my site has been down for about 15-30min three times in the past few weeks. My other sites have never skipped a beat in years.

When is a reasonable time to ask for some compensation, some money back, free service etc...?

That depends on their ToS, zig. Usually they're allowed 99.5% uptime per month (which is 720 hours * 99.5% = 716.4 hours uptime = 3.6 hours downtime = 3 hours, 36 minutes downtime on a 30 day month).

So I'd say you're not at the point yet where you can ask for money back, but you're definitely in the caution zone. To be fair though, your site may have been down because your host is doing server updates or something, which will result in outage. So you need to know why your site was down as well.

Please read TOS and AUP of your current wenи hoster. Also You have to know which moneyback period do your current web hoster provide.

Many hosts have a 99.9% uptime guarantee, so you might have a case. Then again, others have no such guarantee.

I think some of these guarantees are overselling as well - I'm not sure if hosts can actually keep to 99.9% uptime - thats less than an hour a month downtime (according to Adam). Just like Host Monsters 300GB plans for $6.99 a month, I feel guarantees like that are overselling too.

Sorry if I haven't been of any help to the problem in hand. If I were you, I'd wait. Contact your hosts to see if there are any particular reasons for the downtime (e.g. upgrades or something). If the downtimes continue and there are no legitimate reasons, then you may have a case to get your money back. Moving host might also be a possibility if you feel that you're not getting your moneys worth but of course thats up to you.

I'm not sure if hosts can actually keep to 99.9% uptime

Not every month, but it should be attainable on a yearly basis. Of course, some servers may fall under that level even on a yearly basis.

yeah be sure to view their TOS and AUP also signup monthly if it's a new host, and anything under 96% is iffy in my opinion.

well... it is not too much... hope you didn't loose any money because of this downtime. Stay with them and see if they will have more downtime or it was an accident.

Originally Posted by zig

I've had a bit of trouble with one of my web hosts lately, my site has been down for about 15-30min three times in the past few weeks. My other sites have never skipped a beat in years.

When is a reasonable time to ask for some compensation, some money back, free service etc...?

I agree with most everything said in the above posts. I just want to add an additional comment.

I recently signed with a new second host and had terrible experiences for the first 30 days. Because of their overall good rep I stuck it out. They found and replaced a failing hard drive. Things have been great even since then.

My point is that the uptimes are averages over a long period of time. Sometimes in the short run they all might fail to measure up.

If this is a long term continuing problem, you should get a credit or make a change.

My point is that the uptimes are averages over a long period of time. Sometimes in the short run they all might fail to measure up.

Well put colbyt, and very true.

depends on their advertised uptime..

Please note just because they might have 99.99% uptime advertised doesnt always mean if they go below that you can moan..

I am with a host which advertises it but if you inspect their TOS they cover them seleves with

Although we advertise 99.9% uptime we do upgrade and modify servers which may cause downtime. We will
also not be held responsible for any unforseen events that cause downtime.

So be aware, inspect the Tos, before you leap, and if the level drops below 97% i would really be worrying and unless they have a good support and a reason, i would think about switiching.

Actually you may request money back at ANY time you want. You should not waste your time and undergo numerous downtimes and web sites unavailability. Its your money and your right to moove out if web hosting provider if it does not meet your requirements regarding uptime for instance

I know in the uk, you do have this right, but usually you have to be aware and be willing to threaten for some shops etc who believe the customer is not always right.

However IF they do explicitly say you cant get your money back, (which you should have read fully and agreed to when you purchased the hosting.

Just be carefull.

My Major overselling alarms just blew up.

Originally Posted by dansgalaxy

My Major overselling alarms just blew up.

Lol - extremely spammy post deleted.

Dan could you report this junk in the future - every little helps

could you report this junk in the future - every little helps

Congratulations for the promotion to Mod status!

Also keep in mind that if there is a guarantee, you do have some downtime, and you do get some $ back its going to be a %. My host went down for a few hours one day and I ended up getting a credit of $.37 or something crazy like that, if you are not paying much for hosting and your site is not down for long don't expect to make bank. For me I would them rather keep the quarter, dime, and two pennies and keep my sites up =)

Originally Posted by webmasterj

Also keep in mind that if there is a guarantee, you do have some downtime, and you do get some $ back its going to be a %. My host went down for a few hours one day and I ended up getting a credit of $.37 or something crazy like that, if you are not paying much for hosting and your site is not down for long don't expect to make bank. For me I would them rather keep the quarter, dime, and two pennies and keep my sites up =)

Could have just been a automated system, which automatically credits accounts with a % amount

if you are not paying much for hosting and your site is not down for long don't expect to make bank. For me I would them rather keep the quarter, dime, and two pennies and keep my sites up

Given the relative low price of hosting, even a full refund (which some hosts do offer) is usually not much of a compensation for extended downtime.