Site Down

 It's a fucking disaster.  The Sleaze is currently down, deactivated by the host due to a 'payment failure'.  This, despite the fact that I had an automatic renewal set up - which I checked only recently.  The host, it seems, left it to the last minute to try and get the payment, then e-mailed me warning the site could be deactivated, which it did so about a half hour later!  Sending e-mails in the early hours expecting a response is hardly constructive, or good business practice.  I've now paid with my card, yet the site is still down.  You've got your fucking money, now give me what I'm paying for!  (If they can expect a response to their e-mail, I don't think I'm being unreasonable for them to restore the site immediately upon payment).  This situation really is intolerable.  Ordinarily, I'd just move the site elsewhere, but in this instance, with their actions being so swift and unheralded, I haven't had the chance to download a backup of the files and databases, so I have no choice but to pay as my entire site is now, in effect, being held hostage.  Really, you'd think that in situations like this you'd either get more warning or a grace period in the case of a 'failed payment' in order to rectify their error, (payment, after all, had been set up).

I've only been with this host for a year and until now, things had been running smoothly, but now I'm reviewing the situation (and downloading a back up as soon as I get access again).  I suppose that I should have expected this, as a while ago, the service was sold to a new owner.  My previous experiences of hosts changing hands should have tipped me off to the possibility of this sort of shit: all too often such takeovers lead to a deterioration in the services you are paying for.  So it looks as if, once I regain control of the site, I'll have to start the tedious search for yet another new host.  If I'm quick enough, I might be able to get at least part of this year's fee back,  Otherwise I'll be looking to next year to move the site, again.  A quick check, but no, it's still down.  It's amazing how quick they are to disable the account, yet drag their feet when it comes to restoring it.  I've tried raising a support ticket (still unanswered) and their 24/7 help chat - which just gave an automatic reply telling me to raise a support ticket.  Come on guys, this is unacceptable, you've got your money, now give me back my site.  Really, if it isn't back up soon, then I'm going to start naming and shaming the bastards.