A friend's mom needs to register a few domains for a website, and also needs hosting for it. She's concerned about the domain registering because the last company she went with ended up screwing her by registering under their own name, and keeping the domain after she terminated the service.

So, Massassi, I need your sagely advice on some reputable, small-time hosting, and reasonably priced domain registration that will not screw this woman over.

Use CoolMatty's hosting service. I have two accounts with him. I registered the domains at godaddy and entered his nameservers, and it was done. Easy as pie. mmm...pie.

Yay for word of mouth!

GoDaddy, while possibly a little more costly than the others, has EXCELLENT domain name services.

Don't get their webhosting though, it blows. (You can do better, even if it isn't with me :p )

Coolfatty hosts werepissedoff.net

I use [url]www.dotster.com[/url] for my domain registration and web hosts. Prices are reasonable. I've haven't experienced any down time. And the 24/7 tech support has proved helpful in the past.

I use gkg.net for domain registration. Has yet to do me wrong.

I run my domain/hosting through Dreamhost and have been very happy with them.

Dreamhost, end of discussion.

All my domains are also on gkg.net, they're the best I've worked with so far (which consists of network solutions - NEVER EVER use those ***holes, and godaddy).

My friend had a problem with them wiping his server (with no explanation as to why) and a complete lack of any back-up procedure on their end.

I use Bluehost and I recommend them highly.

How many places give you a free domain name that is yours forever?

I've totally forgotten where I bought my domain from, but my site is hosted by 1and1. Never had any trouble; but I couldn't complain anyway, as I'm getting the service for free. No, I don't believe you can do the same. I got in on a public beta before they launched their service. It is the sweet.

I checked, and they are dirt cheap. $3 a month for their lowest package.

Yours until you stop paying for it, that is.

Don't go to 1and1. At least if they are as bad in America as they are in Germany they are not what you want.
They're cheap. Not just low priced, if you take my meaning.

I think the key method for not getting screwed out of your domain is to buy it first from a domain registration company, and then go sign up for hosting at a hosting company. Don't do any of those packages where you get a free domain for signing up for hosting, because they generally have a bunch of fine print which allows them to keep the domain under certain circumstances (your account gets suspended, you miss a payment, you cancel the service before XX years, etc.). You may save 10-15 bucks a YEAR, but it's not worth the risk.