Keep away from this company.It has a lousy customer service. The Control Panel is so difficult to use. The staff are so unhelpful, they even block accounts and emails. Being so many years with them has been a real struggle, the emails dont work for the staff and have to use hotmail accounts. Complete watse of time and money.

Have given 1 star, I would have given 0 stars or (-) negative if I could.

Agree with all accounts here. I'm now in dispute with these guys. There's no indication throughout the sign-up process that this is a 2-year contract, or even any clue as to the 2nd year costs. The 2-year term is indeed referenced in the T&Cs, but everything prior to that leads you to believe it's a 1-year deal. I'm not paying the 2nd year and have asked for cancellation. So, I imagine the next steps will be very drawn out, but I'm confident a judge would see this for what it is, if it ever gets to that point.
If it's a 2-year deal, why not just state that upfront, if you're not trying to scam people?
Stay away from these scammers.

I registered a company last year and in a couple of days received a letter from switchmedia (looked like it was part of the Companies house) congratulating me for the new company setup and offering me a domain name for £6 for a year. I signed up only because it was £6 and never used the domain and just a few days back received an invoice for £118. Sent an email to their accounts and admin dept saying I dont wish to renew.
Had a phone call from switchmedia saying that the contract was for 2 years and I had to pay the invoice or they will start legal action. Asked the rude guy if it was a 2 year contract then why would he call it a renewal, the only answer for all my questions was "I have sent you the link to the terms and conditions". I have read the T&C (too late), and it says
"The Contract may be terminated by either party providing 60 days written notice save that no such notice shall be served until the last day of the Term or the last day of the Renewal as the case may be." Isn't the term renewal used wrongly here, a renewal must be at the discretion of both parties, how can a compulsory renewal be part of a contract? This company is a fraud but the amounts are not big enough to get the ombudsman or OFT involved. There may be many people who would have just paid because they didn't want the hassle. This company doesn't need happy/satisfied customers it must have made millions by now just using the terms and conditions. I'll give it a try by writing to the Trading standards just in case they bother to investigate.
Also it seems they have some kind of tie up with the companies house who send them details of new companies registered (probably for a fee), I would write to them as well.

I agree with you and I think it says everything about the company that they would deliberately hide such a key component in the small print and refrain from mentioning it until after the rollover.

They also do not contact you again until after the 3rd year rollover.

It wouldn't be so bad if they provided a decent service!

Good luck if you do go to the trouble of taking them to court. Perhaps you can try googling to see if anyone else has with this, or a similar company.

Just had a dispute with Switchmedia after receiving their 2nd year bill and finding that I could not opt out as the small print states that by entering into the initial £5, 12 month agreement, you are in fact commiting to a 2 year minimum contract. This was not evident in the sales documentation and I do not believe that the court would consider such an onerous term can be adequately disclosed through website terms and conditions.

I plan to challenge this in the small court but wonder if anyone has already attempted this?

I would re-iterate that this company operates in a very underhand manner and I would strongly recommend that anyone choosing a domain host look elsewhere.

I was given an account with switch media for a year which included web space and domain. I had never used this as i found better services else where. I have now received a letter demanding £118 for next year. I phoned them to say that i do not need or use their service and do not want to renew my service. They said i entered into a contract and had to pay. I never received a contract nor accepted any contract. They said its tough you still have to pay and if you dont we will take you to court. I asked for a complaints department and they simply said no, there isnt one, you will just have to pay. DO NOT USE SWITCH MEDIA!!! Scam