A company is doing the rounds, using offshore telemarketers trying to sell 'business advertising' on the internet in a Business Directory. Please if you are ever contacted by someone selling online advertising, and they sound 'offshore', they are definitely NOT My Sunshine Coast Life. If ever in doubt, contact us to check or contact the Office Of Fair Trading.

Another sad case is the Developer who goes bust and runs. It is bad enough that you lose your developer, though even worse when they have taken your money, or own your domain name so you can't even change it. Your domain name should be 'YOURS' regardless of who is building or maintaining your site, you would not leave your company seals with a supplier, so don't do it with your domain name either. When you register a domain name, you pay for it, and put your developer as the tech contact. All reputable web developers will be happy to assist you with doing that. Also, always be careful about hosting, particularly if it is cheap offshore hosting. If your developer goes AWOL you may find that not only do you lose your site, you also have no recourse to even access your site. An old cliche... 'Buy Australian', may not be as cheap but is safer and you are legally covered by Australian Law.

A website programme is the same as any other large purchase you may make, you would not purchase a car without a roadworthy, or using a licensed dealer? No different on the web, all business's need an ABN, it is the same as your letterhead, you need to display your ABN if you are a business. Go to www.abr.gov.au and search on the ABN, get referrals from other businesses in their portfolio. Do your homework like you would with any other large purchase.

Not a terribly enthralling editorial this issue, but we have had so many phone calls in regard to both of the above, if only one person saves themselves some heartache and frustration (not to mention maybe money) by reading this, a techy editorial is worthwhile!

Best Wishes, Noely, Community Site Co-ordinator