How to Prove Your Website Was Down (For Refunds or Credits)

When you request hosting refunds or service credits, you need clear proof of downtime. The better your data, the faster the approval and the better your chances of getting the credit you deserve.

Use this checklist to document outages and back up your request.

Capture timestamps

Record when the outage started and ended. Monitoring tools provide precise timestamps that are trusted by hosting providers.

Save status codes and error messages

HTTP status codes like 500, 502, or 503 show the nature of the outage. Screenshots help too, but logs are stronger evidence.

Show multi-location confirmation

Multiple monitoring locations confirm the issue was not limited to your network. This is especially useful when a provider disputes the outage.

Document business impact

Estimate lost orders, leads, or revenue. Hosting providers do not always require this, but it strengthens your case.

Request a root cause summary

Ask the host to confirm the issue and provide the root cause. That summary can support your credit request and inform future decisions.

Submit the request quickly

Most providers have time limits for credit requests. Submit your evidence as soon as possible after the incident.