The host is doing the usual and not really listening. It's always akin to the ISP issue you get when you connection is down, whereby they get you to jump through hoops until finally they realise the problem is at their end.
I have managed to get this error on other sites by continuously refreshing, which means that mySQL their end is not functioning correctly. I could set up Wordpress, Joomla etc in subdomains and still get the error, so it is pretty unequivocal it a problem with the server again.
In the past the responses have made dweez and I laugh, especially as he's the real Macoy, but I am meant to be at work as I write so I am in laughing mood.
One thing of note though: the host has a new support system the is very pretty to look at, however, the ticket I raised yesterday I do not have the permission to read today. So to respond to it, I had to start a new ticket. I'm guessing that to respond to that, I'll have to start another and so on.
Great new system and whatever happened to the idea that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"?..