Warning to Domain Name Owners - RENEWALS

GoDaddy.Com ^ | 4/19/2002 | me

[Bobby777]

After years of pretty good service with what is now VeriSign, I switched to GoDaddy.Com for my domain name registration. Mainly because GoDaddy.Com charged $6.95 per year for 10 years registration when (at that time) the current company was $35 per year. Since I own several domain names, the cost is somewhat significant.

While checking my accounts, I noticed the above posted warning but didn't give it much thought. Until yesterday.

That's when I received a "warning" in the U.S. Mail that 3 of my domain names were about to expire and to give my credit card number to the "renewal center". VeriSign had their logo in the upper corner and a "transfer domain" box in the lower corner. However, an unsuspecting consumer might spend the $29 fee, not suspecting they will be transferring to another domain rather than just paying $8.95 for one additional year at GoDaddy.Com. So, apparently, VeriSign harvested my name and address from some doaain expiration list and issued their "renewal" about 4 months ahead of when GoDaddy.Com would have sent the normal renewal.

To me this is deceptive at a minimum and cannot believe that VeriSign thinks this will foster happy and returning customers. Some of you may have different opinions but I wanted to give you guys a "heads-up" in case any of you are running domains.

You can read the statement from GoDaddy.Com at the link provided above and below. I'll be forwarding my complaint to VeriSign that I don't appreciate them trying to trick me in $87 of renewal and transfer fees which would have cost less than $27 with the normal renewal. And "no", I am not associated with either company other than as a customer or former customer.

FWIW ...

Click Here to Read GoDaddy.Com's Statement

[ikka]

Can you check whether this is even legal? ON some mailing lists I am on the question is whether it contains the specific verbiage that is required by law - if the verbiage is not there, VeriSign is committing mail fraud.

[IncPen]

Somehow we've had this experience with magazine subscriptions, where we'll get a renewal notice from some outfit a few months early, then the actual notice will come in.

We've ended up with multiple subscriptions this way; it's a pain and a nuisance when you buy subscriptions from charities (scouts, school groups) and you want to renew with those groups only to find some vulture has scooped you.

Then you have to deal with the magazine subscription departments. Ugh

[Bobby777]

oh there appears to be some "fine print" but I think the FTC would be very interested in this practice ... IMHO, it's deceptive at the very least ... and deceptive IS illegal in marketing practices ... some potato chips recently had "REAL CASH INSIDE" ... then you buy the bag and find out it's "cyber-cash" ... i.e. discounts if you BUY something else ... I think the FTC stepped in and stopped them from doing it ... they now have a different promotion ...

[Bobby777]

yep ... they grab the money and then they've got you ...

[DB]

Sounds pretty bad...

[AmericaUnited]

GoDaddy is the best!

[RippleFire]

I've read other complaints aboyt Verisign doing this. I wonder if they realize how much ill will they are creating for themselves. Well, they'll soon find out.

[Bobby777]

yes, non-English speaking countries probably aren't yet accustomed to this marketing scheme ... ouch ..

[Bobby777]

one would think that they must have some inclination ... they may be so desperate for cash that they're only willing to look one year into the future ... double-ouch ...