domain name question

[yzxc]

Hi all,

I wasn't sure where to post this question so here goes.
My question is, why do domain name companies renew domain names automatically whether you want to renew it or whether you don't? A friend told me that happened to her and that has just happened to me. This problem wasn't with Powweb's domain name service, but with register.com and ehost.com (formerly dirtcheapdomain.com. I was just wondering if anybody had anything to say about it or maybe had it happen to them.
Could it be something that you need to contact them and cancel the domain or something? It just seems so fraudulent that they would charge your credit or debit card. Ultimately I will either get satisfaction from the domain name co. or dispute the charge on my credit card.

Thanks, Will

[Ddr]

Yes, there really are all kinds of scams out there on the net. Most are legal, but not really nice.

The Registrars that you and your friend had dealings with did an auto-renew. You might well have agreed to that in the fine print when you signed up with them, even if you dont know it.

I use a Registrar, NameSecure, that emails me a few days before my domains expire and asks me to renew them, but they do not auto bill me.

I have heard of stories where Registrars also have other little goodies in the fine print....like you dont really own the rights to the name you register. Yes, that's right. All you do is rent it until you are done with it, then they take ownership of the domain name. Nice, eh?

It is usually a tough battle to get through to a Registrar and fight them on some policy they have that you dont like. But it can be done. You just have to be methodical, calm, and persistent. Oh, and if it's possible, you can switch to a friendlier Registrar.

Good luck with it.

Dale

[yzxc]

Thanks for the reply,
Geez, how long would this go on I wonder? Would one have to
cancel the credit card that they are charging? Its not much to renew but its more than they advertise on their homepage.
I had a domain name registered at namezero and it wasn't auto renewed so I thought everything was okay with my other domains, guess not.
I think I'll go to godaddy.com, I asked them not to publish all my details in a whois search and they complied,and the features and price seem to be good. I better make sure they cancel the domain name when its about to expire though or I might have a surprise again.

Thanks for listening,

[symo]

While I don't have a solution for your problem, it is interesting to note another thread in the forums...

http://forum.powweb.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12097

This one is about a domain registrar who doesn't automatically renew.

Guess it all depends on one's point of view. Think I'll throw a reference to this thread in that one.

symo

[yzxc]

Hey thanks for pointing out that other thread,

Boy this renewing of domains can be a hassle either way I see.
The domains I have aren't anything special right now, and I don't want 3 domain names that I don't need. There is only one domain that I am interested in right now and it seems dumb to have 4. Well I guess it is even dumber for companies to buy up domains just for the purpose of making a profit though.

I'm wondering if anybody out there got the shaft like I did, auto renewal and charged without their knowledge. I have sent an email to the domain co. that has put it to me, but don't know how eager they are to write back. And it costs 12 dollars to call them on the phone. I bet ehost.com could afford an 800 number if they wanted one.

Thanks, Will

[RocketJeff]

I think the main point is that everyone needs to look at the information provided when registering a domain (or hosting a website). Some registrars default to automatically renewing a domain while others don't. When I registered my domains, I made sure that my registrar sis automatically renew domains (unless I told them not to) - I don't want to lose control of my domains. If I had a 'throw-away' domain, I'd probably make sure it was set to not automatically renew (although for about $10/year, accidently renewing a domain I don't want isn't that big of a deal).

[yzxc]

Oh gawd I have become one of those guys who made the mistake themself. I just read in my records that I paid for 2 years when I got the domain name. I'm glad I didn't get too nasty with the domain company, I feel bad enuff. Well I know it happens anyway, but like it was said unless you uncheck to auto renew then it will get renewed. I just saw how to do that at another domain I have. I think it was worth discussing anyway, maybe it will save somebody else the grief.
Hey I can have an icon now I have 50 posts! Lemme see..