Domain Registration Related News
Canadian domain name firm rapped over marketing practices9 January 2004
US authorities have accused an Ontario domain-name registration company of using questionable marketing tactics.
Late last year the US Federal Trade Commission filed a final judgment in court enjoining Domain Registry of America (DROA) to change the way it catches customers.
The judgment is "stipulated", meaning DROA would agree to a settlement, said Stephen Cohen, an attorney in the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. But the judgment, filed in a New York court in December, also says DROA admits no "liability or any wrongdoing for the allegations".
An FTC court complaint says the company, which resells domain registrations for another firm called eNom, mailed what looked like domain name renewal notices to US citizens. These messages told recipients to pay up or risk "loss of your online identity".
"In many cases, consumers do not realise that by returning the invoices along with payment to 'renew' their domain name registrations they are, in fact, transferring their domain name registrations from their registrars to eNom," the FTC said.
The organisation also said DROA charged hidden administration fees, and took time to issue refunds - in the US, payback is required within seven business days.
Details at: http://www.computerweekly.com/articles/article.asp?liArticleID=127465&liFlavourID=1&sp=1
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