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$10K Afternic transaction canceled after transfer

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Nick

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Got this email late Saturday night:
LJCEgHN.png



Provided auth code, domain released, in GoDaddy's possession, buyer's info updated on WHOIS:
LR2lsqw.png



Then I get this gem a little bit ago:
KYBS3TR.png



I try logging into my account and they suspended it. LOL So, I call up Afternic and they tell me their partner (GoDaddy) can't verify the customer's payment. Now I'm confused.

Payment was verified, you asked me to transfer the domain, I transfer the domain and all of a sudden the payment is not verified?

Is this not a breach of contract?
 
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You shouldn’t have to transfer anything. If the domain is at godaddy and sold via afternic or godaddy, they will move the domain.
 
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You shouldn’t have to transfer anything. If the domain is at godaddy and sold via afternic or godaddy, they will move the domain.
The domain was not at GoDaddy. Not really the point, though.
 
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The domain was not at GoDaddy. Not really the point, though.
Ah. Get your rep on the phone ASAP. They’ll sort it.
 
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Got this email late Saturday night:
LJCEgHN.png



Provided auth code, domain released, in GoDaddy's possession, buyer's info updated on WHOIS:
LR2lsqw.png



Then I get this gem a little bit ago:
KYBS3TR.png



I try logging into my account and they suspended it. LOL So, I call up Afternic and they tell me their partner (GoDaddy) can't verify the customer's payment. Now I'm confused.

Payment was verified, you asked me to transfer the domain, I transfer the domain and all of a sudden the payment is not verified?

Is this not a breach of contract?

Unbelievable.
 
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My question here is, is this a breach of contract?
Reps at afternic are worthless. Call godaddy. You need a lawyer to talk contracts so forget that.
 
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Reps at afternic are worthless. Call godaddy. You need a lawyer to talk contracts so forget that.
You're probably right about the lawyer part.

FWIW:
Afternic said:
Membership Agreement
Updated on May 12, 2016

MEMBER'S WARRANTIES AND OBLIGATIONS TO OTHER MEMBERS AND COMPANY
You agree that sales and purchases you make through the site are binding agreements between you and the other party immediately when: (a) an offer is submitted that is at least the listing's buy now price; (b) an offer expires that is at least the listing's reserve price; (c) the buy now price is reduced to the amount of a current offer; OR (d) both parties have completed any step of a transaction. Your membership information and other information related to a sale on Afternic may be disclosed to another member who is a party to a binding agreement if requested to enforce the agreement.
 
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I try logging into my account and they suspended it.
This is very interesting. @Nick V did you mean that your afternic account was really suspended (with some sort of suspension message or email) or is it simply password not working? Sometimes afternic has bugs...
 
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This is very interesting. @Nick V did you mean that your afternic account was really suspended (with some sort of suspension message or email) or it is simply password not working? Sometimes afternic has bugs.
No, they suspended my account intentionally. On the phone, I was told it's standard protocol when there is an issue with a high dollar transaction. I honestly really don't care about the account.

I care that I was told that payment was verified, that I was instructed to transfer the domain, that I transferred the domain and that I'm now not going to get paid.
 
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I certainly hope that Godaddy is able to grab back the domain for you without delay.

So, evidently, a "verified" payment is not the same as a payment actually received. wtf

How do they verify it, then? Don't they allow a processing period for funds to be received?
 
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I think I had something like this once. Yes, first it was "domain sold", then "please do not accept any transfer requests" email with similar wording. The domain was not yet technically transferred, so I promptly rejected the transfer request on losing registrars end. I was never able to figure out why the gaining/selling registrar still initiated the transfer if the funds were not secured though.
 
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This is shocking and dis-heartning ,
I think GoDaddy should be alerted too,
 
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So, evidently, a "verified" payment is not the same as a payment actually received. wtf

How do they verify it, then? Don't they allow a processing period for funds to be received?
Furthermore, Afternic refers to GoDaddy as a "partner" - just the same as if it were Dynadot, NameSilo or another registrar and not the same company as GoDaddy.

So, what I'm getting is, GoDaddy enters into an agreement with Afternic, Afternic tells the seller (me) to transfer and then GoDaddy backs out of the agreement.
 
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It's been a while since I had a sale at Afternic that wasn't a fast transfer, so I don't recall the process you had to go through. But this is alarming enough to make me want to remove all set prices (and floor prices) from all my domains listed there.
 
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I beleive afternic selling registrars are able to "verify" the payment if they wish. Which is why "pending sale" status exists @ afternic. It "locks" the sale, disallows price changes by the seller etc. Why this protocol was not followed in this case is a mystery.
 
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Hi Nick

sorry this has happened to you

question: does the transaction number in the first email stating your name was sold, match the transaction number in the last email that says the transaction was cancelled?

also, in the header of first email, I notice it states the email is from [email protected] and then a trailing id numbers ending with salesforce.com

in my afternic email, it states email is from ta=afternic.com and then the trailing id numbers...
I know that is a small difference, but ….

my first thought is that you may have got a spoof email, stating the name was sold, to have you go thru that process and transfer it.

I hope that is not the case, but I would check any previous sold emails you received from afternic, just to eliminate that chance.

hope you get domain back or get paid for it.

imo….
 
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Here's another thing I'm wondering. Why was the domain transferred immediately to the buyer, rather than an Afternic or Godaddy holding account?
 
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Hi Nick

sorry this has happened to you

question: does the transaction number in the first email stating your name was sold, match the transaction number in the last email that says the transaction was cancelled?

also, in the header of first email, I notice it states the email is from [email protected] and then a trailing id numbers ending with salesforce.com

in my afternic email, it states email is from ta=afternic.com and then the trailing id numbers...
I know that is a small difference, but ….

my first thought is that you may have got a spoof email, stating the name was sold, to have you go thru that process and transfer it.

I hope that is not the case, but I would check any previous sold emails you received from afternic, just to eliminate that chance.

hope you get domain back or get paid for it.

imo….
Yes, they do match. I did notice that salesforce email, as well. In this case, the emails are legit and this whole transaction was verified by me when I spoke to someone at Afternic on the phone this morning, before getting this last email from them.
 
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Here's another thing I'm wondering. Why was the domain transferred immediately to the buyer, rather than an Afternic or Godaddy holding account?
Good question.
 
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question: does the transaction number in the first email stating your name was sold, match the transaction number in the last email that says the transaction was cancelled?

also, in the header of first email, I notice it states the email is from [email protected] and then a trailing id numbers ending with salesforce.com

I also think the first email was a spoof. I just checked old Afternic emails and found that they always used secureserver.net SMTP mail server owned by GD. However, this email was sent through SalesForce which looks suspicious to me.
 
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I also think the first email was a spoof. I just checked old Afternic emails and found that they always used secureserver.net SMTP mail server owned by GD. However, this email was sent through SalesForce which looks suspicious to me.
The email wasn't a spoof. Everything was done through Afternic.com, including me providing the auth code.
 
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So now....
You have no payment...
You have no domain...
You have no Afternic account.

And you were just minding your own business when the emails started.

Just terrible. They need to fix this for you immediately. Should be some penalty they should pay you.
 
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