advice Afternic Import Lead sale stuck in limbo — buyer has domain, Afternic has funds, seller has neither

[URL Stream]

CC: @GoDaddy

I’m hoping to get some advice from the community regarding an Afternic transaction that appears to be stuck in limbo.

Here’s what happened:
A buyer used the Afternic Import Lead link for a domain name and completed payment. I then unlocked the domain and followed the transfer prompts that appeared through the GoDaddy/Afternic interface. In the process, the domain ended up being pushed directly to the buyer’s GoDaddy account instead of being delivered through the Afternic Transaction Assurance interface.

As a result, Afternic is now saying they cannot process the payout, because the delivery did not occur through their Transaction Assurance system.

The current situation is essentially this:
• The buyer has possession of the domain
• Afternic still has the buyer’s funds
• The transaction remains open in their system

Their stated path forward is that I would need to retrieve the domain from the buyer and redo the delivery through Afternic. Unfortunately the buyer became unresponsive after I explained the situation, which I can’t really blame them for — asking a buyer to return a domain after they already received it understandably looks suspicious.

I’ve been in contact with Afternic and was told the case is under review, but there hasn’t been any further response for some time already.

So at the moment the transaction seems stuck in a state where:
buyer → has the domain
Afternic → has the money
seller → has neither

I’m trying to understand what the realistic resolution paths are here.

Has anyone experienced something similar with an Import Lead / Afternic TA transaction where the domain was pushed directly instead of delivered through their system?

Specifically I’d like to know:
• How long Afternic typically keeps a transaction open in a situation like this
• Whether they ever perform manual payout verification when the transfer can be confirmed through GoDaddy logs
• What normally happens if the buyer remains unresponsive

Any insight from people who’ve dealt with Afternic Transaction Assurance before would be greatly appreciated.

Post drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT to help summarize the sequence of events.

 

[URL Stream]

Thank you in advance.

 

[kool1]

"In the process, the domain ended up being pushed directly to the buyer’s GoDaddy account...."

At any point did you give the buyer the transfer code directly?

 

[kool1]

If not, ask the buyer to remove whois privacy for a day. GD can verify the ownership, then the buyer can put the whois back to privacy.

 

[URL Stream]

If not, ask the buyer to remove whois privacy for a day. GD can verify the ownership, then the buyer can put the whois back to privacy.

They have full confirmation of the transaction.

The glitch is in the flow.

 

[kool1]

But you didn't answer my question, did you directly give the buyer the transfer code at any point?

TY.

 

[URL Stream]

But you didn't answer my question, did you directly give the buyer the transfer code at any point?

TY.

Are you referring to the authorization code? No. When I was directed to GoDaddy to unlock the domain, I believe I entered the buyer’s email address and transferred it through that channel, mistakenly thinking that was also a necessary step in the Afternic transaction process.

 

[fka1080405]

I think it's worth acknowledging that you made a mistake, there wasn't a glitch. Fair or not, customer support are much more likely to help you if you frame it as a problem of your doing that they can help resolve. The Afternic flow is straightforward: you unlock the domain and then push it to Afternic's GoDaddy account. Here is the type of instructions they send:

So, what happened is: you followed the instructions but accidentally entered the buyer's email address instead of Afternic's. Typically, this wouldn't be possible because you wouldn't know who the buyer is, but in this case, you had prior contact, so you had their email address.

The problem from Afternic's side is that they don't know whether or not you really did transfer the domain to the wrong account or if you have created a second account and you're hustling them. Since the buyer isn't responding, and Afternic are on the hook for any funds, they're going to be especially cautious.

I haven't dealt with this circumstance before but I have dealt with Afternic's transaction assurance and they're always very helpful. That said, their frontline agents will be very cautious about going off script and getting roped into a scam. My best guess is that someone senior at Afternic will need to be involved, and need a little time to be confident that this is a genuine mistake and not something nefarious. The more time that passes, the less likely it is to be a scam, because if it were a scam, the buyer would surely complain. I'd guess it'll take a few weeks to resolve.

Good luck! An easy mistake to make. Fast transfer has its downsides, but this is one of the few benefits -- GoDaddy are responsible for the transfer.

 

[URL Stream]

I think it's worth acknowledging that you made a mistake, there wasn't a glitch. Fair or not, customer support are much more likely to help you if you frame it as a problem of your doing that they can help resolve...

I hope my original post came across as respectful and forward-thinking, with the goal of finding a solution rather than assigning blame.

And yes, I have already noted that in my communications:

...I mistakenly transferred the domain to him directly through GoDaddy instead of through Afternic. This should all be verifiable on your end...

The problem from Afternic's side is that they don't know whether or not you really did transfer the domain to the wrong account or if you have created a second account and you're hustling them.

The buyer has long-standing account with them, with several previously registered (and related) domains parked there.

 

[URL Stream]

Here is the type of instructions they send:

Interesting to compare my Afternic email notification with yours. I followed Step 1 of the instructions (highlighted), and that’s where I ended up going off course...

 

[kool1]

Should be straight forward, but you need the buyer to cooperate. Buyer needs to contact AN support, tell them the transfer is complete. They will likely ask buyer to expose whois. Not necessary if name still is ate GD, but they may ask.

Things go south if the buyer transfers(fast) out, and claims the domain was never received. Even farther south if buyer is in another country after the transfer.

AN support is your best bet at this point, we can't help you.

GL.

 

[URL Stream]

Should be straight forward, but you need the buyer to cooperate. Buyer needs to contact AN support, tell them the transfer is complete. They will likely ask buyer to expose whois. Not necessary if name still is ate GD, but they may ask.

Things go south if the buyer transfers(fast) out, and claims the domain was never received. Even farther south if buyer is in another country after the transfer.

AN support is your best bet at this point, we can't help you.

GL.

That’s the thing. All the stars are aligned. The buyer already called in to give his report, plus the domain is still at GoDaddy with no nameserver change. I’m just not getting anywhere with AN customer support.

James did say he would check into it. Hopefully that will help.

Thanks for your input.

 

[fka1080405]

Interesting to compare my Afternic email notification with yours. I followed Step 1 of the instructions (highlighted), and that’s where I ended up going off course...

Show attachment 297312

Show attachment 297313

Ah! I thought this was a domain that Afternic recognised was already at GoDaddy. I wonder why Afternic didn't recognise that it's with GoDaddy, maybe it is due to your GoDaddy and Afternic account not being linked or something. The email you received is the same email I've received when a domain not with GoDaddy is bought on Afternic:

 

[Mr. Deleted]

Hopefully you’ll get your funds.

 

[Ali Mustafa]

CC: @GoDaddy

I’m hoping to get some advice from the community regarding an Afternic transaction that appears to be stuck in limbo.

Here’s what happened:
A buyer used the Afternic Import Lead link for a domain name and completed payment. I then unlocked the domain and followed the transfer prompts that appeared through the GoDaddy/Afternic interface. In the process, the domain ended up being pushed directly to the buyer’s GoDaddy account instead of being delivered through the Afternic Transaction Assurance interface.

As a result, Afternic is now saying they cannot process the payout, because the delivery did not occur through their Transaction Assurance system.

The current situation is essentially this:
• The buyer has possession of the domain
• Afternic still has the buyer’s funds
• The transaction remains open in their system

Their stated path forward is that I would need to retrieve the domain from the buyer and redo the delivery through Afternic. Unfortunately the buyer became unresponsive after I explained the situation, which I can’t really blame them for — asking a buyer to return a domain after they already received it understandably looks suspicious.

I’ve been in contact with Afternic and was told the case is under review, but there hasn’t been any further response for some time already.

So at the moment the transaction seems stuck in a state where:
buyer → has the domain
Afternic → has the money
seller → has neither

I’m trying to understand what the realistic resolution paths are here.

Has anyone experienced something similar with an Import Lead / Afternic TA transaction where the domain was pushed directly instead of delivered through their system?

Specifically I’d like to know:
• How long Afternic typically keeps a transaction open in a situation like this
• Whether they ever perform manual payout verification when the transfer can be confirmed through GoDaddy logs
• What normally happens if the buyer remains unresponsive

Any insight from people who’ve dealt with Afternic Transaction Assurance before would be greatly appreciated.

Show attachment 297123
Show attachment 297124
Post drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT to help summarize the sequence of events.

This is a tricky situation but if the buyer already confirmed the transfer and the domain is still at GoDaddy, Afternic should be able to verify the ownership change through their internal logs. Hopefully once someone senior reviews the case they can manually confirm the transfer and release the payout. Please keep us updated on how it resolves.

 

[URL Stream]

Ah! I thought this was a domain that Afternic recognised was already at GoDaddy. I wonder why Afternic didn't recognise that it's with GoDaddy,

Not sure if this makes a difference, but it was a fairly recent closeout purchase.

maybe it is due to your GoDaddy and Afternic account not being linked or something.

They must be connected, since my AN login gives me the option to “Sign in with GoDaddy.”

 

[Joe drake]

CC: @GoDaddy

I’m hoping to get some advice from the community regarding an Afternic transaction that appears to be stuck in limbo.

Here’s what happened:
A buyer used the Afternic Import Lead link for a domain name and completed payment. I then unlocked the domain and followed the transfer prompts that appeared through the GoDaddy/Afternic interface. In the process, the domain ended up being pushed directly to the buyer’s GoDaddy account instead of being delivered through the Afternic Transaction Assurance interface.

As a result, Afternic is now saying they cannot process the payout, because the delivery did not occur through their Transaction Assurance system.

The current situation is essentially this:
• The buyer has possession of the domain
• Afternic still has the buyer’s funds
• The transaction remains open in their system

Their stated path forward is that I would need to retrieve the domain from the buyer and redo the delivery through Afternic. Unfortunately the buyer became unresponsive after I explained the situation, which I can’t really blame them for — asking a buyer to return a domain after they already received it understandably looks suspicious.

I’ve been in contact with Afternic and was told the case is under review, but there hasn’t been any further response for some time already.

So at the moment the transaction seems stuck in a state where:
buyer → has the domain
Afternic → has the money
seller → has neither

I’m trying to understand what the realistic resolution paths are here.

Has anyone experienced something similar with an Import Lead / Afternic TA transaction where the domain was pushed directly instead of delivered through their system?

Specifically I’d like to know:
• How long Afternic typically keeps a transaction open in a situation like this
• Whether they ever perform manual payout verification when the transfer can be confirmed through GoDaddy logs
• What normally happens if the buyer remains unresponsive

Any insight from people who’ve dealt with Afternic Transaction Assurance before would be greatly appreciated.

Show attachment 297123
Show attachment 297124
Post drafted with the assistance of ChatGPT to help summarize the sequence of events.

I think in the end you’ll be okay. The buyer is not going to commit fraud over a thousand bucks. If it ends up going to an investigation, Verisign is the one who actually has control of the domain.

The only real problem I could see is if the buyer purposely had someone else take delivery of the domain and that person then sold it to someone else. But I’m sure this will all work out.

There are a lot of situations where similar things happen with Fast Transfer and sellers end up getting screwed. That’s why if anyone ever uses Fast Transfer, you need your head examined. Andrew Rosener explained in one of the Sherpa interviews how you can sell a domain with Fast Transfer and the idiots at GoDaddy/Afternic end up paying the previous owner.

Never, ever use Fast Transfer.

 

[Nigel Roberts]

I don't know what jurisdiction you are in, or the jurisdiction of the relevant contract(s) but I'm going to assume that this is all done under a common-law system, such as nearly all US states, the UK/Canada/Aus/NZ etc.

There are several contracts here.

The only ones you are likely to be concerned with are the ones to which you are a party, unless your jurisdiction has something like the English Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) law.

You have a contract with the buyer.

You were obliged to deliver a domain. You did so.

You fulfilled your part of the bargain. He was supposed to deliver money to you. That hasn't quite happened. He's delivered the money to his agent, the broker. It's unfortunate, as he's not really done anything wrong. but he still owes you the money.

He has a right to reclaim the money from the broker (or persuade them to pass it on to you).

You may or may not have a contract with the broker. He may be solely an agent for the seller. Or solely for the buyer. Or he may have obligations to both.

Go read their terms of business. Carefully.

(And note, just because something is in a term of business doesn't mean it's lawful, though it usually is. Ofter there are statutory rules that can override explicit words in a contract -- for example Unfair Terms in the UK and EU).

If you've done anything wrong, it seems to be technical -- if and only if it was an explicit term of the contract that you used a specific mechanism and you didn't, you could be looked at for any expense in putting it right, but you are still entitled to the consideration for the agreement.

Who is in the wrong here, is the broker. It's not their money.

They are not entitled to retain the funds, even if you did screw up. At a minimum that's unjust enrichment. The real question would be whether in your jurisdiction you would have standing to pursue the broker, and you might not, due to privity of contract.

If this were me, and if it were under GBP 10k (the Small Claims Track limit in England) I'd be looking to sue both parties in the County Court (or threaten to) and let the District Judge decide which of the two parties owes you the money.

Please note, although the above represents my understanding of overarching principles, I'm not a practicing lawyer in any jurisdiction, and I'm not your lawyer. Take independent legal advice.

 

[Nigel Roberts]

(duplicated answer)

I don't know what jurisdiction you are in ....

 

[kool1]

On a similar note, be very careful with escrow . com, if you're not using their concierge service you are putting all your trust in the buyer. If you push a name to the buyer, and it remains in privacy, escrow has no way of knowing if the buyer received the domain unless he confirms.