Alldomains.com Screws Me

[homebuyer]

I registered a .vg domain through alldomains.com many, many years ago. I also let it expire years ago as well. At no time did I ever buy any "services" from them. I have also not had any other domains or services with them since then. Take a look at the email I just received from them at approx. 9pm PT (I used Xs to block out sensitive information):
_______________________________________________________

Order Date: 28-Jun-10
Order Number: XXXXXXXX
Account Name: XXXXXXX

Account Owner Information:
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXX

XXXXXXX, ca XXXXXX
US

----------------------------------------------------------------------
The services listed below have been automatically renewed as per our
Registration Agreement
(https://secure.registerapi.com/order/register/agreement.php?siteid=36547).

Please keep a copy of this invoice for your records. You will not
receive a copy in the mail.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Service Type Price (USD)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1 year DNS MANAGEMENT (Correction) Managed Service $50.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL BILLED: $50.00

PAYMENT METHOD: Credit Card XXXX-XXXX



For assistance or questions on this matter, please visit us on the web at
http://www.alldomains.com/request/

Best Regards,



Domain Name Registration - Register Your Domain Today!
___________________________________________________

I then manually typed in alldomains.com into my browser and retrieved my old login info. My account showed that I have no domains with them now but the invoice did show a just renewed managed dns service ($50) with my old domain named. I never had any service when I originally had the domain years ago. My order history shows my having only one service with them - this one renewal. Get that? - a $50 renewal for a service I never, ever had!

I then called my credit card company and they confirmed that the $50 charge was just made by alldomains minutes ago.

Now here is the thing. My credit card on file with alldomains would have expired with them years ago because the card's expiration date was also years ago. For alldomains to have charged on that card again they would have had to input new expiration dates until they found one that worked, right?

I didn't like alldomains back then and I still don't like them. I'll give them a call tomorrow morning.

 

[seven]

Keep us updated. I hope you get your $50 back.

 

[glaxxon]

Did you get the domain or not? If not, then you can file a chargeback with your credit card company. Either way first talk to alldomains first.

 

[coltter]

Try to contact your cc company for charging back the money,
so you have learnt a lesson that never deal with any small or unknown company but not only domain registrars.

 

[homebuyer]

Did you get the domain or not? If not, then you can file a chargeback with your credit card company. Either way first talk to alldomains first.

I was charged a $50 service renewal fee tonight for a service I never had with alldomains. Alldomains claims it is a dns mangagement fee for my domain, but that domain expired many, many years ago.

I'll call alldomains and my credit card company in the morning. Although this issue should be easily resolved, it still bugs me.

---------- Post added at 10:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

Try to contact your cc company for charging back the money,
so you have learnt a lesson that never deal with any small or unknown company but not only domain registrars.

I don't think alldomains.com was a small domain registrar initially. I believe they were one of the first rising stars in the domain industry, but then they fell way behind because of their unwillingness to remain competitive. They still want $25.95 for a one year domain registration.

I'll call them tomorrow. I called my credit card company already but their dispute office was closed. I'll call them too tomorrow to double check on what I get done with alldomains.

 

[glaxxon]

I think it'll be better to first talk to alldomains and then if the problem is still unresolved or they refuse to budge, hit a chargeback.

 

[HBK216]

I agree with Glaxxon, speak with AD first & see what they say. I'd record the conversation as well as they seem shady if your version of events is accurate.

 

[liquidcherry]

The most disturbing part in fact is that they where able to charge a card which was expired long time ago, but still where able to figure out the new data like exp. date etc??

Cheers

Liquid

P.S: correct mef i am wrong but that is what i am reading....

 

[Spade]

This could simply be an error and they may apologize and refund you immediately. Granted, that doesnt make up for the error, but lets be honest - it happens from time to time. Godaddy overcharged me just the other day (by quite a bit) and refunded me immediately. It happens - hopefully they do the right thing and resolve immediately.

 

[homebuyer]

Talked to Alldomains

I just now called the alldomains phone number that my credit card company gave to me last night. It is a good thing my cc company gave this to me because I couldn't find a contact phone number on alldomains' website.

I was on hold for five minutes and then a rep answered. He was nice, and a few seconds after he pulled up my account he said that he was going to send me and my credit card company an email, and that the refund should show up in a few days. He apologized but when asked how alldomains was able to charge a credit card that is expired in their records (I haven't updated my account with alldomains in five years or so), he said, "Honestly, I don't know." He then said I should ask the credit card company why they approved it.

You know, every time I have ever used a credit card online and input the wrong expiration date, the purchase was declined. I'd like to know if businesses have to use expiration dates with their sales, or do they just need to only have the credit card number when they manually make the charge themselves. If I remember the NP posts correctly, registrars like godaddy that offer automatic renewals always decline those renewals when the credit card on file has expired. Maybe it is a different rule when companies manually renew.

On a closing note, even though the issue appears to have been resolved, besides it bugging me, it still makes me wonder how many account holders at alldomains and other businesses make unauthorized automatic renewals for products and services where the customer never becomes aware of the charge.

Now here is the email I just received from them:

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
About Your Call -- ID: xxxxxx


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Temo G) - 06/29/2010 07:42 AM
Hello Robert,

We have received your request for a refund. Your request has been forwarded to our billing department for review. Upon review of your request, you will receive an auto generated email regarding the status of your refund. Please allow 7 - 10 business days for the refund to process and post to your account.

PLEASE NOTE: Depending on your credit card billing cycle, it may take longer for the refund to reflect on your statement. Please contact your credit card company if you have questions regarding your billing cycle and/or refund.

Please feel free to contact us if you have further questions.

Regards,

Customer Care


Question Reference #xxxxxxx---------------------------------------------------------------
Date Created: 06/29/2010 07:42 AM
Last Updated: 06/29/2010 07:42 AM
Status: Pending CS Research
Emergency:
DOMAIN:
ACCT NAME:

Domain name
---------------------------------------------------------------



[---001:001118:31551---]

 

[TheRogue]

You know, every time I have ever used a credit card online and input the wrong expiration date, the purchase was declined. I'd like to know if businesses have to use expiration dates with their sales, or do they just need to only have the credit card number when they manually make the charge themselves. If I remember the NP posts correctly, registrars like godaddy that offer automatic renewals always decline those renewals when the credit card on file has expired. Maybe it is a different rule when companies manually renew.

Try to find out more, maybe there's something for all of us to learn from this

 

[Ms Domainer]

*

Yes, once you approve a company to use your credit card in an automatic billing situation, a company CAN pull your current info from the cc company and charge you for goods and services.

I had this very problem with Yahoo, and my cc rep said I would have to call Yahoo and cancel automatic billing on the phone. The problem: I couldn't get hold of customer service. I finally told the cc company that I would file a chargeback every single time Yahoo charged me for something (They were charging me for services I no longer had).

With that, things moved along in my favor, and, suddenly, Yahoo customer service was available.

My cc company must have come down hard on them.

*

 

[homebuyer]

Here is the final response I received from alldomains:

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it
within the next 10 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
About Your Call -- ID: xxxxx

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Rondi) - 06/29/2010 10:20 AM
I was forwarded an email from customer support & have refunded you
$50.00 on invoice #xxxxxx for the DNS services----Thank you

Response (Temo G) - 06/29/2010 07:42 AM

 

[coltter]

Nice, you can smile now.
they probably saw this thread and must refund with you.

Here is the final response I received from alldomains:

Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support
center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.

If this issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may reopen it
within the next 10 days.

Thank you for allowing us to be of service to you.

Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
About Your Call -- ID: xxxxx

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Rondi) - 06/29/2010 10:20 AM
I was forwarded an email from customer support & have refunded you
$50.00 on invoice #xxxxxx for the DNS services----Thank you

Response (Temo G) - 06/29/2010 07:42 AM

 

[wussadotcom]

Nice, you can smile now.
they probably saw this thread and must refund with you.

well I doubt that :p The OP was already getting a response and he opended this thread just to share the info though ofcourse you may be right as this thread ranks first page for alldomains.com