Bugged After Buying An Expired Domain?

[Dave_Z]

Hi folks,

Rather belated Happy New Year to you guys first. Next, the thread.

I just read in another forum of someone who bought an expired domain name
in an auction. S/he received an email soon after from presumably the former
registrant of the domain.

S/he ignored the email at first, then got a postal mail. S/he replied back with
a polite no. (at least, that's how I understood the thread...)

Here's where it gets potentially bothersome: the person apparently had sent
his friend to the new registrant's house regarding the domain name. S/he had
eventually posted on the thread asking for some advice or so.

(I wish I could post the link here. But I did that before and it got zapped, so
feel free to PM me for it if you want to check it out.)

The member was mostly told to contact the police. One other member posted
the police aren't likely to take it seriously based on his previous experience in
a similar issue, though it's for banning a member from his forum who later had
threatened one of his loved ones.

If you were in that forum member's shoes, what would you do?

 

[Michael]

Unless I paid a lot for the domain I'd probably just sell it cheap or give it to them if they started showing up at my house. No point in getting hurt over a domain name, and you never know how far sickos will take things these days...

Of course I would call the police as well. Even if they don't take it too seriously, at least you have a report and can get a restraining order, etc.

 

[Name Trader]

Hi Dave,

Well there are practical and non--practical solutions. Personally, if they don't have any UDRP claim, I'd tell them to go f*ck themselves. Which I've done a couple of times. If they insist on physical intimidation, I'd call the police.

rgds
stu

 

[DotWeekly]

I'd be happy for owning my 10 guns I do. Secondly, I'd be happy that I am a Good Shot!

 

[kaposzta]

Fortunately I live in Hungary so I guess no-one will show up for a frickin domain :D

 

[Coopey]

I can't say what you should do, as it's never happened to me, but I can tell you what I would do if it did:

-Say the domain is for sale at a certain price (even if it is not- just set the price higher in this case)
-Fake the sale and (temporarily) change the WHOIS to something a bit random that looks real
-Transfer to a registrar with free WHOIS privacy (like name.com) or just a pay the one-or-two dollars
-If contacted again say the name has been sold.
But, of course, if continually contacted (i.e. harassment) contact police.

 

[npcomplete]

I'd be happy for owning my 10 guns I do. Secondly, I'd be happy that I am a Good Shot!

Good answer! Off to the range myself in a couple of hours. Some nutcases do not give as much warning as the nutcase cited by the OP, so get a concealed carry permit and learn how to shoot.

 

[duceman]

I've been a bail bondsman for almost 20 years. I deal with the criminal element on a daily basis. From what you've said so far the previous holder of the name seems to have the criminal mentality (IMHO). A rational thinking person would not show up or ask someone to show up at a persons home with the intent of forcing an action. I'd notify the authorities immediately. The type of property being threatened should not matter. Just let them know that there is a possibility of confrontation and ask for a restraining order.

As for the other thread you were speaking of, it was quite entertaining until it went completely sideways.

 

[Deaol]

Just turn on the ignore switch until it became personal.

Actually reminds me of a domain I picked up a few years back, after I had the domain in my possession the previous owner contacted me every day for almost a year demanding the name back, threatning legal action.. etc, and to make long stories short, to this day.. and it has been almost 4 years, that previous owner still contacts me around the renewal date stating he wants me to transfer it back to him and he has been patiently waiting. Kind of funny really.

 

[Domainate.com]

It depends on the name, whether I was buying to resell, how good it is, and how their contact is. I've sold names for $50 - $400 to the old registrant, and probably 9 times out of 10 when they've contacted me we've negotiated sale. Part of it's because I do tend to cave in a little to make the deal go through so they can have their name back. As much as people say "well they shouldn't have let it go then", I've had a number of names I've mistakenly let go, and granted it's easier when you have 2k names to look after at over a dozen registrars and esp. some extensions with no redemption period, but I do feel for them in some cases.

If it's someone demanding for their name back for nothing however, I tell them as politely as possible that they failed to renew their domain and it is thus no longer theirs and if they would like to purchase it to name a reasonable price and we'll go from there.

 

[Auraka]

This just happened minus the person showing up at my house. I told them we could discuss them purchasing the domain back and haven't heard a thing. If someone showed up at my house with the intent to intimidate me to hand something over I'm not sure what I'd do. Part of me says something like that isn't worth it....and part of me says I bought that new AR15 for a reason....

 

[Dave_Z]

Just turn on the ignore switch until it became personal.

Actually reminds me of a domain I picked up a few years back, after I had the domain in my possession the previous owner contacted me every day for almost a year demanding the name back, threatning legal action.. etc, and to make long stories short, to this day.. and it has been almost 4 years, that previous owner still contacts me around the renewal date stating he wants me to transfer it back to him and he has been patiently waiting. Kind of funny really.

That is one persistent person.

 

[gazzip]

I'v been bugged twice so far by so-called "former owners". One ended in a x,xxx sale and the other I just ignored them totally because they had a stinky attitude.

If someone turned up on my doorstep over a domain I would not be a very happy bunny at all !

....and part of me says I bought that new AR15 for a reason....

That thing looks like its built to kill a herd of angry elephants its a sad state of affairs when a member of the general public needs to own something like that IMO



.

 

[Seabass]

I had these thoughts ten years ago about someone showing up at my door or someone else's and causing physical harm. I had a really nasty run-in with someone in 1996 who I beat to a generic domain and that got me to thinking about that guy showing up at my house. My fears were justified b/c I later found out through the grapevine in that industry that he was known as a total whack-job.

Three years later I found and article in a Texas newspaper about a man who was this guy's competitor accusing him of hiring a hit man to take him out so as to free up market share in that particular industry.

I also was selling products from my house address in 1997 and occasional folks started showing up at my door instead of buying on the Net. They wanted the product immediately and thought I had a store they could walk into.

That also made me feel vulnerable....sort of.

.

 

[seraphimarts]

I'd be happy for owning my 10 guns I do. Secondly, I'd be happy that I am a Good Shot!

Jealous... even after DC v. Heller, it's a [expletive redacted] to legally own a handgun in D.C. ...

Just let them know that there is a possibility of confrontation and ask for a restraining order.

Good advice duceman. For the rest of the thread, I would reinforce duceman's statement by saying... please, please, please... take the time to get a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) if someone shows up on your doorstep. I would, frankly, go ahead and seek a TRO if they merely threatened to show up. It won't necessarily stop them, but it will turn the situation on its ear if you have to have the police show up as it becomes crystal clear who the "baddie" is then to the law enforcement personnel on the scene. You don't want a "he said, she said" scenario.

 

[whitebark]

The problem with a TRO is that you need to know the name of the person at your door. Most thugs don't just hand you their wallet for inspection. If you feel threatened - call the police. That's what you pay your taxes for. If they come back after that you know their intentions are not good so arm yourself accordingly.