Do I have any chance of getting this domain?

[ambull]

Ok, please don’t call me an idiot for doing this, because I already know. I sent some dude from Germany $450 euro ($540ish USD), for a domain, with nothing more than a signed piece of paper that he faxed over to me, promising to transfer the domain. I paid through paypal. I knew I was taking a risk, but the guy seemed legit, and it was the only way he would do the deal. His original asking price for the domain was more than double what he eventual accepted, so I took the chance and sent him the money. I want the domain bad enough, that looking back, I’d probably do it all over again. I REALLY need this domain.

ANYWAY, I would say that by tomorrow afternoon, if he still does not make any attempts to transfer, that I have been screwed. Nice guy. Merry Christmas. If that’s the case, do I have any chance of getting the domain via ICANN or the registrar (bulkregister). I have a signed “sales receipt”, lots of email traffic (though none since I paid) and proof of payment.

I just want to know if I should spend my energy on getting my money back or getting the domain. Obviously, I’d rather the domain, but if I have no shot, I might as well give that up and go for my money, which I probably won’t get anyway, but I’m not going to just roll over. I’m at least going to go down with a fight……

 

[nRnF]

If you Paypaled the money, it is relatively easy to get it back (Get in contact with PayPal).

 

[G_C]

Yes, it should be relatively easy to get the money back through PayPal, as it offers notoriously little seller protection, and cases where a transaction is reversed after the domain is transferred are quite common. In most of those cases, buyers reverse the transaction with no legitimate reason, so I imagine there shouldn't be a problem with you doing the same when you have a signed contract (or what looks like one) to back it up with.

Just one question - does the signed piece of paper specify a deadline for transferring the domain name? Also, are there any cancellation clauses mentioned in it?

 

[ambull]

Are you sure paypal will work with me on this? This was a money conversion, AND the guy is unverified, and has a zero rating for paypal transactions (his account has been established since 2002 though). Add the fact that this purchase is for an intangable item (a domain), I have a lot working against me...

I had a guy once hack into my paypal account and buy a $1,200 laptop. He did the same to about 20 other people. Even under these circumstances I STILL had a tough time getting my money returned from paypal! I do not have a lot of faith in them...

My preference, if at all possible, is to get bulkregister to push through a transfer based on my evidence of the purchase. Think this might be possible?

Just one question - does the signed piece of paper specify a deadline for transferring the domain name? Also, are there any cancellation clauses mentioned in it?

G_C- No, and no!

 

[Ray]

i would go for the money through paypal.. it could take a while if you try to go for the domain via icann. I say this to alot of users, give time, various things could happen at the time of a sale, loss of interenet, DEATH, emergency.. u never no in theses cases

 

[ambull]

give time, various things could happen at the time of a sale, loss of interenet, DEATH, emergency.. u never no in theses cases

I know what you mean, and I will give it a little longer but I will be shocked at this point if he comes through. He has no emergencies I'm pretty sure, because I called him yesterday, to ask what was going on, and he said that he had already unlocked the domain, and that he would start the transfer today. Well, he either lied or made an error on the unlock process, because it was not and still is not unlocked, nor has the transfer process begun today. It is now almost 3pm in germany.

Do you think his registrar will work with me?

 

[Ray]

well if the domain is registered with godaddy.. it could take up to 8 days for the domain to even begin a transfer

 

[ambull]

well if the domain is registered with godaddy.. it could take up to 8 days for the domain to even begin a transfer

Its not godaddy, its bulkregister, and for a transfer to begin, it must first be unlocked, which it is not for this domain. PLUS, he needs to respond to the request from my registrar, asking if this request is authorized, which he has not done...

 

[Ray]

just how long has it been so far?

 

[FanCube]

If you paid Paypal with a CC can you always request your bank for a charge back and I then guess Paypal will take back the money from the seller. How long is it since you last heard from the seller? If it is only a few days there might be a good reason to why he has not contacted you. You can also try other ways of communication like the phone if you got his number.

 

[TUFKATH]

Good luck dude but there are alot of dirt bags out there.

 

[TT]

I would suggest that if your planning on getting your $ back do it ASAP. But with PP you have the standard waiting period 7 days I think

If this is a scam he has already sent your $ to another PP account or withdrawn the funds. I ( Believe this one or not ) was once scammed by PP the seller was paid and PP decided in my favor but the douchbag was kind enough to only leave 0.12 in his PP account on a 600.00+ purchase so all PP gave me back was 0.12 and they washed their hands.

Good Luck Happy Holidays and I really hope you get your domain people like this should be the ones Santa leaves a pile of $hit under the tree for.

 

[Troubled1]

Actually if his paypal account is unverified I don't believe he can remove the money. When I first opened my paypal I could only receive money not withdraw or send it anywhere until I verified.

 

[ambull]

just how long has it been so far?

I paid friday around noon, so it hasn't been THAT long. Its just that he has ignored every email since I paid him, and, he hasn't unlocked the domain or responded to the email from my registrar, which are the very very first steps in the transfer process, and takes all but two minutes time to do.

I know the facts don't support my hunch. It's hard to explain, but I know I've been had...

 

[Ray]

yea... if i were u id wait to wedsay, or until u are sure he has scammeed u

 

[ambull]

The thing is, when someone sends that kind of money, with all the risk involved, to not reply to a single email from that person, or even initiate a "hi, I received your payment. I will start the transfer at blah blah date", is fishy. I've sent three emails and he has NOT responded to ONE. He cooresponded plenty before I sent the money. Also, it's not as if he went away or something because like I said in a previous post, I CALLED the guy. It was like a 30 second phone call, but he did answer, so he was home.

 

[G_C]

The thing is, when someone sends that kind of money, with all the risk involved, to not reply to a single email from that person, or even initiate a "hi, I received your payment. I will start the transfer at blah blah date", is fishy. I've sent three emails and he has NOT responded to ONE. He cooresponded plenty before I sent the money. Also, it's not as if he went away or something because like I said in a previous post, I CALLED the guy. It was like a 30 second phone call, but he did answer, so he was home.

Yeah, I agree it is quite dodgy. When I was transferring a domain name, I kept the buyer informed at every stage of the process and even forwarded him the email I received from the registrar confirming that the ownership transfer has been initiated.

But then again, different people have different communication styles. You don't know how experienced the guy is in dealing with this sort of transactions, so give it time, but if you don't hear from him again in a few days, I'd say its safe to assume that you've been scammed.

You said you called him - does he have your phone number?

 

[Ray]

hmm... as i said before i would look into the register some.. Some registerds take a couple of days to unlock... I no yahoo does, as well as godady.. so its not strange for some registers to unlock..

I would call him again, and be like, can u please refund half of the money until i can get the domain, because you seem like a scam, and if thats the case, i will be contacting a authority..

And hey, how much did you wind up paying for the domain, and what domain is it... Im willing to help you getting the domain if you want..

 

[ambull]

You said you called him - does he have your phone number?

He has my name, address AND phone number! He could call me, write a letter, or even stop by!

I email would be great though...

 

[G_C]

hmm... as i said before i would look into the register some.. Some registerds take a couple of days to unlock... I no yahoo does, as well as godady.. so its not strange for some registers to unlock..

I would call him again, and be like, can u please refund half of the money until i can get the domain, because you seem like a scam, and if thats the case, i will be contacting a authority..

And hey, how much did you wind up paying for the domain, and what domain is it... Im willing to help you getting the domain if you want..

Templaterave has the right idea - call him and be very cool and professional, say something to the effect of "As, to the best of my knowledge, there has so far been no independent notification of an initiated domain transfer procedure, I kindly ask you to refund half of the initial amount of money in advance. This amount of money will be paid to you as soon as the domain ownership transfer process is completed successfully." The trick is being calm and polite about it, I think - as you don't have any proof that he's scamming you, I don't think threatening to notify the authorities would do you any good (if anything, it would antagonize him further, instead of spurring him into action). However, if you manage to be very relaxed and professional about it, he might start thinking that he's dealing with a professional seller who knows exactly what he's doing and how to back it up - and how to bring him to court, if necessary.

Frankly, if I received two complaints, one of which delivered by a screaming and ranting madman and another by a polite and professional man speaking in a calm tone of voice, I'd definitely be more scared of the latter! :D