"Domain Watcher"

[MadAboutDomains]

hello,

I recently purchased a "Domain Watcher" service at http://www.123-reg.co.uk so that I could possibly catch some .co.uk domains. I have teird many domains and waited until the expired but with no luck. I have not been able to catch a single domain name, and I don't think it can work out when the domains are going to expire, so it is... useless!

There are no terms and conditions or any other details about the service anywhere on their website, only on the page that you purchase the service on, and it says this:

Is the .com, .net or .org domain name that you wanted already taken? With 123-reg.co.uk you can now proactively watch domain names, and have them registered as soon as they expire, are deleted, or become available for any reason.

Research shows that out of over 30 million .com, .net and .org domains registered across the world, only around 10% of these are being actively used. Many domains are not renewed on expiry, or can suddenly become available for a variety of reasons.

For just £15 +VAT each (or buy 10 and get one free) you can set up your Domain Watcher, and we will track your domain for a whole year and secure it for you when it becomes available. Watch .com, .net, .org, .co.uk, .me.uk or .org.uk domain names! You will only need to pay the registration fee (at our regular, competitive rates) if you successfully obtain the domain you are tracking.

Furthermore, you have full control over your Domain Watchers, allowing you to edit or change the domain names you are watching at any time through your Control Panel.



To buy some domain watchers today simply enter how many you would like to buy in the box below and confirm your payment details.

I have highlighted the part that I am mainly interested in on the quote above. It doesn't say that it will try, but it says it will secure it. There is no small print or anything.

I am so dissatisfied with this service that I want a refund. On these grounds do you think I am entitled to a refund?

Thankyou

- Luke

 

[Kate]

Well .co.uk is very much unlike .com or .net.
First it is difficult to predict when a .co.uk name will actually expire.
Anyway have a look at the registration date and always remember that the initial registration mandates a minimum of 2 years. That is a specific requirement for .co.uk names. Then do the math. Expect that the name will last at least 2 years, possibly more and can be renewed in the meantime.
Also in the text you quotes it says the system will monitor the domain for a whole year so you may actually be wasting your money.
I don't know if they are any good but as with any drop catcher there are no guarantees whatsoever that it will catch anything...

 

[ryan2829]

I used 123-reg.co.uk but no good. I use snapnames.com now.

 

[barefoottech]

when it becomes available.

You need to re-read the highlighted sction
if someone else grabs the name ,then it is NOT available
therefore they (123-rg.co.uk) can not be held liable .

 

[Shorty]

This is why I don't backorder, it's hardly ever worth it.

 

[TargetDesigns]

odds are if your watching it so is someone else, especially if its a nice domain. Ive been trying to catch a .co.uk for 2 years and i never get it, but its always taken over by different owners.

 

[MadAboutDomains]

You need to re-read the highlighted sction
if someone else grabs the name ,then it is NOT available
therefore they (123-rg.co.uk) can not be held liable .

A domain name has to become available for somone else to register a dropping domain... even if it is hjust for a split second, that's available.