Epik: Anti-competitive transfer practices, domain hostage taking, business arrogance

[jd854]

This is a story of how Epik's Anti-Competitive Transfer Practices take customer domains Hostage, leading customers to loose Domain Sales and Domain Control.

Some on namepros are big fans of Epik... The original post for this story was moved on Epik fan request, and lost in the move. The issue is still very much ongoing though. I take the time to re-post separately so among the plethora positive Epik messages people would realise you may get badly hurt at Epik.

Starting from the beginning:

ICANN does not impose registrars any domain name lock at transfer in. Registrars are free to decide whether they feel it is fair or not to lock their customer domains upon transfer in. See numerous threads on the subject, like this one.

Given people on namepros are mostly positive about Epik, I decided to move some domains to Epik. The above mentioned link shows there ought not be a "domain hostage" transfer lock at Epik. Moreover, Epik reps (including CEO) on the forums are quite active, so would have chimed-in offering transparency on the subject should there be any Epik limitation.

Soon after moving, I get a (lucrative) buyer request for one of the domains. Deal agreed, I wish to fetch the transfer auth code, which Epik states: "Blocked by the date of purchase: ..."

So I kindly request Epik support for the domain to be unlocked and to get the auth code. A long discussion unfolds. The key element: for anti-competitive measure Epik allows a transfer within 60 days of transferring into Epik only by pushing to another Epik account. If you want/need to move to another registrar within 60 days of a transfer in, you can't at Epik. I stated: anti-competitive and hostage ...

The buyer was quite explicit not wanting to have to deal with Epik (apparently a nightmare experience) My buyer, not wishing to deal with Epik issues again, wishes me good luck with Epik and confirms he buys another domain instead. Domain name sale lost.

I tell Epik and after a few days of discussion Epik blabla's "exceptionally" they will allow a domain name to transfer out within the 60 days of transferring in. Thank you Epik, domain name sale lost, and then you allow to transfer out as a gesture of goodwill? I get the auth codes.

I take a few days time researching which registrar does not have anti-competitive or hostage measures in place, and then decide to move the domains.

SURPRISE !

While the auth codes may seem to work, Epik: "Blocked by the date of purchase"

A new discussion with support whereby they refuse to release the domains. Epik assures me they will not stop the transfer, but I can not confirm the transfer, nor will they confirm the transfer either. I just have to "wait" 5 days and believe their word.

What arrogance this company has? Whose domain name is it? They confirm I can move, they send the auth codes, and then, oups, well, wait another 5 days, 5 more days being held "hostage". Another anti-competitive customer domain ownership disrespecting measure by Epik to keep the domain another 5 days.

For anyone seeing the positive reviews about Epik on namepros, I can certainly never suggest this company to have customer respecting or fair practices. In my short experience with them, they impose unilateral rules not required by ICANN, which are anti-competitive, taking your domain name hostage, forcing you to stay with their first 60 days arrogant sub-standard service.

Save you the hardship of dealing with Epik, I can only recommend to stay as far away from Epik as you can. By the way been with domains for two decades, never had dealings with such appalling company.

 

[DN Playbook]

The 60 day lock is totally at the discretion of the registrar. If there was a sale in progress where the buyer agreed to pay an amount the seller was happy with and an agreement was reached, then the right thing to do is allow the domain to be transferred out. As per a comment made by an Epik staffer:

Congratulations for your sale!

To provide some background, Escrow generally requires the domain to be transferred into Epik, however in certain occasions where for example the domain is under a 60-day lock and can not be transferred, we're happy to assist with pushes at selected external registrars, however you should never push the domain because the buyer requested you to do so, instead you should contact us so we can set up the arrangement.

If you can PM me the escrow transaction ID, I can pass it along to the appropriate department.

Thanks!

And ICANN website:

"Your registrar may deny a transfer request if the domain name is within 60 days of initial registration. Another situation is if the domain name is subject to a 60-day Change of Registrant lock. You cannot transfer a domain name to a different registrar within 60 days of making changes to the registrant name, organization or email address (or the Administrative Contact email address, if there is no registrant email address). At their discretion, some registrars may provide an option for you to opt-out of this 60-day lock period."

FAQs for Registrants: Transferring Your Domain Name - ICANN

EDIT: A workaround may be not to change any of the registrant contact info before transferring out. Let the buyer do that.

 

[tldboss]

https://www.epik.com/terms.php

6. Transfers of Domain Names
Without limitation, domain name services may not be transferred within 60 calendar days of initial registration, within 60 calendar days of a transfer, if there is a dispute regarding the identity of the domain name registrant, if you are bankrupt, or if you fail to pay fees when due. Transfer requests typically take five business days to be processed. A transfer will not be processed if, during this time, the domain name registration services expire in which event you may need to reinstate the transfer request. You may be required to resubmit a transfer request if there is a communication failure. AS A CONSEQUENCE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ASSUME ALL RISK FOR FAILURE OF A TRANSFER IF THE TRANSFER PROCESS IS INITIATED CLOSE TO THE END OF A REGISTRATION TERM.


Dynadot (https://www.dynadot.com/domain/transfer.html)

Before Transferring Your Domains
To transfer a domain, the domain must not be:

a recent registration or transfer (within 60 days)
expired or about to expire (we recommend initiating a transfer at least 2 weeks before a domain expires)

Please note that this opt out does not apply to the 60 day transfer lock that follows a new registration or transfer.

==
I lost a sale in the past (at least a year ago) when Dynadot refused to unlock my domain for transfer, within 60 days.

So, this is not specific to Epik and Dynadot only.

I only have one domain at Epik, waiting to transfer away once 60 days is up. Just pointing out that title is not fair considering this is ICANN policy.

I am sure many Registrars enforce the 60-day lock policy.

 

[Steven McEvoy]

@Rob Monster,
@Intelliname.

Wow look at that. They have NP rep, CEO etc

They’re active on Namepros, let’s hear them.

Calm down! Injecting ICANN, really? LOL.
Epik goes above & beyond for registrant rights, from my experience, the best customer service

JOINED 2 MO, AGO, Welcome to Namepros

Samer

Pretty sure they don’t post much anymore after buying their own domain forum…