Epik.com Locking Policies

[Name Trader]

I've just been told by Epik support that if I purchase a domain from another customer and it's pushed to my account, that it is locked for another 60 days. JUST LIKE @ GODADDY. If this is true, that's me done with Epik as a customer. One of the worst policies GoDaddy has is a new 60 day hold on a push. And now I'm being told it is the same at Epik. That's the end of my experiment with Epik (:

 

[Name Trader]

You should create your own registrar, I think!

I don't think so. There are a some registrars like that. And many who also are not like that. Even Epik are conflicted. They insist it's their policy, but only the first 60 days after registration are mandatory. There seem to be unmandatory rules for 2 other kinds of 60 day locks, that they seem to be able to introduce, at will. But I am not an expert with how they use them. So I'll leave it to them to explain them.

 

[jideofor]

I don't think so. There are a some registrars like that. And many who also are not like that. Even Epik are conflicted. They insist it's their policy, but only the first 60 days after registration are mandatory. There seem to be unmandatory rules for 2 other kinds of 60 day locks, that they seem to be able to introduce, at will. But I am not an expert with how they use them. So I'll leave it to them to explain them.

Epik didn't set the rules, ICANN did. I remember a domain name I backordered at Namejet, which end up in my enom account.It was locked and I couldn't transfer out. I requested for a waiver but I got none lol. I can't blame these registrar for abiding by a rule they didn't set.

I feel you should channel this to ICANN.

 

[Grilled]

Epik didn't set the rules, ICANN did. I remember a domain name I backordered at Namejet, which end up in my enom account.It was locked and I couldn't transfer out. I requested for a waiver but I got none lol.

You're talking about a backordered domain.

From my understanding, if a backordered domain is a new registration, there is a mandatory 60 registration lock.

What @stub is talking about isn't a backordered domain. It was a purchase from a nP member (regarding a domain older than 60 days), that simply required a domain push from one epik account to another epik account. Of which was, the lock was apparently eventually waived after Mr. Robs intervention.

Maybe you should create your own registrar?

 

[Name Trader]

You're talking about a backordered domain.

From my understanding, if a backordered domain is a new registration, there is a mandatory 60 registration lock.

What @stub is talking about isn't a backordered domain. It was a purchase from a nP member (regarding a domain older than 60 days), that simply required a domain push from one epik account to another epik account. Of which was, the lock was apparently eventually waived after Mr. Robs intervention.

That is correct. I think from other posts in this thread that there are another 2 types of 60 day locks which don't have any specific names, and were only just recently introduced in the last few months. This is from hearsay evidence posted here. So don't jump all over me for saying these things.

I'm satisfied with the treatment I got, and thank @Rob Monster, for his intervention, after all possible avenues I'd tried had failed. Actually. I think Rob was the only person who actually looked at my case in any detail. Other high level staff just quoted verbatum the rules. I don't think they ever even looked at the domain or why it was locked. They just repeated the rule I was asking relief from (60 day lock), abruptly. No explanation. Not very helpful. At all.

 

[Name Trader]

I personally think all 3 of these 60 day locks should be given different names, and clearly elucidating what they all are for, and how to appeal them.

 

[timestamp]

60 day locks:
60 day new registration lock*
60 day domain push lock**
60 day domain transfer lock*
60 day whois change lock**

* - have to wait !
** - possible don't have to wait ?

 

[jideofor]

You're talking about a backordered domain.

From my understanding, if a backordered domain is a new registration, there is a mandatory 60 registration lock.

What @stub is talking about isn't a backordered domain. It was a purchase from a nP member (regarding a domain older than 60 days), that simply required a domain push from one epik account to another epik account. Of which was, the lock was apparently eventually waived after Mr. Robs intervention.

Maybe you should create your own registrar?

Nope, this was an expired auction. I may have used the wrong wording. It was not a freshly dropped domain name but expired.

I had to wait for 2 months to have it transfer and sold!

 

[Name Trader]

Nope, this was an expired auction. I may have used the wrong wording. It was not a freshly dropped domain name but expired.

I had to wait for 2 months to have it transfer and sold!

Did it retain it's original registration date or was it a new registration? I'm assuming the former.

 

[bmugford]

Epik didn't set the rules, ICANN did. I remember a domain name I backordered at Namejet, which end up in my enom account.It was locked and I couldn't transfer out. I requested for a waiver but I got none lol. I can't blame these registrar for abiding by a rule they didn't set.

I feel you should channel this to ICANN.

The NameJet hold for Enom domains is not ICANN related.

If a Pre-Release domain name is supplied by eNom, upon receipt of your auction payment the domain enters an Escrow Holding Period known as Auction Lock. This holding period lasts for approximately 45 days following the completion of the auction. During this period, the domain cannot be transferred, nor can you push the domain to another account. You can make updates to the domain, such as changing DNS, updating host records or making WHOIS changes at any time during the Auction Lock timeframe.

The ICANN (60) day lock only applies in the following (2) situations -

1.) The domain was registered in the last (60) days.
2.) The domain was transferred to a new registrar in the last (60) days.

Those are it. Any additional lock is imposed at the registrar or registry level.

Brad

 

[bmugford]

I've just been told by Epik support that if I purchase a domain from another customer and it's pushed to my account, that it is locked for another 60 days. JUST LIKE @ GODADDY. If this is true, that's me done with Epik as a customer. One of the worst policies GoDaddy has is a new 60 day hold on a push. And now I'm being told it is the same at Epik. That's the end of my experiment with Epik (:

I have seen some Epik supporters attack GoDaddy for their internal locking policies.

With that said, I did purchase a domain from an owner that was subject to this lock recently, and after they contacted Rob the lock was removed.

Brad

 

[7363824]

Idk but this seems odd to me. I remember before I started holding my domains at Epik I bought a name here that was an Epik push. I didn't have an account at that time so I created one got the push and was immediately able to transfer it out withing minutes of both receiving it and creating my account even. I didn't even have to verify my account or ask for the lock to be waived...

Sometime later when I was just starting to actually give Epik a try I transfered in a few domains, about a month later sold one and had to provide auth code. That was locked from being transferred in but a quick email got that removed. And as I recall I had not even had my account verified when that happened. I have since transfered in the rest of my domains and verified my Epik account. The only names I have outside of Epik are ties up in locks at another registrar where I had received the domain.

That said I personally abhor the 60 day lock but understand the legitimate risks of not having that. Which is why I like the idea of automatically not enforcing it for known verified customers. Not sure that Epik is quite there, i still get 60 day locks on names I get from NameLiquidate or their marketplace even with my Epik account verified. But hey I know I can always get that lifted as needed.

I have always found Epik support to be responsive and helpful. Are they perfect no, but I find i have problems with Epik support about as often as I get good support at another, let's just say much larger registrar and leave it at that.

Finally, Epik is the only registrar where I actually have the direct contact info for the CEO so if need be I can just email Rob and get things sorted out.

Moral of the story is I always feel I get VIP treatment with Epik, in spite of having less than 200 domains with them. As far as I'm concerned thats how any company in any industry should work, treat all your customers like VIPs they'll never want to leave...I know I don't.

 

[accuname]

So, no, we don't enforce arbitrary locks and will almost always remove them upon request, but I believe that is the reason why the 60-day cooling off period exists.

Using support chat, I requested a removal only 5 days before the 60 day lock on a transferred-in domain because I sold it. Chat rep said I'd get an answer most likely same day after needing to tun it by the "team". I also sent an email to support@epik.

I started another chat session the next day when no word came. Chat rep initially said they couldn't find the previous ticket and began opening another ticket. When pressed - rep finally found the ticket I made the previous day and said it was denied.

I also sent a pm to you on NP with no response. No response also from emailing support.

If my scenerio can't get an unlock can you describe some examples that can?

 

[private123]

What is final conclusion of this thread ?

Can any tell in one word.. ??

Yes or no

 

[dirk]

What is final conclusion of this thread ?

Can any tell in one word.. ??

Yes or no

Maybe

 

[scithe]

I requested a removal only 5 days before the 60 day lock on a transferred-in domain because I sold it.

If you mean transferred in from another registrar then ICANN requires 60 days. Epik can't override that. But if you received a push from another Epik user, that should be something they could remove.

 

[karmaco]

If you mean transferred in from another registrar then ICANN requires 60 days. Epik can't override that. But if you received a push from another Epik user, that should be something they could remove.

Actually it can be overriden if it was registered 60 days or more ago. The lock on an aged recently transferred in domain is up to the registrar.

A new registration of course 60 day wait is mandatory.

 

[karmaco]

As an example Gab got booted from GD went to Uniregistry and two days later was at Epik. Exceptions can be made.

Several times I myself immediately transferred out domains after a sale that I had recently sold and had been recently transferred. (Not at Epik)

 

[accuname]

If you mean transferred in from another registrar then ICANN requires 60 days. Epik can't override that. But if you received a push from another Epik user, that should be something they could remove.

I wish there was a clear answer on this. There are claims going around that a transferred-in domain can have 60 day lock lifted - that it isn't a non-negotiable ICANN lock. That it's at the discretion of the registrar.

I don't have a large portfolio and luckily by coincidence the few times a sale happened under 60 day lock there was only a week or so left and never got in trouble with afternic. Fresh regs I don't list so this only happens when I transfer a name and it also happens to be at afternic.

 

[dirk]

I wish there was a clear answer on this. There are claims going around that a transferred-in domain can have 60 day lock lifted - that it isn't a non-negotiable ICANN lock. That it's at the discretion of the registrar.

I don't have a large portfolio and luckily by coincidence the few times a sale happened under 60 day lock there was only a week or so left and never got in trouble with afternic. Fresh regs I don't list so this only happens when I transfer a name and it also happens to be at afternic.

Transferred in domain can have the lock lifted. It's not a mandatory lock as clearly stated in ICANN regulation.

However... If you transfer the domain again within 45 days your domain registration will not get extended by another year.

The losing registrar is issued a refund and the gaining registrar gets charged.

I wouldn't count on Epik to be of any assistance thought.