Epik, We have a problem. Domain removed from account without permission.

[bmugford]

I am sure as many of you are aware I have had issues with Epik in the past, but decided to give them a chance when I saw a domain I wanted on Name Liquidate.

I purchased the domain PianoMoving.com on 7/20. It was transferred into my account then.
This was the only domain in my account.

It was in my WHOIS information.
I updated the nameservers.

When I just checked it is magically no longer in my account.
The nameservers were changed.
I received zero contact about the domain being moved.

I have all the receipts -

1.) The purchase/renewal from Epik.
2.) The Paypal charge.
3.) Email of when the domain was moved into my account @ Epik.
4.) Email when the nameservers were updated in early August @ Epik.

I don't see any indication that the domain was removed from my account.
On top of zero communication, there also appears to be nothing under "Outgoing Pushes" or "Task History".

I sent a DM to @Rob Monster about this earlier this morning, but have not received a response yet.

I was just notified I received a refund. I don't want a refund.

I want the domain I won, that was in my account, which I had full control over.
It was removed from my account without permission or even notification.

I do not find this acceptable in any way.

@Epik.com, you have some explaining to do.

Brad

 

[tonyk2000]

https://www.epik.com/buy/pianomoving.com

Pianomoving.com Is currently listed for sale on Epik (make offer). So, the Epik account where the domain resides opted to list it for sale on Epik marketplace. Why is this? And, assuming that the payment plan is not yet completed as we learned, how can it be for sale in the first place?

 

[Future Sensors]

https://www.epik.com/buy/pianomoving.com

Pianomoving.com Is currently listed for sale on Epik (make offer). So, the Epik account where the domain resides opted to list it for sale on Epik marketplace. Why is this? And, assuming that the payment plan is not yet completed as we learned, how can it be for sale in the first place?

What a mess.

 

[dirk]

@bmugford

You still seem to have it listed at Dan. Just a heads up

 

[Future Sensors]

What a surprise. A new Let's Encrypt garbage TLS certificate has been created today, September 15th. Aside from the weird and seemingly random combinations with other Epik customers that you don't want to be associated with (shelter, anyone?), doing this as often as Epik/Terrahost does is totally unnecessary.

https://crt.sh/?id=7544255699

X509v3 Subject Alternative Name:
DNS:7r.net
DNS:arbitragegraph.info
DNS:californialandscapedesign.com
DNS:cannabisauditor.com.bakedbeansd.io.animationvideosuite.com
DNS:daddyvladdy.org
DNS:doneforyouarticles.com
DNS:eazcbd.com.shippingcontainerbuildings.net
DNS:eroticpodcasts.com
DNS:forextrainingcourse.com
DNS:gayutopia.org
DNS:immoloca.com
DNS:instructionalu.com
DNS:jiovanny.com.mechanics-tools.com
DNS:pedigreedoggrooming.com
DNS:pianomoving.com
DNS:tastylia.com
DNS:www.lifebeginsatconception.com
DNS:xn--kassaskp-g0a.com
DNS:yrtr.me

 

[dirk]

doing this as often as Epik/Terrahost does is totally unnecessary.

The 3 month validity is a LE feature.

 

[tonyk2000]

doing this as often as Epik/Terrahost does is totally unnecessary

If they are issuing multidomain certs, this is technically acceptable and not uncommon. Imo. Any change --> all the set reissued. Should, for example, gayutopian eroticpodcasts decide to switch host as they do not want to be associated with piano movers anymore - then these domains will be deleted from the epik/terrahost system, and a request would be generated to reissue the certificate without 2 deleted domains. And/or vice versa... It all depends on the setup and even on sysadmins personal taste. Of course, they do not expect namepros members to be such a good investigators But, indeed, an issue of questionable neighbors is something that any customer of any webhost/registrar should at least be aware of...

 

[Future Sensors]

Should, for example, gayutopian eroticpodcasts decide to switch host as they do not want to be associated with piano movers anymore

Well said

 

[TCK]

This is indeed a mess. So sorry this happened to you @bmugford

One takeaway is move your auction win domains to another registrar as soon as possible.

This could have been a positive pr spin for Epik if they responded in a way that showed their concern for the innocent party, the buyer, in a meaningful way. Could have been lemonade but now the opportunity is lost.

 

[Future Sensors]

One takeaway is move your auction win domains to another registrar as soon as possible.

This.

Or, in Rob Monster's own words:

"The logic of having domain transfer happen at the time of the auction win is that it allows us to enforce the sale as there is a chance (sic) of registrar. This assures the buyer of clear title. Our escrow process is the same."

https://www.namepros.com/threads/nameliquidate-com-question.1247357/#post-8352755

 

[alcy]

This is indeed a mess. So sorry this happened to you @bmugford

One takeaway is move your auction win domains to another registrar as soon as possible.

This could have been a positive pr spin for Epik if they responded in a way that showed their concern for the innocent party, the buyer, in a meaningful way. Could have been lemonade but now the opportunity is lost.

it was probably transfer locked

 

[.X.]

I have had this happen twice to me through the years , in the mid 2000s at a dominant domain auction house . In that case , it was a software glitch that caused the incident . Although I had the domain in my account at the auction house for 5 weeks, the domain never made it to my desired transfer register account. It is indeed a time consuming process and very disappointing event , the auction house did compensate me , but only to use the compensation on their platform .

 

[Future Sensors]

I also have no idea where the $4,750 price came from.

Highly confusing indeed.

This seems to be the price for buying the "US" whois database from Whoxy.

 

[alistair80]

Exact same thing happening with me today...Domain out of my account and listed on Epik under "Make offer"....I paid over 8k for the domain...
Something fishy is going on...

 

[bmugford]

Exact same thing happening with me today...Domain out of my account and listed on Epik under "Make offer"....I paid over 8k for the domain...
Something fishy is going on...

I am sorry to hear that. I guess Epik has some more explaining to do.

Was it removed without notice or explanation?

Brad

 

[alistair80]

I am sorry to hear that. I guess Epik has some more explaining to do.

Was it removed without notice or explanation?

Brad

Yep. No email. Nothing. Now it's listed on their marketplace. I had my email on that domain as well...I'm hoping to hear from them asap....else I'd have to call my attorney next week...

 

[bmugford]

Yep. No email. Nothing. Now it's listed on their marketplace. I had my email on that domain as well...I'm hoping to hear from then asap....else I'd have to call my attorney next week...

So, then it seems like this is not an isolated issue.

Removing a domain without authorization is bad enough, but when it happens without notification or explanation it makes it far worse.

I hope it gets resolved, but I would be extremely uncomfortable holding valuable domains at a registrar where this can happen.

Brad

 

[tonyk2000]

No email. Nothing. Now it's listed on their marketplace. I had my email on that domain as well

Very hard to say anything at this time. If your email was on this domain, and if you used it also as epik account email (hope you didn't!), then epik system might send you an email which was undelivered. Was it expired domain? Epik tends to remove such domains pretty fast, and tries to sell them. 8K purchase - did you buy it on or via Epik or simply trusted Epik enough to transfer a valuable domain to them? Dates and other relevant info?

 

[tonyk2000]

In any case, something is changing @ epik and I am wondering what is really happening. At the same time - new CEO, folks complaining about not being paid for their Epik sales in other NP thread, pianomoving case is 19 pages already, and now this...

 

[Sam1234]

Epik is EASILY the shadiest registrar I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. I'm trying to transfer out some domains right now but the "Transfer out" option is grayed out. I contacted support via chat and they are giving me all kinds of runaround and offering to reduce their insane renewal prices, but refusing to address the obvious elephant in the room -- the unexplained disabling of my ability to transfer out. I asked for a complete list of auth codes and they are taking a very long time. Very upsetting that I'm stuck dealing with Epik on a Sunday morning.

Very sad situation the domain world is in right now, with nobody policing these criminally shady registrars. I hear they recently got a new CEO or something. I highly doubt he can do anything to keep Epik from going under in the next few years, with the mass exodus that is surely coming.

 

[tonyk2000]

the "Transfer out" option is grayed out

Registrars must provide the Registered Name Holder with the unique "AuthInfo" code and remove the "ClientTransferProhibited" within five (5) calendar days of the Registered Name Holder's initial request if the Registrar does not provide facilities for the Registered Name Holder to generate and manage their own unique "AuthInfo" code and to remove the "ClientTransferProhibited" status

Source: https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/transfer-policy-2016-06-01-en

Grayed out option means that Epik does not currently provide mentioned "facilities" for your domain(s). So, you may now send them a formal (traceable) request, by email, and save the email as a reference. After 5 days - just submit a complaint to ICANN: https://www.icann.org/compliance/complaint