GoDaddy / NameFind Bad Faith - Took Domain Away

[Seasoned]

I won a GoDaddy/ NameFind auction. I paid for it right away. Was very excited and already drawing up plans for the website.
They removed it from my won auctions 2 days later and straight up LIED to me that they hadn't caught the domain in time.
Complete and totally lie. As namefind has owned it and still owns it, this is disgusting behavior.
(GoDaddy owns the namefind portfolio)
Plus no email from GoDaddy explaining any of this. I have been a GD customer for 5 years and spent xx,xxx in that time. Beyond furious.
Has anyone had similar experience ?
I emailed [email protected] since phone support was nice but clueless to help.
No reply and not even email explaining their actions.
Does anyone from GD ever chime in here ?

 

[brianbrytus]

I just figured out that the domain was never renewed by previous registrant.
I won the domain 36 days after it expired. I paid for it.
Now it has been awarded to Namefind by Fastdomain 2 days after I paid for it.
This is bad faith and I want answers from Namefind / GoDaddy (NYSE: GDDY).
I am filing complaints against FastDomain [owned by the poorly rated EIG] presently.

Same thing just happened to me too. I am filing complaints too and moving all of my portfolio elsewhere. I'm not stopping until they resolve this and do the right thing. I'll never use godaddy again after being a customer for 18 years. This is pretty low for them. I'm contacting every domain name news soure/site/blog and not stopping until I get my stolen domain name back. @Joe Styler @Paul Nicks please help fix this. Thanks

 

[dragtastic]

hope this issue gets resolved for you..

 

[brianbrytus]

Thanks. It just showed up in my account today. Not sure if it's from the emails and post I made or would have eventually been transferred away. Just glad it's in my account now

 

[John Napoletano]

Hi Guys. This happened to me with and Expired Auction at GoDaddy.com. The domain name is Axium.co and I was the only bidder on 11/24. From what I can see in the Whois the parties involved are Afternic, NameFind, FastDomain. The domain is currently in pending delete status. GoDaddy says it was "from a partner registrar and they informed us that that domain would no longer be becoming available."

Anyone know anyone at the three companies mentioned?

 

[John Napoletano]

Let me know if it goes into your account.

As of yesterday the transaction was "canceled" by GoDaddy. So unless someone with authority steps in to question the transaction and review the logs it will not go to my account. I posted this in hopes that someone has access to the logs and will take a look. If someone at either company is cherry picking then they should be delt with.

 

[John Napoletano]

Maybe it got renewed, which would be viable in regards to their TOS

TOS says " ...the original registrant has the right to reclaim the Expired Domain Name." By original I would think name and address have to match? Not to mention we're in the new 12/1 GoDaddy promise time though this was a 11/24 win.

Whois says today 12/5:

Registrant Name Afternic Transfer Service - Transfer Pending
Registrant Organization NameFind LLC

Any whois ninjas out there that can track this for me before and after? I'm super curious to watch it. Message me here or on LinkedIn for a small fee. Thanks.

 

[John Napoletano]

Looks to me like they are transferring it over to you.

Please don't say that it's not true. The transaction was canceled and refunded. I called support as well. It's up to anyone here to investigate if they wish to satisfy my curiosity. It's a black box when transactions fail, no transparency. 12/1 is supposed to change that.

 

[wwwweb]

Please don't say that it's not true. The transaction was canceled and refunded. I called support as well. It's up to anyone here to investigate if they wish to satisfy my curiosity. It's a black box when transactions fail, no transparency. 12/1 is supposed to change that.

Please don't say what, read the thread, I dealt with the same situation a year ago. Why would it be pending transfer, I saw the same thing, and the name did show up in my account. Some of these new steps even some of the customer reps aren't even aware of when it comes to the cross platform auctions. Why are you freaking out then, they gave you your money back, if you read your TOS they are allowed to claw it back. Having gone thru this, and seeing the same thing you saw, I did get a Domain Transfer Confirmation email a few days later.

Actually 12/4 was the day to change all that.

.co registrations do not work like .com, but I have a feeling you might be getting the domain in a few days if it is pending transfer over into Godaddy. You have nothing to lose at this point. Having gone thru the same thing, and seeing the exact same thing, I was pleasantly surprised. Otherwise backorder it.

 

[anf]

Wow, it seems that the same thing happened to me recently. At first i thought that the original owner renewed the name, but now... The domain name is NakedHeart.com. I won the GD auction, paid for the domain, but got refund couple of days later.

Here is the 2017-10-15 whois:

Spoiler

Domain Name: NAKEDHEART.COM
Registry Domain ID: 91187595_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.alpinedomains.com
Registrar URL: http://alpinedomains.com
Updated Date: 2017-10-14T10:44:03Z
Creation Date: 2002-10-14T09:48:43Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2017-10-14T09:48:43Z
Registrar: Alpine Domains Inc.
Registrar IANA ID: 1432
Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited
Registry Registrant ID: Not Available From Registry
Registrant Name: Margarita
Registrant Organization: Ustimenko
Registrant Street: 41 Whitehall
Registrant City: London
Registrant State/Province: London
Registrant Postal Code: SW1A 2BY
Registrant Country: GB
Registrant Phone: +44.7551591831
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: [email protected]
Registry Admin ID: Not Available From Registry
Admin Name: Margarita
Admin Organization: Ustimenko
Admin Street: 41 Whitehall
Admin City: London
Admin State/Province: London
Admin Postal Code: SW1A 2BY
Admin Country: GB
Admin Phone: +44.7551591831
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax:
Admin Fax Ext:
Admin Email: [email protected]
Registry Tech ID: Not Available From Registry
Tech Name: Margarita
Tech Organization: Ustimenko
Tech Street: 41 Whitehall
Tech City: London
Tech State/Province: London
Tech Postal Code: SW1A 2BY
Tech Country: GB
Tech Phone: +44.7551591831
Tech Phone Ext:
Tech Fax:
Tech Fax Ext:
Tech Email: [email protected]
Name Server: exp1.alpine-dns.com
Name Server: exp2.alpine-dns.com
DNSSEC:Unsigned
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: [email protected]
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.6042887779
URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/

Here is the current whois:

Spoiler

Domain Name: NAKEDHEART.COM
Registry Domain ID: 91187595_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.alpinedomains.com
Registrar URL: http://www.alpinedomains.com
Updated Date: 2017-11-19T10:00:21Z
Creation Date: 2002-10-14T09:48:43Z
Registry Expiry Date: 2018-10-14T09:48:43Z
Registrar: Alpine Domains Inc.
Registrar IANA ID: 1432
Registrar Abuse Contact Email:
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone:
Domain Status: ok https://icann.org/epp#ok
Name Server: EXP1.ALPINE-DNS.COM
Name Server: EXP2.ALPINE-DNS.COM
DNSSEC: unsigned
URL of the ICANN Whois Inaccuracy Complaint Form: https://www.icann.org/wicf/

Domain Name: NAKEDHEART.COM
Registry Domain ID: 91187595_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN
Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.alpinedomains.com
Registrar URL: http://alpinedomains.com
Updated Date: 2017-11-19T10:00:21Z
Creation Date: 2002-10-14T09:48:43Z
Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2018-10-14T09:48:43Z
Registrar: Alpine Domains Inc.
Registrar IANA ID: 1432
Domain Status: OK https://icann.org/epp#OK
Registry Registrant ID: Not Available From Registry
Registrant Name: Afternic Transfer Service - Transfer Pending
Registrant Organization: NameFind LLC
Registrant Street: Main St. Suite 1120
Registrant City: Cambridge
Registrant State/Province: Massachusetts
Registrant Postal Code: 02142
Registrant Country: US
Registrant Phone: +1.7813736856
Registrant Phone Ext:
Registrant Fax:
Registrant Fax Ext:
Registrant Email: [email protected]
Registry Admin ID: Not Available From Registry
Admin Name: Afternic Transfer Service - Transfer Pending
Admin Organization: NameFind LLC
Admin Street: Main St. Suite 1120
Admin City: Cambridge
Admin State/Province: Massachusetts
Admin Postal Code: 02142
Admin Country: US
Admin Phone: +1.7813736856
Admin Phone Ext:
Admin Fax:
Admin Fax Ext:
Admin Email: [email protected]
Registry Tech ID: Not Available From Registry
Tech Name: Afternic Transfer Service - Transfer Pending
Tech Organization: NameFind LLC
Tech Street: Main St. Suite 1120
Tech City: Cambridge
Tech State/Province: Massachusetts
Tech Postal Code: 02142
Tech Country: US
Tech Phone: +1.7813736856
Tech Phone Ext:
Tech Fax:
Tech Fax Ext:
Tech Email: [email protected]
Name Server: exp1.alpine-dns.com
Name Server: exp2.alpine-dns.com
DNSSEC:Unsigned
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: [email protected]
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.6042887779
URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/

For more information on Whois status codes, please visit https://icann.org/epp
Registration Service Provided By: NAMEFIND LLC

So, the original owner did not renew the domain, but it looks like that GD kept the name for themselfs.

@Joe Styler , could you please clear the issue

 

[John Napoletano]

Why are you freaking out then, they gave you your money back, if you read your TOS they are allowed to claw it back.

I'm not freeking out. It's not my first auction. This one smells fishy. I'm waiting for whois verification of who received it. The rep told me it was being transferred to someone other than me. I need whois before and whois after, where and when it was purchased, was Clawback to original owner. Is 12/4 going to be any different?

 

[John Napoletano]

Paul at GoDaddy stopped and listened to me. It was completely his help alone that resolved this.
What I stated happened, happened with both names. Won them both in expired auctions.
The registrants who were the registrants at the time never renewed.
They're both nice little names and Namefind happened to get them directly from the domain registrar after I was already paid at GD.
But the domain registrar Fast Domain does have a policy that a 3rd party can buy a domain that has been expired for 31 days directly from them. There appears to have been overlap in my bids, namefind purchase.
All's well that ends well and I have the domains and everything worked out.

Paul who, maybe he can help me. Thanks.

 

[John Napoletano]

@xyo Any idea who would be able to clear this up at GoDaddy, a name, someone on NP?

I didn't ask for a refund, they just canceled it when I inquired about it. I'd prefer to have the domain. I just got off the phone with Afternic and FastDomain. So that's all three that can't figure out what to do if anything.

Thanks to all responding. Appreciated.

 

[John Napoletano]

UPDATE just got off the phone with GoDaddy Auctions. They said (through a rep) that the original owner renewed the domain, and, initiated a 'transfer' to do so. No names given so have to wait until the whois is updated which will take a few days.

This could have all been made very clear if the parties involved would just come up with codes or canned responses in the auction panel as to what went down -- "domain restored to original owner" -- for example would solve a large chunk of problems. "...partner registrar..informed us that that domain would no longer be becoming available..." is a nothing burger.

For $12 I guess no one wants to process, store, and audit the whois data before and after, I mean the network of brokers. I can only hope 12/4 is better.

I'll leave this post for the next with issues. Good luck!

 

[John Napoletano]

This will not change 12/4 these names are coming from another registrar

Thanks for looking into this, always appreciated.

Couple of ideas that might help.

(1) id GoDaddy held auctions so we can bid more on them.

(2) add a failure code field visible from the buyers panel. If not pretty , at least a number similar to telecom (123 - renewed, 456 - court order) and we can look it up ourselves.

(3) store or force update whois before and after the listing. if you store it allow a $5 buy the data link after the auction finishes, or, support an external tool that doesn't cost $50 per report with ify data. (if it already exists please drop the link here).

Backorders haven't been working well for me so that's not an option.

Thanks again.

 

[anf]

We are currently moving it here so we can award it to @anf if you still want it. The auctions support team is reaching out to you today.

Ok, i got the name, thank you Joe. I am looking forward to buy more names on GD auctions.

 

[John Napoletano]

@Joe Styler

I have new dotCO failures: equipped.co, haga.co, reflective.co, rozi.co, sanza.co. These say expired domain ready on or before 12/16 through 12/24. Who can I contact that knows what is going on? If I call in I get my hosting rep. If I email I get canned responses that, as with Axium, don't make any sense. Refunds are issued as you mentioned and the domains are lost seemingly forever to the internet gods.

Axium.co the name was put in our name...
There was a problem with the transfer we are investigating...
transferred by the original owner...

Axium.co auction closed on 2017/11/24. I still see that GoDaddy is on the whois. If it was a transfer by the owner it should have been completed by now with their info on the whois. At what point do you, Neustar, or ICANN pull the domain from this owner for invalid whois data?

I'm a nice guy, nicer than most, but I am formerly an Accountant. When transaction data is not accurate I ask why, what did the audit reveal?

Per the ICANN docs, Axium.co has now failed to maintain accurate whois:

https://whois.icann.org/en/primer#field-section-3

Accuracy

Because registration data connects individuals or organizations with domain names, domain name registrants are required to provide accurate and reliable contact details. If the domain name registrant knowingly provides inaccurate information, fails to update information within seven days of any change, or does not respond within 15 days to an inquiry about accuracy, the domain name may be suspended or cancelled.

For their part, registrars are required to comply with the new WHOIS Accuracy Specification. They must verify certain WHOIS fields such as email addresses or phone numbers and validate the presence of data as well as the format of email addresses, postal addresses and telephone numbers. Registrars are also obliged to send annual data reminder notices to domain name registrants and to verify and validate changes to WHOIS data.

Registrars are obligated to perform these validation and verifications of these WHOIS data fields within fifteen days of the domain registration, inter-registrar transfer, or any change in the domain name registrant. However, if a registrar has already successfully completed the validation and verification procedures on the identical contact information, and is not in possession of facts or knowledge of circumstances that suggest that the information is no longer valid, then it is not obligated to re-validate or re-verify these WHOIS data fields.

 

[John Napoletano]

Registrant Name Afternic TransferService
Registrant Organization NameFind LLC
Registrant Street 1 MAIN ST STE 1120
Registrant City Cambridge
Registrant State/Province Massachusetts
Registrant Postal Code 02142
Registrant Country US

Thinking about this more, the whois brings up many questions...

Is NameFind LLC a domain portfolio owned by GoDaddy/Afternic?

Did NameFind LLC post Axium.co expired domain for auction, then, renew the domain after I won it for $12 on GoDaddy.com?

If yes to both above, is that not GoDaddy holding the domain name?

Was the legal registrant before and after the expired auction the same?

It says 'Afternic TransferService' 1 month after the auction closed. NameFind is part of Afternic so maybe they can write whatever they want in that field (it doesn't say pending). The legal registrant is NameFind LLC as I read it today. It does not say privacy service to hide another owners identity.

Expired domains to me is a no-reserve auction. It seems unfair that GoDaddy would do this through a sub-company to hide their ownership (if that's what they did, I don't know). If they want to be clear and transparent this should have been a reserve or regular bid counter auction.

What does the community think, am I crazy, or does this seem strange? I'll drop the issue if you all think I'm crazy. Well I'm dropping it now. But I will read any replies, would love to hear what other domainers are thinking.

 

[Joe Styler]

The bottom line is not all expired names you win you will get. We do not keep any names customers bid on, or for that matter any they do not bid on that expire.
Just because the WHOIS is in our name doesn't mean we have possession of the domain.
Almost all expired domain names you win on the auction you get.
It is impossible to fulfill 100% of expired auctions no matter what company you are or how you structure the auctions.

Having said that I said Axium.co I believe I already told you that you are getting the domain. It was a technical problem. There is still a problem but they are trying to fulfill it. You were refunded, the auctions team will reach out once they get control over the domain in an account here that they can push it to you from and see if you still want the domain if we can get it here.

The other domains when I looked yesterday had a different whois when I checked at GoDaddy that said something like holding account or transfer to buyer service or something that we put on there to try and show that we don't "own" the domain we are moving it. We do take ownership of the domains in normal circumstances as a middle man to facilitate the move to the buyer, we do not take ownership of the domain to keep it for ourselves or somehow resell it to any other buyer. They are/were moving to you. You can always email [email protected] with any auctions questions.

 

[John Napoletano]

Funny that the five latest batch of stalled .co transfered into my account today. Yes I'll take Axium.co when you get it. There is no need to reach out.

So I once worked on a FAX api years ago. Customers complained they didn't know if a fax went through, the status wasn't always updating in their control panel. I fixed it. I didn't try to defend how bad it was, it was bad.

Right now I'm looking at my Bidding List 'Won' tab. Most of the status say "Expired domain ready on ..." even for the ones in my account already. So now, because your API don't work as expected, I have to manually check if I received the domains, and check if the billing is correct.

Please add to your API fixes an "is in the account" check.

(1) If in the account, update Won status "In account 2017/12/1" for example. I see a mix of messages now from dates to "Email Seller for details".

(2) If Expired domain ready on 2017/12/01 and NOT in the account, update "Delayed until 2017/12/15" or "Sent to audit 2017/12/01" say something other than the 'ready on' status so customers don't have to call.

(3) Didn't Win...there is an End Date but no Status o Paid/Refund indicator. So I won the auction, that should not change. I'd suggest that you keep clawbacks in the Won tab and change Paid --> Refund. Change Status to "Renewed by owner" or other status better than just Didn't Win. No I did win, but I was Refunded with a status of Renewed by owner 2017/12/05.

It's fully automated and it's too technical to explain is not an answer. Your API have a logic to them, they check the status, they update one or more tables (Won, Didn't Win).
I'm not asking for major overhall of your system. Just make the control panel work for me the user, a GoDaddy customer for over 10 years. Automated for the user versus automated for GoDaddy seems to be the issue here.

Unfortunately if I don't pester you about it nothing will change. You're welcome for the feedback.

 

[Asfas1000]

Contrary to what GD people here are claiming, in this thread

https://www.namepros.com/threads/must-read-godaddy-feed-their-own-auctions.1059079/#post-6517165

NameFind is apparently bidding on a GD auction.

 

[Joe Styler]

We are not bidding on any auctions period - end of story.

 

[Asfas1000]

Apologies.
In retrospect, there is no evidence that GD is bidding on GD auctions.