Idotz.net problem Please Help

[pluto459]

I have an issue and would appreciate a little guidance. TIA

I have 2 domains reg at Idotz.net. Two weeks before they were to expire, NOT ALREADY EXPIRED, they changed the DNS to their parked page.

I didnt renew the 1st one and when the 2nd one came up I went to Dotster a month before expiration and after a month they still didnt have the name. Days ago they parked the 2nd name and needing the site up I had no choice but to renew with them.

Can anyone tell me how they get away with that?

When I emailed them this is what they sent.

There are NO grace or redemption periods available for most Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLDs) including, but not limited to: .us, .uk, .am, .fm, .tv, .cc, .ws, .bz, .nu, .vg, .tc, .ms, .gs, .gd, .ag, .se, .be, .at, .pl, .de, .tk, .cn, .jp, .tw, .la, .sg, .md, .mn, .sh, .ac, .io, .im, .cx, .ki, .mu, .nf, .tl, .tm, .sc, .in, .ru, .it, .nl, .es, and .eu country code extensions ("Country Code Domain Name(s)"). In addition, if you do not renew your Country Code Domain Name prior to the domain name's expiration date of such country code domain name, then you run the risk of loss of your Country Code Domain Name. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR FAILURE TO RENEW YOUR COUNTRY CODE DOMAIN NAMES AND RELATED SERVICES WILL RESULT IN A SEVEN (7) DAY INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE ("INTERRUPTION PERIOD") BEFORE THE END OF YOUR THEN CURRENT TERM, AFTER WHICH YOUR COUNTRY CODE DOMAIN NAME WILL BE DELETED FROM THE REGISTRY.

Then I replied to them that it has 2 weeks left and they replied,

"Answered already, case closed".

Literally just those words and then they never replied to emails after that.

Can anyone tell me what recourse I have or what we can do to shut them down?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Kenny]

Sounds like RF re-incarnated too me.
Could you access the NS during those 2 weeks?
You tried to transfer to Dotster and iDotz wouldnt release?

Thanks for any additional info you could supply.

Peace,
Cy

 

[pluto459]

I never even thought to try to change the DNS back to mine. lol

Due to how Idotz acted with that name I didnt want to do biz with them anymore and started transfer for .vc name with dotster a month before it expired.

Dotster transfer status said in progress but a week would go by and nada and then would status would go back to requesting. Then i saw get auth code on idotz so i got it and gave to dotster via email and heard nothing. Then i tried to enter on Dotsters online form, but idotz wasnt in it. After a month Dotster told me they needed the code and I told them i sent it 3 times. Then Dotster said needed to be online and then when I said there wasnt Idotz in the online form and reminding him that auth code wasnt needed for .vc Idotz parked the name.

I needed the site up so I had no choice but to renew with idotz since they already parked it and dotster couldnt get name after a month. So... I have no idea what the transfer issue was.

 

[Dave_Z]

There's a portion of their email reply that answered your question:

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR FAILURE TO RENEW YOUR COUNTRY CODE DOMAIN NAMES AND RELATED SERVICES WILL RESULT IN A SEVEN (7) DAY INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE ("INTERRUPTION PERIOD") BEFORE THE END OF YOUR THEN CURRENT TERM, AFTER WHICH YOUR COUNTRY CODE DOMAIN NAME WILL BE DELETED FROM THE REGISTRY

My memory's somewhat hazy, but some country codes do need to be renewed
before their expiration dates. Something about their Registry-registrar policies,
including registrar transfers.

It's actually an "accepted" practice among domain registrars to put up parking
pages for expired domain names. While one can disagree with that, registrars
do pay costs to maintain expired domain names with no guarantees they'll be
able to secure renewal payments for them.

If you're seeking some kind of recourse, make sure to read your contract first
since they spell out your respective responsibilities and limitations. It's up to
you to decide whether you still want to seek any recourse or "shut 'em down."

The choice is yours. Good luck making the right one.

 

[pluto459]

The domains WERE NOT expired and had 2 weeks left.

They were parked before the expiration date.

 

[Dave_Z]

The domains WERE NOT expired and had 2 weeks left.

They were parked before the expiration date.

I already said some country codes need to be renewed before expiration.

I'm rather too lazy to read Idotz's contract right now. But if they state they'll
do what happened in your case, then it's arguably legal.

 

[Kenny]

Thanks for weighing in Dave.

I talked to Pluto in IM and this is how it played out....

He starts a transfer from iDotz to Dotster with 1 month left before expire. Well within any reasonable timetable.

Back and forth with Dotster trying to get the transfer for the full month without success. Not sure why, communication breakdown on their part over the auth..?

With 2 weeks still left on the reg, iDotz pulls a RF and switches his NS to their parking... this is a built site, not a MFA or mini... a built site.

Pluto still thinks Dotster is going to pull off the transfer so he doesnt reset the NS... Dotster strings him along, right up to the last day when he re-reg's with iDotz.

iDotz renewal policy

Renewals: Domain names are registered on a yearly basis and require the domain holder to renew the domain name in order to maintain the rights to the domain name. ALL domains EXPIRE on the domain name's expiration date. As a result your rights to the domain name also EXPIRES on the domain name's expiration date.
You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to keep your own records and to maintain your own reminders regarding when your domain name registration or other Services are set to expire. As a convenience to you, and not as a binding commitment, we may notify you via an email message or via your account when renewal fees are due. Should these fees go unpaid, your Services will expire or be cancelled. Payment must be made by credit card or such other method as we may allow or require from time to time. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to keep your billing information up to date and that we are not required to, but that we may, contact you to update this information in the event that an attempted transaction is not processed successfully. To ensure continuation of service, please be certain you renew the domain name BEFORE the expiration date. To ensure continuation of service, please be certain you have a valid e-mail address on file.
- ICANN regulated Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) including, but not limited to: .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, .name, .jobs, .travel, .aero, .mobi are then placed into a Redemption Period. Although the domain(s) are scheduled for deletion at this point they can still be retrieved by request. At the end of the Redemption Period the domain(s) will go into a delete cycle at the end of which they will become available for anyone to register. The domain name cannot be release from the "Redemption Period" unless a US $125.00 fee ($195.00 for .travel) is paid through us to the central registry. There are no exceptions to this rule.
- There are NO grace or redemption periods available for most Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLDs) including, but not limited to: .us, .uk, .am, .fm, .tv, .cc, .ws, .bz, .nu, .vg, .tc, .ms, .gs, .gd, .ag, .se, .be, .at, .pl, .de, .tk, .cn, .jp, .tw, .la, .sg, .md, .mn, .sh, .ac, .io, .im, .cx, .ki, .mu, .nf, .tl, .tm, .sc, .in, .ru, .it, .nl, .es, .mx, .nz and .eu country code extensions ("Country Code Domain Name(s)"). In addition, if you do not renew your Country Code Domain Name prior to the domain name's expiration date of such country code domain name, then you run the risk of loss of your Country Code Domain Name. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR FAILURE TO RENEW YOUR COUNTRY CODE DOMAIN NAMES AND RELATED SERVICES WILL RESULT IN A SEVEN (7) DAY INTERRUPTION IN SERVICE ("INTERRUPTION PERIOD") BEFORE THE END OF YOUR THEN CURRENT TERM, AFTER WHICH YOUR COUNTRY CODE DOMAIN NAME WILL BE DELETED FROM THE REGISTRY. iDotz.Net waives all liability in the loss of domain name registrations due to failure to renew services.

From what I can see, they had no right to change his NS.

When he complains, iDotz plays it like the name had expired, which it hadn't, and when Pluto reminds them of this fact, he gets the dreaded "case closed".

iDotz Transfer policy

10. Transfer to another Registrar. You agree that you may not transfer your domain name registration to another domain name registrar during the first sixty (60) days from the effective date of your initial domain name registration; During the first sixty (60) days from the effective date of a domain name renewal; During the first sixty (60) days from the effective date of a domain name transfer; Or during the first sixty (60) days from a domain redemption. Also you agree that you may not transfer your domain name registration to another domain name registrar within 10 days of the effective expiration date. You agree to provide a written or electronic signed authorization to iDotz.Net, along with a Transfer Out Fee for the transfer of the domain name to another registrar, BEFORE the transfer request is submitted to the gaining registrar. Also, you agree to pay any and all fees that may be charged by iDotz.Net to effect the transfer. Your request to transfer to another registrar may be denied in situations described in the Dispute Policy, including, but not limited to: a dispute over the identity of the domain name holder; bankruptcy; default in the payment of any fees; and/or failure to provide written, signed authorization of the transfer.

This may have been the transfer problem. (bolded)

I dont think he wants to shut them down, but is confused (as I am also) about what they were pulling and/or if this SOP for them, has anyone else had a similar situation.

Peace,
Cyberian

 

[jberryhill]

ccTLD's are not subject to any ICANN policy, and the ccTLD managers are free to formulate their own rules.

Since the original post does not bother to identify the relevant ccTLD's (and there wouldn't have been a hint of this issue but for the email quoted therein), then there is utterly no way on God's green earth for anyone to make an intelligent response here.

 

[Kenny]

Ok, that would help for sure...doh!

The exts are dot vc and dot ac and the dot vc is the one he was trying to transfer.

Thanks,
Cy

 

[Dave_Z]

From what I can see, they had no right to change his NS.

I'll put it this way.

Just as pluto459 can argue Idotz has no right to change the .vc domain's DNS
before expiration, Idotz can argue they have every right to do that as long as
there's no explicit law or policy banning the practice. But...it's Idotz's services
to do as they please, isn't it?

And as Dr. B said, the ccTLD manager can set their own rules. What they say,
more or less the registrar obeys or possibly risks losing their accreditation for
that extension.

Meanwhile, pluto459, has the .vc domain name been successfully renewed?
Are you now able to change its DNS or still wish to transfer it?

 

[pluto459]

Thanks guys for all the help.
Seems these strange country code tlds do as they wish.

I had no choice but to renew at idotz, so yes i do have control of the name.

I try not to do biz with places that treat customers as poor as Idotz does and after dotster took a month and still no transfer I had no choice but to stay at idotz.