What can I do about this registrar?

[mayhemalex]

Hey,

So long story short, I won a SnapNames auction in 2009 and my domain was snapped up by a rather obscure domain registrar (not one of the usual suspects.. infact using "xyz registrar site:namepros.com" in google, no results show up. Anyway they are apparently ICANN accredited (whatever that's worth). Now I am currently not using the domain and haven't since I got it, but plan to when the time is right. I recently renewed the domain about 10 days before expiration, and the registrar never actually renewed it. Same thing happened last year and I had to email them twice before finally getting a response. They have a notice on the whois and when I log into my account that the domain WILL BE DELETED in a few weeks if not paid. They have a staggering transfer out fee or else I would be gone. Right now I don't want the domain deleted. I would mentioned the registrar, but again that seems pointless since probably no-one has heard of them (and I don't want them to do anything out of spite if they can figure out who I am). I just wish SnapNames would put a bit more effort into choosing its partners. This is not a domain I wish to lose.
EDIT: The registrar in question is NOT listed (any longer) as a partner on the Snapnames site, too bad I am stuck with them.

 

[alien51]

They have a staggering transfer out fee or else I would be gone.

How much exactly is this staggering transfer out fee?

 

[dompro]

I don't think it is legal to charge for transferring OUT

 

[Ms Domainer]

*

Get in touch with Snapnames support ASAP.

It was their partner and they need to make you whole.

Also get in touch with ICANN and let them know about the transfer out fee. This is NOT allowed.

*

 

[mayhemalex]

How much exactly is this staggering transfer out fee?

Ok, maybe an exaggeration on my part - $72USD

---------- Post added at 09:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:16 AM ----------

*

Get in touch with Snapnames support ASAP.

It was their partner and they need to make you whole.

Also get in touch with ICANN and let them know about the transfer out fee. This is NOT allowed.

*

Thanks,

I will send those emails ASAP, was hoping registrar would get back to me today, doesn't seem likely.

 

[alien51]

Ok, maybe an exaggeration on my part - $72USD

That's highway robbery.

 

[snowbird]

I feel it is always a wise choice before purchasing a domain to check where it is registered so you can research what kind of registrar you might be dealing with after getting the domain. I think your best bet right now is making sure that domain gets renewed. Contacting ICANN is a wise choice but with only 10 days left before deletion, there is little that can be done by ICANN in that time frame if an actual dispute process needs to be followed. You may also want to consider backordering it elsewhere so that in the event that it does drop, you will have the chance to snatch it back up at another registrar.

 

[alien51]

...or just add $72 to the price of that domain, and get out of that registrar hell hole.

 

[snowbird]

...or just add $72 to the price of that domain, and get out of that registrar hell hole.

I would transfer it out as well but figured renewing would buy you some time on handling the situation. Not to mention after going through the full dispute process with ICANN, the $72 fee to transfer out may not even be relevant. I would never pay $72 to transfer a domain out of a registrar. Even if you did pay it, with their lack of support id be afraid the domain might not even get released to the gaining registrar.

 

[lothos]

I feel it is always a wise choice before purchasing a domain to check where it is registered so you can research what kind of registrar you might be dealing with after getting the domain.

with some of the drop catchers you don't really have a choice on who catches the name, and it's impossible to know ahead of time which partner registrar will get it.