What The...?! Double Check Your Renewal Status!!

[Grrilla]

Heads up! A year ago when you were busy registering your .info names did you take the time to make sure that you took them *off* the, (normal), default status of auto-renewal. I did, or so I thought.

I got hit today w/ a renewal charge on my CC. I am doing a chargeback on my CC w/ this particular registrar, (only the second time I have done this w/ a CC,) because I distinctly remember taking them off of auto-renewal status w/ this particular registrar and have no idea how the names status reverted back. (No accusations about funny biz- probably a glitch in their system.)

With all of the pending expiration dates for .info's coming up, it's a good time to check the renewal status of your .info names at all registrars. I have begun doing a check, but am already finding difficulty navigating to the pages or finding the FAQS explaining the site procedure for checking status at two registrars, thus far.

Does anyone know how find the auto/manual renewal function at these registrars?:

-1and1? If you querying their FAQ search for "renewal" and "auto renewal" gives no relevant info. Manual renewal shows no results. There are no renewal dates shown in the default Administration view and the link to the expiration dates and renewal options is not readily available.

-DomainDiscount24?The expiration dates are viewable, but there is no apparent way to turn off auto renewal. There are twoo dropdown menus- I auto renewal, (default), the other *appears* to be manual, but it is not. The first drop down menu, (on top) gives an option to renew on the expiration date *if you do not delete the name*. It appears that if you do not delete it and if you have credit card on file w/ them, (which I believe they originally required), than they will renew it just before it expires and your CC will be charged. I couldn't find a "Manual" or "Do Not Auto Renewal" option in either drop down menu.

I haven't gone to all of the registrars yet so as, (if), I encounter more navigational difficulties at other registrars:
1) I will be adding to the list as, (and, if) I encounter any more difficult interfaces.

(If you already know the procedure):
2) As a service to other members experiencing similar difficulties, please post paths, (">", "->"), to the renewal/auto renewal management pages. (If I figure the puzzle out first, I will, likewise, do so.)

3) Encountering difficulties at other registars in navigating to the renewal management function? Please post here.

 

[Stephen]

I have previously contacted DomainDiscount24 regarding auto-renewal, and they said that they do not have it, and you have to renew domains manually.

 

[Grrilla]

I have previously contacted DomainDiscount24 regarding auto-renewal, and they said that they do not have it, and you have to renew domains manually.

Better double check that. I was just at their site and they have a drop down for auto renewal. All of my domains show one year renewal next to them. Regardless of whether this means manual renewal, or auto renewal, I don't feel safe w/ the 1year renewal sitting next to each of my names and no way of cancelling their right to use my credit card, other than allowing them access to my checking acct via auto charge of bankwire.

 

[Stephen]

I have submitted another support request regarding this matter.

I will post my findings once a reply has been received.

Stephen

 

[Grrilla]

Of all the larger mainstream registrars, I find the name management at 1and1 to be the most difficult. I have used them for a year, and besides not having Bulk Management tools for DNS management, (for example), I still have trouble finding the info/instructions and navigation guides to get to essential name management functions.

 

[dweeb]

my free .info domains are with hostway. shall check for the auto renew thingy.

 

[Stephen]

I have a few domains at Hostway myself, and I do not see a place to disable it, if it exists.

I have emailed them as well, and will post my findings when a reply has been received..

 

[Grrilla]

Tx Steveh. I figure if we all work together on this and post site navigation info for the more difficult registrar interfaces, it would avoid alot of fiddling around at the sites and an aggregate of wasted manhours.

 

[Mayur]

I got mine with DomainSite and DomainDiscover. Turned off renewal on both.

 

[Grrilla]

I got mine with DomainSite and DomainDiscover. Turned off renewal on both.

Generally, navigation is not a problem, at least, not at the registrars that I use most often and where I have most of my names located. I don't have any names at Domain Discover, but no one should have much of a problem finding the renewal settings at: eNom, Namecheap, Registerfly, Domainsite, Dotster, GoDaddy, BlueRazor , for instance.

What I am addressing, are registrars that employ some of the more unusual, less apparent procedures, like the 3 (above) that don't appear to be as straight-forward as the norm.

 

[Coastalguy]

My Dotster infos were all set for auto renew. I went in and disabled it for 1 and it applied to all of them. Double check to make sure.

Thanks for the heads up Grrilla!

ST

 

[Stephen]

Got a response from Hostway:

Domains that are registered under Hostway/AAAQ or Hostway/DomainPeople do not have automatic domain registration renewal. All domain registrations with Hostway have to be completed manually.

No response from DomainDiscount24 yet.

 

[Mayur]

Either way I dont have a credit card so they cant charge me. They can send me bills to my paypal but if I get one then my foot will be up their @$$

 

[Grrilla]

Another related PITA. This is Namesecures procedure for making a push to another account there:

Thank you for contacting NameSecure Support.



Based on your request, we are sending instructions on how to transfer
your domain name registration.



The registrant of the domain name is the manager of the domain name. If
you
want to change the registrant for a domain name, here is how:

1.
Log into to "Log-In" and click "Modify/Update" for the domain
name.
2.
Click the "WHOIS Information" tab
3.
Click "Modify Registrant."
4.
The fields are pre-populated with the current information.
Modify the
fields that you would like to have changed.
5.
Click "Submit."
6.
On the confirmation screen, carefully check the modified
information.
Click "Submit" to confirm your modifications, click "Back" to
correct
mistakes, or click "Cancel" to abort the process.

Registrant Contact changes take place immediately. You will then want to
move the domain name to the new owners account. The new registrant can
create a new account for free from the NameSecure homepage just click on
"Log In" and then "Create Account." Make sure that the account holder
contact information matches the registrant contact information for the
domain name.

We can then move the domain name if you send us the following
information:



*
Domain name to be moved:
*
Username for old account:
*
Password for old account:
*
Username for new account:
*
Password for new account:


We will notify you when the change has been made. If you have any
questions, please let us know.

Anyone have any info on 1and1, yet?

 

[-db-]

This reminds me to check something else. Remember when eNom registered .info domains "on behalf" of their ETP's who owned the .com version of the same name? It was a free promotion, and they registered them in your name whether you wanted them or not. They remained in a special promotional names section of your account unless you activated them.

It's probably a good idea to go make sure those names haven't changed in status, etc.

 

[Grrilla]

New one for the: "How the h~ck do I see my expiration dates and find the renewal status of my names? list:
1dni.com
Still trying to figure out:
1&1.com

 

[Stephen]

I sent 1and1 an email about an hour ago regarding how to disable automatic domain renewals. No response as of yet.

I am still waiting on a response from domaindiscount24.

 

[Grrilla]

I've got one going off to 1dni.com, as well.
You don't have to be a brain surgeon to check and change a name's status: managing DNS, Locking Status, or making a push does not require alot of special skills or knowledge.
Most of us are not n00bs when it comes to site navigation and domain name management. I know I have harped on this before, but here it is, one more time: Registrars that have interfaces that make it necessary for experienced navigators to email inquiries about what path to take or what procedure is necessary to make a change in name status are: 1) Playing on the confusion/misdirection factor and using it to their advantage or 2) They should fire their web designer.

How can it be, that these procedures are so simple, seamless and straight forward at some registrars while, at others, you are forced to go on a fact finding mission, sent into "FAQ loops", (no matter what angle/path you take), and don't get any satisfactory/definitive answers using the search function. When you type renewal/s or auto renewal/s or autorenewal/s into the search box at 1and1.com, why isn't there a FAQ that pops up along w/ the others, that explains changing renewal status and the procedure? Why doesn't 1&1.com allow bulk DNS changes? It's easy to get info on new registrations, transfers, renewals and product services- there are buttons and links to get that information, at every turn. But management and control of your domain's status is, altogether, another question. :td: :td:

 

[Peter]

1and1.com tend to auto renew everything. They claim that a customer must want something unless they explicitly cancel it.

 

[Grrilla]

Well, as a stop gap move, at least, until I get some answers, I've maxed out the credit card that is normally associated w/ all of my domain name purchases, and am double checking account info at all of the suspect registrars to make sure that any possible "second options" are also blocked. The 2 registrars that I am transferring all of my names over to, have a different card registered w/ them.

You have to be careful w/ this ploy, however. I know that GoDaddy, for instance, will approve a purchase, regardless of your creditcard balance, and than, *w/o* any notification, turn over each purchase *individually* to a collection agency, who in turn, will tack on a $25 fee to your $7.95 purchase. I will have to reread , (or more accurately, read) the TOS agreements of the registrar's I am having the difficulties with.

I don't condone maxing out a credit card as being an ethical technique, but I do think that it's justifiable as a final option, to protect one's finances when a company is trying to force feed you something you don't want to buy and than charge you for it.

They claim that a customer must want something unless they explicitly cancel it.

That's a good explanation of why one can't find the auto-renewal option at 1and1. It follows that their logic for this default policy would be that people don't have changes in life or changes of heart and mind over the course of a year. How inhuman of them. I hope that the FAQ on how to cancel a name registration w/ 1and1, is easier to find than their auto renewal policy, which, from what you have said, isn't a viable option.

1and1 is living an, "In a perfect world",(for us), illusion. They probably don't want the reseller/domainer market and are focusing on the general consumer market w/ their business model. That being the case, I think it is a wise policy for domainers to steer clear of this registrar, and others w/ similar models.