GoDaddy sold my domain - they misspelled e-mail addy

by peg645
14 replies
Hi - Found this forum after googling my problem, so apologize for any newbie mistakes.

Been on the phone/e-mails w/ GoDaddy since Sunday, when I discovered my problem. Filed an ICANN complaint yesterday, but talking with GoDaddy again today.

Have had a real estate business - domain name over 10 years old. Business hasn't operated in a few years so the website hasn't been active, but about to go into it again. Also have another business whose name I parked with GoDaddy in December. I receive GoDaddy's e-mails monthly. None had mentioned the real estate domain was expiring. It consistently read "0".

Was on automatic renewal. Think, perhaps for 5 years? My bank sold its branches 2 years ago, so I have new credit/debit card numbers.

You can guess the rest.

I discovered the issue when a GoDaddy status e-mail arrived Sunday, prompting me into wondering what was going on with my real estate name. I had started the business in fall '03, and thought it was getting close to renewal.

It expired in March. They claimed the card didn't work, and they had sent me the requisite number of notifications. I never received any.

Today, the rep says my e-mail, changed in December, is misspelled, and the real estate name is under another account. They misspelled Hughes.net, spelling it Hughs.net.

They have first offered me free hosting. No, thank you. They are saying I'll just have to pay the $280 to Internettraffic.com. But after being on with them for an hour just today, so far, they are checking with someone further "on something." My main concern today is that my name is out there, and someone could buy it. I can wait a few weeks to put the site back up. But do not like that it is exposed.

I think they should buy it and turn it back over to me for the $12.99 renewal fee. Opinions? Advice on protecting my domain name? I asked if they should be notifying the current owner that it should not be made available, due to their error. They say that can't be done.

Thanks!
#addy #domain #email #godaddy #misspelled #sold
  • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
    If that name is still of great importance to you, I think it would be worth your while to contact an internet savvy lawyer pronto and have him act on your behalf. I know there are one or two here on the WF, maybe another Warrior could point you to one.

    Good luck.
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    • Profile picture of the author raiko
      Welcome to GoDaddy! : )

      My first impression is to say - let it go. It's a nice "last name" domain but doesn't reflect the business niche at all. HughesRealEstate or something similar might be better anyway. I see a lot of other domains like SellYourHouseNow, DreamHome etc. These are more easily branded and give a person an idea of what the domain and website relate to.

      Still, you have to be careful with domains and keep an eye on them at all times. Registrars do some strange things sometimes which can be detrimental to you. I don't really see why they would change your email spelling. It should be part of the administrative contact info which is something you would fill out when you registered the domain.

      Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author peg645
    Thanks for the responses. Sorry, not providing my domain name, since I'm paranoid it will be grabbed!

    Hughes.net is my internet provider. The real estate name is very relevant to my local area, and I would not wish to change it. Guess the $280 is worth it to keep it safe, and of course, less than an attorney. But shouldn't they be paying for this - they have just about conceded it's their mistake.
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  • Profile picture of the author peg645
    I updated the e-mail when I bought the new domain name. They got it right on my new one - for which they opened another account, when changing the old one at the same time, misspelled it.
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  • Profile picture of the author bloggerd
    I would suggest contacting an attorney and see what happens but if its cause your card details where invalid due to changing bank then id think they will get away with it as its not there fault really as you didn't change your details.
    I may be wrong hopefully i am
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  • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
    I may be misreading this, but what exactly makes you think this is GoDaddy's fault? Because they didn't remind you to pay your own bill? I understand how you feel - but do you see how that sounds? As a businesss owner you should be responsible for your own bills.

    I'm guessing Internettraffic.com is the person who bought the domain name when it expired. Unless you have the name trademarked, filing a complaint with ICANN is going to do very little. What are you going to tell them? That you forgot to pay the bill and now you want the domain name back lol?

    I know this may seem a bit harsh, but I'm trying to help prevent you from wasting a lot of time on something that's probably not going to help. GoDaddy has no control over the domain name and can't do anything about it unless it's still within their registrar system.
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  • Profile picture of the author peg645
    Chase Watts - ICANN has a specific complaint form when Registrars do not appropriately notify you prior to a renewal. I received no bill, no notification, and was looking for it. Apparently notification is a requirement before placing the name up for grabs. And the name renewed every 5 years - you have all your records going back that far, or a diary that reaches that far ahead?
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    • Profile picture of the author CyberAlien
      Originally Posted by peg645 View Post

      Chase Watts - ICANN has a specific complaint form when Registrars do not appropriately notify you prior to a renewal. I received no bill, no notification, and was looking for it. Apparently notification is a requirement before placing the name up for grabs. And the name renewed every 5 years - you have all your records going back that far, or a diary that reaches that far ahead?
      Yes that is correct - but part of ICANNs agreement states that YOU must keep your contact information up to date. The fact that you didn't make sure it was all correct is where you've lost your entire case. Also, you said that GoDaddy entered the wrong email address - did you call and tell them the email over the phone and they changed it? Or did you enter it on their website?

      And of course I have records going back 5 years - if you don't, you need a lesson in business lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author peg645
    I have just ended my day-long conversation with GoDaddy. They are paying for the majority of the cost, so I've agreed to resolve this.

    And frankly, considering the ease of transferring this back to me, the lack of their having control over the domain name may be in legal terms, but perhaps not in real life. Am sure there is some kind of symbiotic relationship there.

    Thanks to all for taking the time to read through my issue, and respond.
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    • Profile picture of the author AnniePot
      Originally Posted by peg645 View Post

      I have just ended my day-long conversation with GoDaddy. They are paying for the majority of the cost, so I've agreed to resolve this.

      And frankly, considering the ease of transferring this back to me, the lack of their having control over the domain name may be in legal terms, but perhaps not in real life. Am sure there is some kind of symbiotic relationship there.

      Thanks to all for taking the time to read through my issue, and respond.
      Once you get this sorted out, I STRONGLY suggest that you move this domain name to a more client friendly provider such as NameCheap. GoDaddy has a really horrible reputation - just Google "GoDaddy Complaints".
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      • Profile picture of the author peg645
        Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

        Once you get this sorted out, I STRONGLY suggest that you move this domain name to a more client friendly provider such as NameCheap. GoDaddy has a really horrible reputation - just Google "GoDaddy Complaints".
        Thanks, AnniePot. I definitely intend on doing that. But now have read all the horror stories about transferring!

        I thought the only issues with GoDaddy were when they acted as a web host, and had set my sites set up elsewhere. Thought, if only parking my name there, how bad could it be?!?
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      • Profile picture of the author Tsnyder
        Originally Posted by AnniePot View Post

        Once you get this sorted out, I STRONGLY suggest that you move this domain name to a more client friendly provider such as NameCheap. GoDaddy has a really horrible reputation - just Google "GoDaddy Complaints".
        When you're the biggest you're going to have more complaints.

        I've never experienced anything close to the level of customer
        service I get from Go Daddy... from any company in any field.

        This was an unfortunate situation but stuff happens no matter where you go.

        And... yes... I do have a calendar that notes my renewals and other important
        data as far into the future as they go.
        Signature
        If you knew what I know you'd be doing what I do...
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  • Profile picture of the author drewfioravanti
    I highly doubt GoDaddy manually enters email addresses in their system. Maybe I'm wrong, but that doesn't seem logical.
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  • Profile picture of the author kpmedia
    Godaddy is a horrible host, registrar, etc -- with anti-consumer policies and ethics issues...

    ... but I don't think this was their fault. Sorry.
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