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I've had an ongoing problem with my domain name registrar for five
years. I wouldn't be surprised if there is, or will be a class action
lawsuit against them. Until, what can I do to get away from them? Story
follows:
I registered my business domain name through Register.com in 1999, and
from the start was very unhappy with their service. They were hard to
contact, and made it incredibly difficult to set up my website. In 2000,
I desperately wanted to re-register my name through a different
registrar, but Register.com had a lock on my name, so I couldn't. I
don't have any contract with them, as the first round of calls
confirmed. Basically, I was told, that because I had registered at a
discount price, they didn't appreciate my using their promotion and then
transferring at the end of the year. The first person acknowledged that
I wasn't bound to anything, and wasn't required to continue with their
service. He did tell me that they had the sale to attract new customers
and that I was being "selfish" to take advantage of it, so it would take
longer to unlock my domain name! (Well, at least he was honest about
their practices!) I went in circles with them for months and talked to
every department because no one would let me transfer, and everyone I
spoke to said I would have to call another department. Of course, by
that time, I was forced to renew through them to avoid losing my domain
name. I have since contacted them hundreds of times, and they have
consistently promised to remove the lock. They never have. Every year, I
start early and they drag their feet until I have no choice but to
re-register with them. This year in particular, I began contacting them
over two months ahead of the expiration date of my domain name, so the
lock would be removed well in time for me to switch to another
registrar. Despite numerous assurances that it would be done within 24
hours, it never was. Finally, at the last minute, I was forced to renew
through Register.com against my wishes. I had no other choice, because
they will not unlock my domain name so I can go with a different
company. They have been consistently deceitful and unethical, and are
holding my domain name hostage. Basically, I am being blackmailed into
using their company, because my only other choice is to let my domain
name (that matches my trademarked business name) expire. Of course this
is not a good option, because I do not want to risk someone else buying
the domain name for my business! I already had to sue one trademark
infringer in 2003, and send a warning letter to another in 2004, there
is no way I can take a chance of my domain name being released.
Register.com is purposely, and illegally forcing me to use their company
by neglecting to unlock my domain name despite hundreds of written,
e-mailed and spoken requests. I have been doing some internet searches
and have found that they are infamous for doing this to people.
What can I do, and what kind of attorney do I look for?
Help!
mjoann
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