Dear The Web Contractors Customer,
BEWARE!
It has recently come to our attention that customers have been
receiving some potentially misleading renewal notices for their domain
names.
A number of industry companies are mailing information to entice
customers into transferring domain names to another registrar.
These companies are utilizing the Whois database to gain access to name,
address, email, phone, expiration dates and other pertinent domain
information. Solicitations are often confusing or misleading.
Some of the tactics
include:
 | Indicating that domain names require renewal and to mail back
payment immediately (perhaps in the envelope enclosed) |
| Save money by renewing or transferring your domain name
immediately |
| Low-ball pricing and “free” transfer fees or other services |
In most cases you are asked to act quickly or before
some arbitrary deadline giving you little time to make an informed, well
researched decision. Often the person receiving the solicitation is not
aware of status, management, control or other issues involving domain
names.
What should
you guard against?
| Read ALL the details and research these companies carefully before
acting hastily
 | Are they ICANN accredited? |
| How long have they been in business? |
| Will they provide recognizable reference accounts that you can
check? |
| Do they have phone support staff, back-up systems, security, and
service level standards?
|
|
| Be aware of the potential pitfalls of domain name transfers
| Inadvertent domain name deletions |
| Loss of services like email or address forwarding due to DNS
changes |
| Name-hijacking |
| Increased costs |
| Loss of domain name control
|
|
| Don’t be lured into paying too much or paying for services that
you don’t understand |
