Cuz Godaddy is the biggest for that reason – hard to transfer any domains away from them!

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Your problem sounds like it can be recognized by a lot of domainers. Can you elaborate further on it here?

This is a blatant neglect of fiduciary rights of all current lease holders. The truth of the matter is registrars will sell you a lease ,but they accept no fiduciary responsibility that you will keep the lease till expiration. This is why in all the hyjacking of leases by Kentucky-and contless others ICANN has been completely SILENT, as if lease holders have no rights. Is this a problem? As Sarah Palin says ” You BETCHA “

A registrant change to Whois information is not a valid basis for denying a transfer request.

http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/advisory-03apr08.htm

(and even said “Registrars are prohibited from denying a domain name transfer request based on non-payment of fees for pending or future registration periods during the Auto-Renew Grace Period”)

If there are a lot of claims, could be GoDaddy lose his status as ICANN-accredited registrar?

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

That would be when pigs fly piper cubs and when hell freezes into an iceskating rink. Since when does anyone think ICANN polices their own policies? Great links, Dom… thanks!

They’re(GD) not perfect but I’ve never had issues resolving things with my Rep. I also get “domainer” pricing without having to look for codes!

My 2 cents,
Robert

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

I’m glad you think we’re all “hilarious” and “cows”, Robert. You must have a very, very close relationship with your “Rep”. Will your GD Rep transfer out a domain you own when you changed the whois in the last 60 days, and checkmarked the box where GoDaddy requires you to agree the the DOMAIN CANNOT BE TRANSFERRED for 60 days after you submit your whois info change? Of course he won’t. He’s not going to depend on your voice over the phone to “verify” it’s really you. You checkmarked the box stating you didn’t want a transfer to happen after you made the whois change. And if your loving GD Rep finally does approve the transfer, just how long did it take and how many hoops did you jump through to get that to happen? Did you have to send GoDaddy a color copy fax of your driver’s license to prove who you were?

BTW, all the top domainer registrars have hijacking protection schemes that work as good or better than GoDaddy, without all the manipulation involved.

Your love of GoDaddy is based on your inexperience and your complete lack of understanding what we’re discussing here. However, I welcome noobie comments, normally. It helps my readers define the difference between experience and complete noobishness. (Okay, I claim the term “noobishness”, officially!)

More information can be found here:
http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/wdrp.htm

XXXXXX Stephen Douglas Responds:

Hi Big Frank,

Yeah, that’s the correct term for it (and I can always depend on you to provide me with the true details and facts of anything regarding domain regulations!). They are required to be sent out by the registrars once a year, but GoDaddy sends them out around 45 days before your domains expire, so that if you DO comply and update your whois, GoDaddy locks the domain from being removed from their system before you have to renew it again. Thanks Frank, always a pleasure to hear from you.

Anyway, to be honest I’m glad people are starting to take note and make a bit of noise about this issue (and hundreds of other issues in regards to GD).

I have nothing against any registrar, but when I feel that they are trying to get one over me and playing tricks to force me to pay more to them then I get a little annoyed.

Also, I’ve been buying/selling domains for over four years now – I’ve used 15-20 different registrars in total. I’ve never seen such dodgy unethical techniques at any other registrar. None come close.

I prefer to use DynaDot / NameCheap/ Moniker / Name / Fabulous etc. I’ve never had any problems with my 100′s of domains at each of those registrars. In fact I feel safe with those registrars, but I can’t say the same about Godaddy.

Nice article… we need to make more people aware of these GD issues.