My Business partner registered a number of domains through GoDaddy. He recently wanted to transfer one of the domain names to Network Solutions so I can manage it better. He also wanted to change his email address at GoDaddy so he went to his account to change it only to find the GoDaddy control panel chopped off the last part of the address. He then changed it back to a shorter address.

Now he needs to transfer a domain they are refusing to do it for 60 days because their system screwed up his change of email address.

Is it it legal for them to hold a domain name hostage like this? It belongs to the customer who paid for it so I don't see they have any right to do this.

We will of course be transferring to Network Solutions every other domain he registered at GoDaddy and never use them again. This is a serious problem and awful service and support.

Looks like they have a rule in their TOS that you can't transfer a domain form them if you changed anything in WHOIS data in last 60 days. Few days ago that stopped me to transfer one of the domains I have with them, but other are leaving ASAP :)

Stay away from GoDaddy guys !

Namecheap is the answer :) (free publicity :P)

G

One could contest this:

http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/legal_agreements/show_doc.asp?se=%2B&pageid=TRANSFER%5FSA

2. Failed or Rejected Transfer Requests

Go Daddy may elect to accept or reject your domain name transfer application for any reason at its sole discretion. Rejections may include, but are not limited to: The current Registrar rejected the transfer. The original registration took place less than sixty (60) days prior to the transfer request. The domain name has been placed in a locked status by either the Registry or by the losing registrar. The domain was transferred to Go Daddy less than sixty (60) days prior to the transfer request. The domain name expired but was not renewed. The domain name expired and was renewed during the forty-five (45) day grace period, and the forty-five (45) day grace period has not yet passed. The Domain Name Registrant was changed less than sixty (60) days prior to the transfer request.

But you agreed to their terms when you checked the box beside "I have read the
service agreement and agree to its terms." And that's legal if you're especially in
the US.

On the other hand, one can complain to ICANN and point out this has potentially
violated the conditions of their inter-registrar transfer policies.

I am surprised that such a big company can get away with such awful service. I guess like many others they are just taking advantage of people who don't know much about domain registration.

They have lost a lot of business due to this but they probably don't care.

hmm... good to know that...

does this also happen if you just change the phone number ?

This is a reply from godaddy support I got when I asked why I can't transfer the doman:

Discussion Notes********
Support Staff Response**
Dear X Y,

Thank you for contacting Customer Support.

On 10/xx/2006 the domains registrant contact was updated. According to
GoDaddy policy the domain cannot be transferred until 60 days has past
since the last registrant contact change. This is stated in our legal
agreements. You will find the relevant part of this agreement quoted
below.

-----

Rejections may include, but are not limited to: The current Registrar
rejected the transfer. The original registration took place less than
sixty (60) days prior to the transfer request. The domain name has been
placed in a locked status by either the Registry or by the losing
registrar. The domain was transferred to Go Daddy less than sixty (60)
days prior to the transfer request. The domain name expired but was not
renewed. The domain name expired and was renewed during the forty-five
(45) day grace period, and the forty-five (45) day grace period has not
yet passed. The Domain Name Registrant was changed less than sixty (60)
days prior to the transfer request. Any pending bankruptcy of the
current domain name holder. Any dispute over the identity of the domain
name holder. Any situation described in the Dispute Policy. Transfer
orders over thirty (30) days old.
-----

You may continue the transfer on 12/xx/2006 provided that the transfer
is in accordance with the agreement above.

Please let us know if we can help you in any other way.

Regards,


I'm not sure what "registrant contact change" does cover, but to be safe (if you want to transfer) don't change a thing :)

If you think GoDaddy support is bad, then god help you anywhere else. I think you might be mixing up support with an onerous ToS, which as Dave points out, your client has agreed. ANY minute change in ANY of the Registrant Contact Info will trigger the 60 day hold. You can change the Admin, Technical, and Billing Contact Info to your heart's content. So now you know :)

I don't think you can say its OK because they told you their conditions of service are lousy when you signed the agreement. Most people will not read all that and they know it.

The simple fact is that their conditions stink. I use only Network Solutions who are very helpful and as far as I know use no excuses like "you changed your email address" to hold your domain name hostage for two months.

I only transferred one domain name from Network Solutions and it was done at a time when I was making many changes to my address etc. The transfer was done immediately and I just got an email asking if I was dissatisfied with their services. My partner and I have about 30 or 40 domain names there now and I have never had a problem.

Now we just have to get all the other domains transferred from GoDaddy to Network Solutions as soon as possible.

GoDaddy ok a few years ago now they suck.
They are getting big

It seems self destructive to me. I cannot understand the reasoning behind such a policy.

this stoped me from transfering 5 of my domains 2 month ago ...

i have a lot of domains at godaddy but I have heard some bad things about them. For example I knew some guys who had a high traffic domain through them, godaddy suspended it for abuse supposedly which they had a competing site sending the abuse reporters in the first place, all claims false. So anyway godaddy suspends them does not let them transfer it out , tries to charge them over $300 in some fees for this and that to transfer it then when they dont they start a new account and put the domain on backorder, so when it expires some spam link farm place ends up getting it.

Just thank god none of my domains are that high traffic or had any problems. But I think the whole backorder thing is a scam,. I have tried it before and never got any domains, even low traffic ones. Its funny how you can have that on backorder and one of them link farms ends up getting it first. I think they must have some kind of contract with these people or give them first dibs on domains.

I have some people who highly recommend namecheap and I have used the control panel, pretty fast and nice, but ive also heard about them as well bad stuff.

I guess its a no 100% situation no matter where you go

In the words of one wise old bard "There is no best registrar, only the best registrar for you".

it funny anytime you hear godaddy bad namecheap mentioned. Maybe namecheap saying this behind the scene ...



If you think GoDaddy support is bad, then god help you anywhere else. I think you might be mixing up support with an onerous ToS, which as Dave points out, your client has agreed. ANY minute change in ANY of the Registrant Contact Info will trigger the 60 day hold. You can change the Admin, Technical, and Billing Contact Info to your heart's content. So now you know :)

interesting... I do most of my dealings through godaddy and have yet to have a problem... in fact, I moved everything I had to them because I was so happy...