Hello,

My name is Tudor and I am from Romania.
For those who don't know where it is, let's just say it's a small country somewhere in EU.

Few months ago I checked some domain names.
One of them:
CEASURI.COM
seems to be expired at that time so I backordered it with GoDaddy service.
Also the domain was registered with GoDaddy.

OK. After 2 weeks I got an email with Congrulations that assure me the domain is mine. Also I have it in my domains control panel.
Everything fine but after few days I received an email that announce me the registrant was already paid for renewal and was a mistake, sorry sorry blabla and they sent my funds back to my card and get my domain!!!

I call them, I talked with someone which doesn't know or he doesn't want to know and same story... we are very sorry, we are very sorry.

I have all emails from them as proves.

In present the domain is listed for sale and of course it have a very good price. :) CEASURI means WATCHES in romanian language.

My conclusion is GoDaddy are scams. They do scams especially with people what can not do big waves. I'm from colonies right? I wouldn't be treated like that not even in Iran or China. Sadly but true.

It's not good. Probably they did not want to give domain for you. If domain has some traffic, then they just make money out of it by selling it or displaying advertisement.. :(

Of course is not good. They could say from the start... NOT FOR SALE!
OK I could understand that!

But you charge my card, you give it to me, let me starting make plans for that domain and after few days (including weekend was a more than a week) you took it from me! That is not good at all.

For me it sounds like medieval manners: I'm stronger than you than I could have what's yours!

OK I will not die from that. Everywhere are scams and I strongly believe that not all american companies are like that BUT I MUST KNOW from now what are most trusted.

I said I'm not an american, but if I'd be one I will vote that Ron Paul. I want to see the first man from the planet saying we have to become people again. We're running to much time for the money and we loose our human feelings and when we get money we spend it to get back our human feelings.
Isn't that ironic? :D

Please if someone could recommend a trusted service for managing domain names. Thanks in advance!

When did you buy it?
The domain expires on Sept 23rd. So add up to 45 days Grace Period (to Nov 7) plus 30 day Redemption Period (to Dec 7) then 5 days Pending Delete (to Dec 12). Domain should have dropped & been available for registration on Dec 12th approx.

I'm not sure why you would have to 'backorder' and wait two weeks if you did this a few months ago. Perhaps GoDaddy's database was messed up & it was not even expired & available.

All backorders at GoDaddy will go to Auction at TDNAM if they are registered at GoDaddy. They also reserve the right to take back the domain if the previous owner renews. It's in their ToS.

You agree that a domain name that has expired shall be subject first to a grace period of 12 days, followed by the ICANN-mandated 30 day redemption grace period. During this period of time, the current domain name registrant may renew the domain and retain ownership. The domain name may also be placed in a secondary market for resale through The Domain Name Aftermarket service.

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

@ Techno

On my credit card statement:
POS 10/5/2006 ID11111111 GoDaddy.com XXXX ref XXX
so I was charged on 10/5/2006. Charging appears lately because there is a delay of 7-12 days. Is not GoDaddy specific, I saw that happened when I registered a new domain through iPower. Same delay, the domain is registered before that payment appears on my credit card statement.

Refund:
REFUND GODADDY.COM 18.99 USD DEC 10.11 ref XXX 13/11/2006

So they sent me back the funds on 13/11. When they sent me back the funds I already had the domain on my server and started to make a website.

@ stu2

Yes, the domain was listed on their TDNAM. I was the only bidder because there are no many people interested by domains in romanian language. I don't understand exactly how the bidding is working because I made the backorder and then the bid was placed automatically. Something like that. Look their email as a prove:
-------------
Dear XXXXXXXX Tudor,

Congratulations! You have placed the winning bid for Item Number 4896683, CEASURI.com, in the amount of $10.00.

If you had CEASURI.com on backorder and did not actively bid on this domain, please disregard the instructions below. We will automatically transfer this domain to your account after the standard 14-day grace period.

IF YOU ACTIVELY BID ON THIS DOMAIN AT TDNAM, please follow the instructions below by 10/25/2006 03:11 PM to complete your purchase.
--------------

The domain was mine after that 2 weeks period. It was a six weeks period, a month for expiring and 2 weeks grace period for the old owner. From the time perspective everything was fine, their argument WAS NOT TIME, but A MISTAKE. They said the old owner paid in that period but they didn't know somehow and was mistake that the domain is mine.

How could I be able to change the DNS's from domain panel to my hosting account if it was not mine? I also start to make a website and than BANG, the domain is not yours anymore.

As I remember (emails also proove that), they didn't work to much to told me when they get my domain back. I was logging to my account and bang, domain blocked. If I wouldn't logged I wouldn't know!!! Because I got no email from them and I wouldn't know also because the DNS's remains that changed by me. I had to call them to find the answers.

As I said previous, medieval manners.

DO NOT REGISTER OR RENEW ANYTHING THROUGH GODADDY UNLESS YOU ARE AMERICAN AND COULD MAKE WAVES IN CASE SOMETHING IS WRONG!
From my point of view they are scammers.

From my point of view they are scammers.

In my point of view they're not as long as they've done as agreed upon. Sorry to read what happened to you, though.

Hi Tudor,

The old domain holder would have had 12 days renewal period and 30 redemption period to renew the domain. Sometimes up to another 5 days. During this time the old owner has rights to renew the domain. Usually the end of their rights is approximately co-terminus with you receiving the domain from the TDNAM auction. Clearly, the old domain holder paid to renew the domain during the period in which he had rights to do so, but some glitch in the GoDaddy system didn't flag the domain as renewed in the TDNAM system. Glitches do sometimes occur. I think GoDaddy handled this correctly. How would you feel if the roles were reversed? You paid for the renewal but still lost the domain? (rhetorical question). I would shrug my shoulders and move on. you should do the same. One thing strange in your story is the dates. This happened on Oct/Nov 2006, but you come to post here in June 2007. why so long? I'd have been mad and posted almost immediately after it happened. And I think you would agree, that I don't think Godaddy are targeting Romanian dictionary words for their thievery ;)

I don't like Go Daddy, but I find the thread title unfair.

My understanding from the dates given above is that GoDaddy auctions domains while they are still in the Grace Period. (domain expired Sept 23rd, buddy bought on Oct 5th, owner renewed before Nov 13th). These premature sales will inevitably result in some refunds and angry buyers.

OK next time they could write in the TOS, we have all the rights and you have nothing and that's it. Agree or not! TOS covering! This is a joke, you can't do business this way.

This is beyond TOS because you gave me something and you took it from me.
If you're not sure about what you doing don't give me anything and I will be fine.
But when you gave me something and then took it back... this is scam.

OK next time they could write in the TOS, we have all the rights and you have nothing and that's it. Agree or not! TOS covering!

They did. Did you even bother to read it to begin with?

Hello,

My name is Tudor and I am from Romania.
For those who don't know where it is, let's just say it's a small country somewhere in EU.

Few months ago I checked some domain names.
One of them:
CEASURI.COM
seems to be expired at that time so I backordered it with GoDaddy service.
Also the domain was registered with GoDaddy.

OK. After 2 weeks I got an email with Congrulations that assure me the domain is mine. Also I have it in my domains control panel.
Everything fine but after few days I received an email that announce me the registrant was already paid for renewal and was a mistake, sorry sorry blabla and they sent my funds back to my card and get my domain!!!

I call them, I talked with someone which doesn't know or he doesn't want to know and same story... we are very sorry, we are very sorry.

I have all emails from them as proves.

In present the domain is listed for sale and of course it have a very good price. :) CEASURI means WATCHES in romanian language.

My conclusion is GoDaddy are scams. They do scams especially with people what can not do big waves. I'm from colonies right? I wouldn't be treated like that not even in Iran or China. Sadly but true.

I doubt godaddy, i think they might have played a game.

They did. Did you even bother to read it to begin with?

It's just what I'm saying.
Let's reevaluate this discussion in other terms:

I'm a real estate agent. I sell you an apartment, I SAID "IT'S YOURS", I let you move in it then I'm coming to get you out and say... the old owner want it back. You should read the TOS. Get out!

For me who's doing business this way is a scammer.

Hello,

My name is Tudor and I am from Romania.
For those who don't know where it is, let's just say it's a small country somewhere in EU.

Few months ago I checked some domain names.
One of them:
CEASURI.COM
seems to be expired at that time so I backordered it with GoDaddy service.
Also the domain was registered with GoDaddy.

OK. After 2 weeks I got an email with Congrulations that assure me the domain is mine. Also I have it in my domains control panel.
Everything fine but after few days I received an email that announce me the registrant was already paid for renewal and was a mistake, sorry sorry blabla and they sent my funds back to my card and get my domain!!!

I call them, I talked with someone which doesn't know or he doesn't want to know and same story... we are very sorry, we are very sorry.

I have all emails from them as proves.

In present the domain is listed for sale and of course it have a very good price. :) CEASURI means WATCHES in romanian language.

My conclusion is GoDaddy are scams. They do scams especially with people what can not do big waves. I'm from colonies right? I wouldn't be treated like that not even in Iran or China. Sadly but true.

It may prove to me that they are unfortunately incompetent, but not really theives. Oh well, I guess you get what you pay for (doesn't it always seem to be the case?).

It may prove to me that they are unfortunately incompetent, but not really theives. Oh well, I guess you get what you pay for (doesn't it always seem to be the case?).

As I said, I'm from colonies. :)
Some companies took domains, other took oil. Medieval manners works great!

I'm a real estate agent. I sell you an apartment, I SAID "IT'S YOURS", I let you move in it then I'm coming to get you out and say... the old owner want it back. You should read the TOS. Get out!

There's something missing from that analogy of yours. Did you previously sell or lease that apartment to the old "owner" before "selling" it to me?

I'll play along with you a bit. But I'll use your analogy since you're a real estate agent, as you say.

Imagine I lease stu an apartment in my building for X dollars for one year. In the contract we both agree to, I reserve the right to do as I see fit with the apartment after the lease expires.

The lease finally comes up, but I haven't heard from stu for whatever reason. So I decide to send a newspaper ad that an apartment unit in my building is up for grabs.

Two days after I send out the ad, I get your phonecall saying you're interested. We talk about it and work out an agreement.

In the contract you're about to sign, I include a provision saying I reserve the right to terminate the lease and return your money if the previous lessor renewed his contract with me. You sign the contract and you pay up.

Then just before you move in, I tell you that stu finally showed up, renewed our lease agreement and paid in full. I apologize for the inconvenience, and I refund your money in full.

Is that legal? AFAIK it's legal until any applicable law or judge says otherwise.

Is that unethical? Well, no one's compelling you to tag along if you don't agree to begin with, right?

Of course, this is just a limited analogy as an attempt to understand what happened here. But I hope you get the drift as I get yours.

Believe all you want you were scammed. But the facts you gave from the start doesn't seem to establish any element of deception here.

Yes, that could be ok UNLESS I wouldn't have that 6 weeks gone.
For me TIME WAS OK. They said, they didn't know that the owner paid again.
It's a big difference.

Why GoDaddy sell something that is not their property if they are not sure they could obtain it?
Why GoDaddy are not having good faith in explaining that?

One answer:
GREED

GREED only can explain how can you sell something that you don't own.
Is it GREED legal? Of course it is. Corporation's GREEDY is always legal, moral and necessary.

GoDaddy scamming good faith people! My experience proove that.

Oh, I forgot to say. They charge me twice for same service. Yes, they do. If I wouldn't check the credit card statement online, I wouldn't know. I can proove that too. There are 2 charges of $18.99, and I backordered one domain.

What is this? Also a mistake, right?

You maybe able to prove there were 2 charges to your credit card but you will be unable or unwilling to prove how those charges got there. In my experience in cases like this we ALWAYS see a completely different story when the registrar decides to defend themselves. What did GoDaddy say about those 2 charges?

Why you wait nearly 8 months before revealing this story?

Greed? C'mon. You can't be serious that this was the reason for returning the domain to the previous owner?

You maybe able to prove there were 2 charges to your credit card but you will be unable or unwilling to prove how those charges got there. In my experience in cases like this we ALWAYS see a completely different story when the registrar decides to defend themselves. What did GoDaddy say about those 2 charges?

GoDaddy play same song. A mistake. :)
Also as I promised I bring the proves here. Please check the attachements. There are printscreens with my account. I hashed my personal info.

Please pay attention to the date. They charge me in the same day (10/5/2006) for the same service twice. This is the scam! See?
Then I saw that double charge in my credit card statement and I put questions on the phone. What is most interesting is that the second charge don't appear in my account panel. After the phone call I saw it. ;) Coincidence? As I said, thiefs.

Also please see that. They refund me on 10/12/2006, after I call them and retain only the one charge for that service. The dates talks itself.


Let's reevaluate:
1. They charge me twice for same service. I don't saw that in my panel but in my bank account. No email, no phone call. I call them and asked for explanations.
Their answer:
MISTAKE! Sorry about that Sir, we will refund it.
Then the charge appear in my account!!!

2. They send me an email with Congratulations for getting that domain. Starting to make a website than the domain disappeared from my panel. Again no email, no phone call. I call them and asked for explanations.
Their answer:
MISTAKE! Sorry about that Sir, the old owner paid and we don't updated that payment. Was a mistake!

Please pay attention, that person that I talked on the phone only explain me that the domain why they took my domain back but NOTHING about the new refund. I had to call again to tell them about refund. I was to angry so I forgot, but they forgot AGAIN! After I called again they assured me cause I will get my money back.

These are the facts. You can check the proves. I have nothing to loose, but is better for others customers know how these scammers treating their clients.
GoDaddy.com are scammers ! ! !

Please pay attention to the date. They charge me in the same day (10/5/2006) for the same service twice. This is the scam! See?
Then I saw that double charge in my credit card statement and I put questions on the phone. What is most interesting is that the second charge don't appear in my account panel. After the phone call I saw it. ;) Coincidence? As I said, thiefs.

Do you automatically assume someone is scamming you if they honestly made a mistake? Honestly, anyway, and mistakes do happen, you know.

Unfortunately I can hardly read the details of your screenshots aside from the numbers. From what I'm able to comprehend from them, there were two backorder charges on the same date at different times, the second one not listing any domain name at all.

Let me see if I understood what you've posted so far:

1. You posted a backorder for the domain name.

2. You were charged twice.

3. They said they'll refund it.

4. You got an email saying you got the domain name.

5. You later see the domain name's gone from your account.

6. You contacted them and they said it was a mistake because the last registrant actually renewed it.

7. You got refunded $18.99 for the backorder.

The thing I can't make out so far is if you were indeed charged twice. I think I need glasses...

Atleast they refund your money! I've seen alot worse.

Do you automatically assume someone is scamming you if they honestly made a mistake? Honestly, anyway, and mistakes do happen, you know.

Yes, but I was a new client. Well afaik most companies are interested to do good impressions to new clients. They do BIG mistakes.

Mistakes do not happen in money situation. For example, my bank never charged me twice when I extracted from the ATM some money.

When we talking about the money, there are no mistakes, only BIG mistakes!
Do not try to underestimate that kind of blunders.

Unfortunately I can hardly read the details of your screenshots aside from the numbers. From what I'm able to comprehend from them, there were two backorder charges on the same date at different times, the second one not listing any domain name at all.

Let me see if I understood what you've posted so far:

1. You posted a backorder for the domain name.

2. You were charged twice.

3. They said they'll refund it.

4. You got an email saying you got the domain name.

5. You later see the domain name's gone from your account.

6. You contacted them and they said it was a mistake because the last registrant actually renewed it.

7. You got refunded $18.99 for the backorder.

The thing I can't make out so far is if you were indeed charged twice. I think I need glasses...

1. Yes
2. Yes (I find that only on my cc statement)
3. Yes (only after I call it for that and at this moment the second charge appeared on my panel)
4. Yes (also let me use it)
5. Yes (no email, no call, they took it brutally)
6. Yes
7. Yes

I look on screenshots and the details are very clearly, but if you need it, I can do screenshots with zoom option from my Firefox to see as clearly as day.
Do you want me to do that? I have nothing to hide!

Atleast they refund your money! I've seen alot worse.

I strongly believe that is true!! I felt it on my skin.

GoDaddy scamming people with artful methods for charging credit cards. When you cutting up them, they say "sorry, mistake". How convenient because anyone do mistakes. :)

Also GoDaddy scamming people with brutal methods when is about domain names. They took without a word and they say again "sorry, mistake".

GoDaddy scamming people, good faith clients, and when you cutting them they hide behind "sorry, mistake".

Mistakes do not happen in money situation.

Yes they do. Service and payment providers get such every other day.

Obviously no one wants to make a mistake. But if/when they do, many are ready to correct it and apologize as Go Daddy has.

Sometimes they'll see it, sometimes they won't. Of course, they can't correct it if they don't know about it in the first place.

You can zoom the images if you want. I suggest you cross out your account details, of course.

BTW, they have a rep here usernamed OTP_TEAM.

OK, these are same screenshots but zoomed from Firefox.
I used that PageZoom extension.

If there is a rep from GoDaddy is ok, but he can do nothing good for me.
Damage is done, I had to pay more attention next time to get a honest domain names registrant.

I do not believe in GoDaddy anymore and in there way to make business.

Maybe I am from a small country, maybe I'm not pretty speak and spell but I was honest with them and they treat me miserable, make me loose time and money.

Using GoDaddy is a big mistake in my opionion. In my small amount of dealings with them, I have found them to be the worst bunch of totally incompetent idiots I have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. Their refusal to do things sanely amuses me.

Dave. Usually clicking on the picture in firefox enlarges it to a readable size.

Craigbrass. that may be true, but "scammers" are along way from true.

Tudor. OK. They made 2 mistakes on the same domain. That would be enough to put you off any registrar. But I'm still curious why it's taken 8 months for you to come out with this. You still seem angry after 8 months even though you are not out of pocket other than your time. I think you need to move on with your life.

Why they do tihs? They are really big with wild west domains.Did they really need a small advertisement with this domain? I cant understand it.I do not want to believe it because if they do it where can we register domain? Kill em all

My understanding from the above is that GoDaddy (& likely other registrars) sell expired names under their control before they reach PendingDelete so that they can get the jump on other drop-services. The risk is that the original owner may still renew but registrars play the odds that they won't. The benefit is that if you backorder a domain under Godaddy's control you are much more likely to get it than if it drops & you compete with, & in, Pool and other similar auctions. Just don't count on it & assume it's yours for keeps before the RGP period ends.

Craigbrass. that may be true, but "scammers" are along way from true.

I do agree. They are not thieves or scammers, they are just totally incompetent.

I have to disagree, I have been with GoDaddy for years now, and have had nothing but good support and help.

Now if the fire set in ur mind has settled, i hope you'll understand that it was a possible case(terms) and unhappily it happened to you.

Anyways all the best for your project.

GoDaddy's service is great... However, Their backordering service sucks big time.
They failed to capute 3 domains in total since now !
And they don't provide a refund for backordering service.

GoDaddy's service is great... However, Their backordering service sucks big time.
They failed to capute 3 domains in total since now !
And they don't provide a refund for backordering service.
I don't think anyone refunds do they? Just give you credit for next time.

I don't think anyone refunds do they? Just give you credit for next time.

Alot of registrars do refund.. n4me, lovingdomains...

Refund in general or refund for backorders? In general, Go Daddy refunds, too, but not in any practical sense for backorders.

Refunds in general.

wow what a mess! hope you find more help

GoDaddy are scammers!

For me is a true story. They made 2 curious mistakes but in their advantage.
How convenient! They are scammers, of course.

You never did answer the question why you bring this up now, and not 8 months ago.

You never did answer the question why you bring this up now, and not 8 months ago.

Procrastination?

You never did answer the question why you bring this up now, and not 8 months ago.

I saw others saying that they are not satisfied about GoDaddy and I said to post about their way to do business. On Romanian forums my experience is known from months ago!!! It was a good opportunity to share this experience here again and I will share it on other forums too.
It is very important the many people know how GoDaddy make business.

GoDaddy are scammers!