I registered www.MyPicturestoDVD.com March 10th, 2008 for my girlfriend's (now wife) business through Yahoo Small Business Services, which it appears they used MElbourne IT Reseller as their registrar. ( Registrar: MELBOURNE IT, LTD. D/B/A INTERNET NAMES WORLDWIDE
)

After the first month I cancelled my business account with Yahoo as it was a complete waste of $30/mo, and was able to get a refund which was in their terms of service. Although I paid them for the domain (something around $9), so the account was turned into a domain account.

Everything was fine until 3 months ago when the nameservers I used went down, and either Yahoo or Melbourne IT changed the domains namesrevers to:

Name Server: PLEASEDROPTHISHOST31772.SERVER1CISCO.BIZ
Name Server: PLEASEDROPTHISHOST31773.SERVER1CISCO.BIZ


A month ago I contacted Yahoo about trying to find out the Yahoo ID I used to register the domain with (which I have NO IDEA.. I hardly ever use Yahoo to begin with). They are unwilling to tell me, as the credit card I used (nearly two years ago) I canceled as I lost it back in early 09.

So I contacted Melbourne IT about how to have them at least get access to my domain to change the namservers. They told me I would have to directly deal with Yahoo... eventhough the domain is 100% under my wife's name. Including her business email AND business phone number.

Ok, so back to Yahoo. I contacted them again, which they cannot help me as I don't have the Yahoo ID. But said they could contact me to verify some other things. Gave me a link to use, which is just a F.A.Q section... dead end again.

A few days ago I said screw it... and went to GoDaddy and started a domain transfer. Everything went great, except... I need a domain authorization code that was sent to Melbourne IT. So I contacted Melbourne.... nothing.... nothing... nothing.

I contacted Yahoo, as maybe they could help me... they said talk to Melbourne. So I created another ticket with Melbourne... nothing.

So now 3 months into it, I still cannot access the domain and more importantly this good PR ranked website that brings in business... is still down.

Yahoo = SUCK
Melbourne IT Reseller = SUCK

I had a domain through yahoo/melbourne IT years back when they had a special. Thought I'd give it a try.

When I wanted to transfer out, yahoo released the domain to melbourne IT and told me I had to contact them directly. It took nearly 2 months to transfer it out. And it was a few days before my domain expired. Never again...but I tested it out because I was younger, not much money, and I wanted to test them out. I mean, who would have thought Yahoo would be so crappy. I didn't even know they were a reseller of Melbourne IT until they told us about it.

@PinkFloydWS, have you tried transferring the domain out?

I know this is hard thing to accept. But for me I'd just forget the domain and find another one. This is very typical of both Yahoo and MelbourneIT. You're flogging a dead horse, imho, in trying to recover her domain. Your energy would be better spent finding another name and getting on with your lives.

It's been another 4 days now, and Melbourne/Yahoo completley no longer wish to assist me at all. Melbourne even told me to not contact them anymore... professional... *sigh*.

I am curious if there is a way I can petition with the ICANN (since i'm the registrare) to getting the domain? I remember I filled out a form with EV1 way back when because of something like this.

I lost 1 important domain in a similar situation in Yahoo Domains, I did not remember the Yahoo ID that I used to register the domain.

The domain was registered to my name, I had my personal email as administrative contact and I lost the domain. I insisted to Melbourne and Yahoo and never gave me a solution.

Never use Yahoo Domains!!!

sorry to hear about it, I too had a domain with yahoo about 5 years ago.
There was this offer $1.99 for first year I thought was very good,
but their support was no good at all.
had to transfer it to godaddy, never use them again

What did I tell you? forget it, get another domain, get on with your lives.

I suppose you always have possibility to transfer domain name to the domain name registrar which will give you better services. But in this vcase you will need to pay more.

@PinkFloydWS

I was wondering if you were able sort out the situation with Yahoo / MelbourneIT?

I doubt it. MelbourneIT are true to their word about never responding.

Given that many others were not able to resolve their issues - it seems unlikely that the O.P will resolve his. But it would be nice if there was a different ending to this story. The whole pass the buck line makes me sick to my stomache.

I just saw this thread on Google... I apologize for such a LONG delay.. about a year.

Unfortunately I never did get this resolved. I did get an Email from MelbourneIT about they now fully control the domain. If I wanted to renew the domain to contact them directly. The domain is 4 years old, I wonder if it's worth to re-register it.. $15/yr.

Although I despise this company!

Why don't you simplu contact the credit card company that you purchased the domain with, and then contact a lawyer. If you purchased something then you have every right to it. I absolutely would NOT forget about it. I'm a fighter, and if melbourne did not release that domain I would go after them. They haven't any right to "hold" the domain if you purchased to use it for 5 yrs, 2 yrs, 1 yr, etc.. I hope your not just sending them emails, or chat. Call them! If the representative won't answer then go further, find the CEO, go to the city where their corporate HQ is and go to the local court house and find out who the business is registered to. Get a lawyer sue for loss revenue, and the aggravation. I WILL never let one of these businesses get away with this.

I personally would never have any dealings with MelbourneIT, even if the were giving me a domain for free.