Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Domain Names : Transfer From Yahoo Nightmare

[timmahh]

Hello all,

I began transferring my domains a week and a half ago. I read a couple of threads here on transferring domains from Yahoo and thought I had it licked.

First, getting Yahoo to respond to via email to release my *.us domains back to Melbourne IT was tough. It was only after I threatened them that they responded at all.

After I got Yahoo to respond I followed their directions and the *.us domains were subsequently released back to Melbourne IT.

When I contacted Melbourne IT via email to get my EPP Authorization codes they responded right away telling me that they want me to phone them for some verification of unspecified information, something that I didn't have to do for any of other domains I recently transferred. All my other domains were transferred successfully via email correspondence (including other *.us domains).

I was flabbergasted that after successfully transferring all my other domains online that they needed to speak with me on the phone in a time zone 16 hours (?) different from mine to allegedly verify information.

As I don't want to spend the time or the dime waiting on hold for Melbourne IT I emailed them telling them to figure out some other way to verify the information. They obviously have other (secure) online methods to do this, should they so choose.

Now they have not responded to that email and a subsequent one in over two days.

I'm pretty annoyed about the hassle the domain transfers from Yahoo were to begin with and now this!

I'm wondering what leverage I have to complete this transfer without much more hassle...

Any ideas as to what to do next to get the EPP codes for my two *.us domains from Melbourne IT WITHOUT a phone call?

[carlitosway]

They need to speak on the phone to transfer out? seems like a scam. complain to icann

[4solutions]

You might complain to Neustar at www.nic.us

Under Section 2.1.2 of their "Policy on Transfer of Sponsorship of Registrations
Between Reigstrars," it states:

a) Registrars must provide all Registered Name Holders with their unique “AuthInfo” code within five (5) calendar days of the Registered Name Holder’s initial request if the Registrar does not provide facilities for the Registered Name Holder to generate and manage their own unique “AuthInfo” code.
b) In addition, Registrars may not employ any mechanism for complying with a Registered Name Holder’s request to obtain the applicable “AuthInfo” code that is more restrictive than the mechanisms used for changing any aspect of the Registered Name Holder’s contact or name server information. Emphasis added.
c) The Registrar must not refuse to release an “AuthInfo” code to the Registered Name Holder solely because there is a dispute between the Registered Name Holder and the Registrar over payment.
d) Registrar-generated “AuthInfo” codes must be unique on a per-domain basis. The “AuthInfo” codes must be used solely to identify a Registered Name Holder.

So unless they make you call them to change the NameHolder's contact or nameserver information, they are in violation of paragraph (b) above.

Good Luck and, BTW, Welcome to the Forum

[timmahh]

I thought I would post an update on this story:

After the weekend I resent new emails to Melbourne IT regarding the EPP codes for the domain transfers. I thought that I would try starting from scratch and see what happened, instead of replying to the original email request and its associated "Case Tracking Number".

Within a day or two Melbourne IT responded by sending the EPP codes, no questions asked.

So it turns out Melbourne IT didn't actually need me to telephone for verification after all. I'm left wondering what function the phone call was meant to serve now, since they clearly never needed it.

In fact there was never any verification attempted whatsoever.

So I can come to no other conclusion than the particular customer service representative that responded to my initial email was just hassling me. (I wonder if that's company policy?)

Also, apparently Melbourne IT "customer support" doesn't work weekends.

Needless to say, I'm not impressed with Melbourne IT's schizophrenic customer service.

But my domains are transferred, so all in all I'm content.

Thanks for your replies!

[4solutions]

Thanks for letting us know that it all worked out... it's nice to hear some good news once in a while.

[Stan Marsh]

Originally Posted by 4solutions

it's nice to hear some good news once in a while.

Yes, it's good news, if not considering time and money (time=money) spent on such trivial thing as getting an EPP authcode... It should be clearly visible in registrar's control panel!