Update: After some communications with Register.com, I was able to acquire the transfer authorization code via their live chat support.
For people who are considering Register.com, I’ve got something new. Well probably not new but I just found it out myself the hard way how Register.com is a SCAM.
Sneaky Pricing at Register.com
I registered a .com with them a couple months ago at a bargain price of $2.95 (or so) and when I learned that the renewal price for the next year was like $38 / year, I said to myself, woahh, what an idiot must had I been registering this name with them in the first place?!
For people who are new to domains, you can get a .com name at almost any other registrars at no more than $10 / year (new registration or renewal), with much better control panel and functionalities.
The next thing I found myself doing was trying to get an authorization code so I could transfer it to another registrar. It wasn’t easy – I clicked around for about 5 minutes to find the tiny link at the bottom of the page where they would allow me to retrieve the auth code and guess what. After I clicked the link, they offered me a totally different price for renewing – $10 / year:
What a douche.
And stupid.
Worst business practice ever.
Who else is offended by this moronic trick that they thought would do good to their sales?
It actually punishes loyal customers who take good faith in them in the first place yet rewards disloyal ones who are looking to get away from them.
What kind of business does that??!!
Apparently, I clicked “Continue Transfer†and requested the auth code.
Register.com Takes 7 Days to Review Your Request for an Auth Code
Turned out I couldn’t get my auth code at once. Unlike all (probably) other registrars that instantly sends you the transfer auth code upon request, Register.com sends it 7 days after request. And they only promised to review the request! They may end up NOT sending you the auth code at all at their discretion.
It was lucky of me who had found about this delay policy long before the renewal due date, otherwise I’d probably have to take one of the offers and renew another year with them should I want to keep the domain from dropping.
However, this isn’t the best part.
They declined my request for the auth code.
Yep. And this is their message addressed to me regarding my request for the auth code. Seemed I had some suspicious activity in my account and now I have to do a phone call to their customer service consultants at 1.888.734.4783 to get the auth code I need for my domain.
Dear Yang Yang,
You recently requested an auth code to transfer your “xxxxxxx.com” domain name.
Your request has been processed and at this time it has been declined due to recent suspicious activity in your account.Register.com is committed to providing the most secure and reliable domain services for our customers. We have implemented specific security measures to help prevent unauthorized transfer of domains to another registrar.
The type of suspicious activity that could have caused your request to be declined includes:
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Multiple failed attempts to login to customer’s account
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Recent changes to the account holder’s name, email address, or login ID
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Attempts to access the account over the phone without authorization
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Recent changes to the accounts password
-Â Â Â Â Â Â Domain name lock not removed
-      Recent changes to billing or credit card informationTo receive your auth code, please call one of our customer service consultants at 1.888.734.4783. They will confirm you to the account and then fulfill your request.
Thank You,
Sandy Ross
EVP, Customer Service
Register.com
Lucky of me again, this one domain with them wasn’t so very big a deal to me. I think I’ll just leave it un-renewed. It was well worth $3 bucks for finding out a thug registrar this way.
Register.com is now on my blacklist for all my future domain needs.
Now to the appalling part – I’m UNABLE to turn off the auto-renewal.
Obviously, I would want to turn off the auto-renewal of my domain or at the end of the registration cycle Register.com would bill my credit card again which is the last thing I want. I would rather delete or drop the domain than to be forced to continue paying them.
There’s essentially no ‘No’ option for “Automatic SafeRenew Enabled” and the “Update” button is basically unclickable.
A credit card charge-back seems to be inevitable.
More Horror Stories with Register.com
Just Google for “Register.com Review†or “Register.com Scam†to see for yourself.
- http://www.hostingkids.com/host/register.com/
- http://www.dnforum.com/f557/register-com-scam-thread-18490.html
- http://www.webhostingstuff.com/review/Registercom.html
- http://www.whoishostingthis.com/hosting-reviews/register-com/
- http://www.ripoffreport.com/directory/register-com.aspx
- http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=1163283