Scam 1&1 Again!

[Aaron Clifford]

Just received a letter from the bailiffs for £12.03 on behalf of 1&1, they renewed a domain without my permission and charged me for it, I sent them a nice email reminding them of the registrar agreement they agreed to with nominet about making people aware about charges (of which i never received).

If i wanted to keep the domain I would of renewed it myself! Glad I'm a registrar now, don't have to deal with people like that again!

 

[springer]

1&1 are a joke.

BTW they are not bailiffs they are debt collectors and they have no more power than 1&1 themselves with regards to collecting debts.

Maybe publicise an account of everything on your website and send 1&1 the link. There is an amusing page somewhere on the Internet where a customer done this, including recording phone calls. Edit: see http://www.simonjones.info/1and1internet/ also see: http://1and1.uk-blog.co.uk/?p=1

 

[Aaron Clifford]

Debt collecters is what I meant to write. Will stick it all on the blog! If I get a reply. Anyone got a direct email address to anyone there?

 

[Nigel]

Sorry to hear that 1and1 are still behaving like this. Bringing in debt collectors over a £12.03 domain renewal that you never asked for is quite shocking and time consuming for you to sort out. Their renewal system is a joke - they still do not give customers clear renewal instructions before renewal i.e. would you like to renew this domain? Yes/No. Instead they renew the domain and bill you afterwards. I remember a thread on here where an acorn member actually cancelled the domain directly with nominet and still got charged for the renewal. I don't know how they've got away with it for so long. Surely nominet have some rules on renewal practices. 1and1 may be a german company but nominet are a UK based registrar and we do things differently here.

 

[Aaron Clifford]

Nominet states you must make customers aware of renewal fees etc, I had to agree to it last week when I became a member, still no reply via email. I'm not going to waste time calling them, will send them a letter with an invoice for the stamp and envelope.

 

[GreyWing]

Sorry to hear that 1and1 are still behaving like this. Bringing in debt collectors over a £12.03 domain renewal that you never asked for is quite shocking and time consuming for you to sort out. Their renewal system is a joke - they still do not give customers clear renewal instructions before renewal i.e. would you like to renew this domain? Yes/No. Instead they renew the domain and bill you afterwards. I remember a thread on here where an acorn member actually cancelled the domain directly with nominet and still got charged for the renewal. I don't know how they've got away with it for so long. Surely nominet have some rules on renewal practices. 1and1 may be a german company but nominet are a UK based registrar and we do things differently here.

Nigel the Sedo / 1&1 Group of companies have a massive share of the vote at Nom.

They can get a Non Exec elected on their own, Nom won't rock the boat imo.

 

[Nigel]

Nigel the Sedo / 1&1 Group of companies have a massive share of the vote at Nom.

They can get a Non Exec elected on their own, Nom won't rock the boat imo.

Good point Graeme - hadn't thought about that

 

[GreyWing]

I always said mate all that nonsense about Nom needing protection domainers taking over a few years ago was a smoke screen , they needed protection from these guys taking over.

IMO the whole sedo group should be limited to 3% of the vote. At the end of the day if I had a DAC on my personal name, one in my company X name and 1 in company Y's name. Then Nom would limit my DAC quota wouldn't it for being linked?

Why not do it with these guys, they are clearly a group.

 

[Nigel]

I always said mate all that nonsense about Nom needing protection domainers taking over a few years ago was a smoke screen , they needed protection from these guys taking over.

IMO the whole sedo group should be limited to 3% of the vote. At the end of the day if I had a DAC on my personal name, one in my company X name and 1 in company Y's name. Then Nom would limit my DAC quota wouldn't it for being linked?

Why not do it with these guys, they are clearly a group.

Totally agree - what nominet could do is give every domain owner a vote - after all, the domains registered thro 1&1 or Fasthosts are not their domains. We've all got an account with nominet now and they could weight all our votes accordingly. Don't suppose nom would like that idea. The real domain owners being given all that power.

 

[stender]

IMO the whole sedo group should be limited to 3% of the vote. At the end of the day if I had a DAC on my personal name, one in my company X name and 1 in company Y's name. Then Nom would limit my DAC quota wouldn't it for being linked?

Why not do it with these guys, they are clearly a group.

Can't they be reported to the monopolies and mergers commission?

 

[GreyWing]

Totally agree - what nominet could do is give every domain owner a vote - after all, the domains registered thro 1&1 or Fasthosts are not their domains. We've all got an account with nominet now and they could weight all our votes accordingly. Don't suppose nom would like that idea. The real domain owners being given all that power.

Don't think they can now mate as to do a special resoltuion to allow such things would need Sedo's Group to agree.... Turkeys and Chritsmas comes to mind.

Andrew bennett is probably the best guy to advise on this kind of thing but I doubt it can be done now.

 

[Aaron Clifford]

I was told by the debt collecting company today that my dispute with 1&1 over the £12 (and now apparently another for £25 that I was unaware of) is unfounded as I agree to automatic domain renewals when I signed up, This is not the case...I've not been made aware of any of that?

I've had no reply from 1&1, what should I do, just pay?

 

[GreyWing]

I was told by the debt collecting company today that my dispute with 1&1 over the £12 (and now apparently another for £25 that I was unaware of) is unfounded as I agree to automatic domain renewals when I signed up, This is not the case...I've not been made aware of any of that?

I've had no reply from 1&1, what should I do, just pay?

Keep a record of all your letters and emails to 1&1 and their associates, if they ain't answering you then even if it ever goes to court and you can show it. A judge can remove any extra fees charged (from the point you sent the letters) because they haven't mitigated any of their costs by answering you.

 

[GreyWing]

By the way they rely on bullying people, I haven't paid one of their fraudulent invoices and I haven't been taken to court, neither has anyone I know.

 

[springer]

1&1 use debt collectors as they often use 'threatening' letters.

It is similar to threats of civil legal action for shop theft. There has been no know court case in relation to this. Most people just pay.

It is also similar to the many copyright infringement letters. Again these have not gone to court, but many people pay after receiving worrying letters threatening legal action.

If I was you, I would contact Consumer Direct for advice and regarding the enforceability of the debt, National Debtline.

 

[Aaron Clifford]

Thanks for replying gw, and springer. I've sent several emails now to 1&1, will write a letter on monday and send aswell. Can't resolve the issue if they don't reply eh!

 

[neeorg]

They did the same to me last year with domains I had selected not to be renewed, I got the debt letter and I paid the money in full and they cancelled the domains 14 days later.