1&1 invoices

pendragon · Sep 7, 2009

Just a quick heads up.

1&1 have started invoicing me for renewal of domains that have been transferred to other registrars. I've cancelled my credit card details with them so I'm now getting payment demands through the post.

When is someone going to do something about these jokers.

woopwoop · Sep 7, 2009

Pendragon this is exactly what I had to do too. In fact I had a moan about it on another thread here recently. They ended up taking hundreds off me for domain registrations when the domains had been transfered out for a while. It really is criminal - this all happened after I told them not to charhe me because the names were transfered out. Their customer support hung up me a couple of times when I called to get my money back!

devolution · Sep 7, 2009

The court-case is still proceeding - naturally, they filed a Counterclaim, but I am confident my case is pretty much water-tight...

Next hearing is in October, so should know by then...

But it seems a class action might be the next step - yep guys, the UK now can perform class action lawsuits...

And my family's retained solicitor just happens to be one of the best for this kind of thing, so I'll be contacting them sometime....

pendragon · Sep 8, 2009

I asked 1and1 why they were invoicing me for names which they are no longer the registrar.

They replied ....

Thank you for your email.

Just to confirm with you that if the domain name is still on the account
then it will still be charged for.

I do apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Please confirm back to us when cancelled and as a gesture of goodwill I
shall cancel the charge for you.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us.

Kind regards
Kimberley
Billing Department
1&1 Internet Ltd.

------> then why are the names still in my account if they are registered elsewhere ??

Unbelieveable.

dotNetFreak · Sep 8, 2009

Hang on, are they seriously trying to charge you for domain names that you had already moved elsewhere a while before the expiry date?

Nigel · Sep 8, 2009

This is scandalous. Charging out fees for a service that does not exist. I'd better check over my 1&1 invoices as I know we transferred out some domains a while back.

pendragon · Sep 8, 2009

The names have been sold, and moved to another registrar, as can be seen by the whois records. This happened over 12 months ago.

Regardless of this, the names in question are still in my 1and1 account, although i no longer have any control/ownership/admin over them.

1and1 are saying because they are in my account and due for renewal, they are charging me for them.

Theyve now asked me to tell them the domain in question and they'll look into it !!!

Jokers.

GreyWing · Sep 8, 2009

pendragon said:
Theyve now asked me to tell them the domain in question and they'll look into it !!!

Jokers.

No mate, thieves

It is as simple as that, I love the gesture of goodwill "if you do what we say, as a gesture of goodwill we won't steal from you"

riz77 · Sep 8, 2009

What I do after I have transferred a domain is to cancel the domain from the control panel ASAP.

Previously when I have not wanted to renew a domain or had transfered, I used to cancel and select the option End of Billing Period but was still charged for the domains after this date. Now I cancel two or more weeks before the end of the billing period and make sure that the option As Soon As Possible is chosen. I loose two or more weeks of my registration fee but it is a small price to pay.

On a different note earlier this year I changed my payment method but my old debit card was still charged over a two month period, it is a waste of time talking to customer services.

Last month I ordered a domain but was prompted to change my card details (card has expired) but the card expires next month.

Sorry this post has become quite long but 1&1 over the past 8 years has always given me grief. The crazy thing is that I am still with them.

Everyone should go back and check their invoices, I have several phantom invoices for services which I never ordered, overcharged many times, customer services were not able to help. They would say that the matter would be passed to the manager but no reply.

Nigel · Sep 8, 2009

Thanks for the very helpful advice Riz - I wonder where they are putting all this money that they are not entitled to. It sounds like a case for trading standards.

riz77 · Sep 8, 2009

No problems, happy to help. I had to stop my self going on about 1&1 and their service. I believe the most important point has been covered concerning canceling domains from your account.

Nigel · Sep 8, 2009

Been checking over our various accounts and haven't seen any overcharging at the moment. It appears that not all the old invoices are appearing tho'. For one account which we've had since 2003 I can only trace the invoices back to 2008 so no way of going back any further as far as I can see.

The major fault with 1&1's system is that they give no advance warning of renewal and only bill after the due date. They say:

"You will generally receive the invoice within 7 days after the next due date."

Can you imagine getting a home insurance bill 7 days after the renewal date saying 'thank you for renewing your policy here is our invoice'. It's just not the way things are done in this country. It means thousands of 1&1 customers are having to renew domains they may not want to renew.

riz77 · Sep 8, 2009

Nigel I always print off each invoice, they are sent via email but not all are sent so it always best to check your invoices from the control panel and print them off. Another point bearing in mind is the refund of VAT which was given by 1&1, when the VAT rate goes back up in December they may charge (extra 2.5%) for the remaining portion of your registration fees. If they can give a VAT refund on fees already paid for, they can surely charge as well.

pendragon · Sep 10, 2009

1and1 are now after £291 in unpaid invoices for names they weren't the registrar for.

Furthermore, they claim that once the invoice is raised, it needs to be settled, even if I then cancel the domain prior to it's expiry.

Who is their Chief Executive??

redbird · Sep 10, 2009

For any charged to a credit card contact the card company and they should do the refund as you have been charged for goods/services not received.

Nigel · Sep 10, 2009

pendragon said:
1and1 are now after £291 in unpaid invoices for names they weren't the registrar for.

Furthermore, they claim that once the invoice is raised, it needs to be settled, even if I then cancel the domain prior to it's expiry.

Who is their Chief Executive??

Nominet must have some rules on how their members behave. Charging for non-existent domains cannot be right and nominet would be my first point of call.

golddiggerguy · Sep 10, 2009

I think they make it soooo hard to do anything with the domain too ie transfer, cancel, etc is part of an issue that needs addressing. And with email replies from support not really looking into simple matters further is something a lot of support staff do across the board.

I did have a handful of domains with them but took a full summer to sort it out and get them transferred, removed and the accounts cancelled.

1and1 why not comment here as i'm sure your not daft enough not to know discussions are on here about your company!

riz77 · Sep 10, 2009

I was on the telephone yesterday to customer support, no real help, they could not understand the issue. Later on like clockwork I received one of their emails asking for feedback about my experience with customer support. I have stopped replying to these emails a while back, just a waste of time. I would only reply if the email contained a section for customers who were completely p***ed off.