Network Solutions Scam (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Web Development] >> Search Engine Optimization and Web Business



Message

BobbyDouglas -> Network Solutions Scam (1/25/2008 13:58:15)

I am surprised that this has not been posted yet, a search for it here came up empty.

Avoid Network Solutions!

A lot of web designers here will perform a whois on a new domain name to see if it is available for the client to register it. If you do the whois through Network Solutions, you may be required to purchase the domain through that company.

Network Solutions has the ability (and enforces it) to place the domain on *HOLD* status if the domain is not registered (this is called Domain Tasting). This forces you or your client to purchase the domain through Network Solutions.

Once the domain is on hold, it will show up as being registered if you try to register it somewhere else, thus forcing you to pay the price Network Solutions sets.

I have heard that NetSol may also put some of these domains up for auction if they think the name has any actual value.

Network Solutions says they do this because they want to hold the domain for the original person who did the whois, hoping that they would be back to purchase it. It is something to "help" the person who did the whois. What it actually does, is allows ANYONE to register the domain (even if it wasn't the original person who did the whois), but the registration has to be done through Network Solutions.

Read more about Domain Registrar Network Solutions Front Running On Whois Searches



ou812 -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/25/2008 14:01:20)

Interesting. I was not aware of them doing this. I don't really us them but thanks for the heads up.

Bad Network Solutions, bad. [:@]



caz -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/25/2008 14:51:56)

I saw this elsewhere but thought that it was just another one of the NetSol bad practices , if you search on here you will find a lot of posts about that outfit and that most people were giving them a wide berth already.

Anyhow here's another report about this issue - http://tinyurl.com/2bglbm

quote:

So, Network Solutions profits from innocent buyers as well as thieving domain tasters. In the short run.

Network Solutions isn't breaking the rules with its nasty little trick. ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has yet to ban the practice. But one thing's for sure. If Network Solutions keeps this up, its regular customers will quit coming back.



BobbyDouglas -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/28/2008 0:43:52)

Here's another great post about it Network Solutions steals domain ideas; Confirmed!



rdouglass -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/28/2008 9:00:14)

I've always wondered why they let the registrars get away with Domain Tasting. Makes the registrars "taste bad". Pretty soon they'll 'taste' a domain and then put some kind of 'intellectual property' rights or something stupid like that. [:'(]

It really sucks when all this boils down to their own profit and industry positioning and has nothing at all to do with serving the customer. Does anyone know who we can complain to about this? Is it Congress, IEEE, Bill Gates, etc?

I'm gonna' create my own 'grass-roots', private Internet. Anyone wanna' join? Just get all the string you can gather, a clean paper cup, and we'll pick a central hub somewhere. [:D]



caz -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/28/2008 9:43:23)

I think that we would complain to ICANN - if that would make any difference at all. [&:]

I have searched for a number of stupid domain names on their whois, mostly derogatory versions of Network Solutions - let them chase their tail. [;)]



rdouglass -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/28/2008 10:39:29)

quote:

I have searched for a number of stupid domain names on their whois, mostly derogatory versions of Network Solutions - let them chase their tail.


Unfortunately it probably doesn't affect even 1 single human being; probably completely automated. But I like it. See, if we avoid NetSol, we may deflate their numbers and someone might say "well this only affects a small percentage of domains". So if we all did this, we could make these numbers a lot larger hence more noticeable.

Then again, it may be just a big waste of time but I'll do my part and go request a few dozen stupid domains and variations.



caz -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/28/2008 10:48:20)

It may be a waste of time Roger, but hey it's fun for the little guys like us to cock a snook at an evil empire. [:D]



BobbyDouglas -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/28/2008 11:20:44)

NetSol has already lost a huge customer base of web hosts, resellers, and a lot of web designers.

So now their customer base only consists of the hundreds of millions of other users [:@]

Going to ICAAN is about the only way to get this changed I think.



Paydex -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/29/2008 4:03:05)

i use www.instantdomainsearch.com for domains- live updating search as you type.

never had a probelm there with the domain being reserved when i came back an hour later to buy it.

I usually use godaddy for registration- although i know some people have their issues with them, i am pretty satisfied. (I also always use a coupon for registrations and renewals! never pay full price! :))



jaybee -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/29/2008 12:10:38)

Another one to avoid like the plague is Domain Monkeys. I have a client who is slowly climbing the wall with them and all we're trying to do is change the admin details.

They don't give you a control panel, you have to email them to ask for changes to be done. They insisted on copies of her passport, signed affidavits, all sorts then said the signature on her passport (originally signed when she was 14, 10 years ago) was different.

While all this was going on the domain expired. Because they refused to believe she was the owner they wouldn't renew even though they took her money. The domain then lapsed. She paid them $90 to get it back and they still haven't allowed access. This lot are the biggest load of charlatans I've ever had to deal with.



caz -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/31/2008 12:38:24)

quote:

ICANN wants to destroy domain tasters at the expense of poor typists.

Today, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers said that it will consider charging its annual fee for internet domain names as soon as names are registered.

From ICANN's perspective, this would effectively eliminate so-called "domain tasters,...We can't help but wonder if Network Solutions will actually vote to approve ICANN's proposal. But your guess is as good as ours. Network Solutions won't speak to us. As usual.

In any event, let's hope the ICANN proposal passes. And let's hope Networks Solutions keeps its word."


Will NetSol vote for this?



BobbyDouglas -> RE: Network Solutions Scam (1/31/2008 13:09:02)

Great find! Let's hope they can settle on it before NetSol has a chance to change their code to no longer do it anymore.

Doesn't sound like they are going to put an end to domain tasting though. NetSol won't be able to do it in the masses anymore, but that won't stop them from looking at some domains, and checking to see if they want to hold it for 20 cents, or end up buying it themselves.



cc1452 -> What goes around comes around...! :) (3/8/2008 21:36:22)

It looks like NetworkSolutions (and maybe ICANN, too) will have to pay a heavy price for their racketeering (that is simply what they are doing), one high-profile law-firm has already filed a class-action law suit against them:

http://www.domainnamenews.com/featured/class-action-suit-against-network-solutions-and-icann-underway/1450

http://prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/02-25-2008/0004761959&EDATE=

I can only hope they will BLEED(!!!) for this one... it's unbelievable!

I was affected by this scam as well and have documented everything in detail (how the name I searched for on WHOIS was hijacked by them, how I could not register it through my regular registrar, how these names were offered publicly for sale on their site, and how I had no other choice but to buy through their website if I did not want to risk losing those domains).

I will contact NS and give them the choice to refund the price difference I would have had to pay with my registrar, or join the lawsuit against them as a witness.

I can only hope this will serve as a warning to other registrars... (everyone: please stay away from NetworkSolutions, such business practices need to be punished, and the most effective way of punishing a business is not to buy from them... if you have account(s) with NS, transfer them elsewhere, you will save a bundle of money, too!)



Page: [1]

Valid CSS!




Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.4.5 ANSI
0.078125