Resellers;
Over the past few months, Tucows has grown increasingly aware of large
numbers of inbound transfer requests failing. Subsequent investigation has
shown that a few registrars, most notably Register.com, require their
clients to affirmatively acknowledge a transfer of registrars prior to
releasing the name to Tucows. If the registrant does not provide a
confirmation of their intent to transfer to these losing registrars, the
losing registrar will consistently deny the transfer request.
We are currently in discussions with these registrars, and are escalating
the issue. Please note however that until such time we resolve this
situation in the best interests of the registrant, your options and those of
your client's, are very much limited. Until this is resolved, we can only
recommend that you resubmit the transfer request via OpenSRS and ensure that
the client acknowledges the request.
If you are experiencing failed transfer transactions of this type, please
send full details concerning the transaction(s) to
[EMAIL PROTECTED] These details will be forwarded to the
registrar in question for further explanation as per their obligation under
Appendix B of the NSI RL&A.
[http://www.ntia.doc.gov/ntiahome/domainname/rla42199.htm]
The only guaranteed way to make sure that the transfer request is completed
is to authorize the request yourself. If you have access to the username and
password for the register.com domain administration system, it is easy
enough to change the administrative contact email address for the domain
name in question to one that you control. Once you have made this change,
you will be able to acknowledge the transfer request on behalf of the
customer. As you can see from the attachment below, the transfer
acknowledgement email that register.com sends out is very confusing and
completely unclear to the registrant exactly what the next steps are. It is
quite conceivable that your clients are becoming confused and renewing their
domain names and not transferring them to OpenSRS.
If you do not have access to the customer's account at register.com, you
should prepare them proactively about what to expect through this annoying
process. If you can explain to them that they will receive a message similar
to the one below, the chance that the customer will actually transfer the
domain are much improved.
It is important to note that Tucows Resellers and Registrants are not the
only ones subject to this "policy". There are numerous FAQs at a number of
registrars similarly outlining this issue.
If you otherwise have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.
-rwr
---Transfer Acknowledgement Request Sample from register.com---
Subject: Your Registrar Transfer Request
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 12:11:19 -0500
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <customername>
This message is to confirm your request to transfer the registrar for the
domain name(s) below from register.com to another
registrar. We hope you'll reconsider and renew your domain name with
register.com for an additional year for only $12!
Please click the link below each domain name to renew your registration.
<domainname>
https://secure.register.com/renewals/?_crypt_=7494875e5e7e7e6818c81948a84f63
74f7adf84728487d8a819398483938483e
Don't miss out on the benefits register.com is committed to provide you,
including:
SUPERIOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. Customer service is of paramount importance at
register.com, and our goal is to help our
customers with their domain name needs every step of the way, 24 hours a
day.
EASY MANAGEMENT of all aspects of your online presence. With our Domain
Manager, you can make changes to your Web site and
account whenever you want to!
CUTTING EDGE TOOLS AND SERVICES. We are continually developing products to
meet your growing domain name needs. Your success
is our goal! With every domain name registered with register.com, you get
personalized email, a customized 3 page Web site,
free URL forwarding, and more!
A TERRIFIC VALUE. Comparable packages* will cost you much more at other
registrars!
Network Solutions: $129
NameSecure: $64.95
Registrars.com: $59.95
Please click the link below each domain name to renew your registration.
<domainname>
https://secure.register.com/renewals/?_crypt_=7494875e5e7e7e6818c81948a84f63
74f7adf84728487d8a819398483938483e
If you'd like to proceed with your transfer, please use the reply link(s)
below to confirm your intention. Click on each
link
or copy and paste into your browser window. If you do not confirm by March
31, 2001 5:00 PM EST, the transfer will not be
completed. In the event that this occurs, you will need to reinitiate the
transfer through the registrar to which you wish
to
transfer.
<domainname>
http://www.register.com/trans/?crypt=7494875e5e7e7e6818c81948a84f6374f7adf84
728487d8a819398483938483e
If you have any further questions, please contact register.com.
*Products and services contained in different registrars' domain name
packages may vary.
Customer Support
register.com, inc.
http://www.register.com
