This has been discussed many times before and Tucows position has changed very little. If you check the history of this discussion list you will find that the only change has been an increase in the willingness to place the domain on hold after proof of chargeback. Initially they did not even want to place the domain name on hold.
Tucows has always made it clear that they will not refund any portion of the registration fee when a chargeback occurs nor will they return the domain to the reseller who paid them for the domain registration. Tucow has made it very clear in this discussion and previous discussions that they regard the end user as their client, not the reseller. By words and actions. The end result is that Tucows receives their payment regardless of whatever action is taken and the reseller loses when a client defaults on payment. If the domain remains viable, the end user and Tucows both gain, the reseller loses. This apparently does not happen now, as it appears that Tucows will at least place the domain name on hold after proof of chargeback. If the domain is placed on hold, Tucows gains the fees, the end user and the reseller loses. As I stated this is a known conditon for resellers who elect to register domain names using Tucows. Since it has been discussed many times before with the same end results each time I don't see anything to be gained by this discussion. If you do not like this policy then you should resell for a Registrar that allows you to take control of the domain after a chargeback or other method of non-payment by the end user. There are several of them that allow this. Otherwise you should accept the fact that you are going to lose the fee that you pay to Tucows and merchant account fees if the client charges back the domain name registration fee against you. After all you made the decision to continue to use Tucows to register domain names knowing this was their policy. In my personal opinion this discussion has gone on way too long, given that the same discussion and final results are available in the archieves, as this issue has been raised many, many times. Just my personal opinion. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-discuss-list@;opensrs.org]On Behalf Of Ross Wm. Rader Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 10:48 AM To: POWERHOUSE; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > And I draw attention here: "the obligation to pay becomes final and > non-revocable by the Registered Name Holder > upon activation of the registration" > > So, the REVOKE their payment, we HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE THAT DOMAIN AWAY. All this clause states is that the registrant *must* pay for the domain name once it is registered - ie - that this obligation does not go away for any reason. It does not say that Registrars or Resellers can seize a domain name. In the case of non-payment the correct course of action (like all other services) is to cease providing service, not to seize the asset. Domain names are a weird mix of intellectual property (almost like a physical asset) and a service. The safest course of action, and the one that *is* completely legitimate within all of the relevant contracts, is to stop providing the service component until the customer pays. Putting the domain name on hold or modifying the DNS record to point to a non-payment page are the most effective ways of guaranteeing this. -rwr "There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot." - Steven Wright Got Blog? http://www.byte.org/blog Please review our ICANN Reform Proposal: http://www.byte.org/heathrow ----- Original Message ----- From: "POWERHOUSE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 10:00 AM Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > HELLO... > > http://www.icann.org/registrars/ra-agreement-17may01.htm states this: > 3.7.4 Registrar shall not activate any Registered Name unless and until it > is satisfied that it has > received a reasonable assurance of payment of its registration fee. For this > purpose, a charge > to a credit card, general commercial terms extended to creditworthy > customers, or other > mechanism providing a similar level of assurance of payment shall be > sufficient, provided > that the obligation to pay becomes final and non-revocable by the Registered > Name Holder > upon activation of the registration. > > > And I draw attention here: "the obligation to pay becomes final and > non-revocable by the Registered Name Holder > upon activation of the registration" > > So, the REVOKE their payment, we HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO TAKE THAT DOMAIN AWAY. > We should be allowed > to put that in our agreements, to where if they revoke payment, in any way, > shape or form, we will become > the registrant as a RSP, and NOT A REGISTRAR, and we shall take steps to > recoup our funds which > they revoked. > > If they AGREE TO IT, then NO HARM DONE. It would be COMPLETELY LEGAL. > ICANN acknowledges that, according to what I posted, they use the words > FINAL and NON-REVOCABLE > > So, why again, can't we do this? > Do you actually think ICANN would frown upon this??? > Do they like their seats in the board? Because if they are going to side > with the people committing fraud they will be replaced in a heart beat, > they are not that dumb. This is after all a form of politics, so they would > not be willing to commit POLITICAL SUICIDE, in my mind. > > > Richard. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ross Wm. Rader" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "POWERHOUSE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 10:44 PM > Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > Agreed - which is why we need a way to limit the problem to those that > > aren't committing fraud without having to resort to fraud ourselves. A > clean > > registrar_hold facility that resellers can use on an ad hoc basis seems to > > be the cleanest way to address the problem. It will either decrease > > chargebacks or increase the number of fraudsters that do business > elsewhere. > > My biggest problem with the issue is the tendency to take a short term > > approach with the solutions - like seizing domains. It doesn't address the > > bigger issue, nor does it minimize the economic impact - which I why I > like > > the registrar_hold solution so much better... > > > > -rwr > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "POWERHOUSE" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: "Ross Wm. Rader" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 23:38 Moo! > > Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > I agree, that anything you do might get abused, but chargeback's are > > > PROVABLE, > > > since we get notices of them, returned checks same thing. I think that > we > > > should > > > just have to PROVE it if it is challenged. Not hard to do. Just make a > > form > > > that > > > the "CUSTOMER" affected can fill out. It sends a UNIQUE tracking number > > > to the customer, where they can "login" and keep track of this > complaint. > > > It then sends a notice to the "registrar", RSP, or whomever took it > > offline, > > > they have so much time to submit PROOF of WHY they took it offline, > > > and can fax it in, mail it in, or whatever. If the RSP, registrar, or > > > whomever > > > FAILS to do this, remove them from being a RSP, registrar, or whatever. > > > > > > Seems easy to me. I just don't see how an HONEST person would MIND > > > this being a probable issue, since they don't set out to defraud > companies > > > for their domain. ONLY people trying to defraud the company will be > > > affected, > > > and should not get ANY help in doing this, from ICANN, or any other > > company. > > > > > > Just my 2 pennies worth. > > > Richard. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > From: "Ross Wm. Rader" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: "John T. Jarrett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 9:40 PM > > > Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > > > > I don't disagree with the sentiment that there needs to be a better > way > > to > > > > deal with situations such as the one that you describe, but claiming > the > > > > domain name for sale isn't it. Chuck will kill me for saying this, but > > > > extending a subset of the registrar_hold functionality is likely the > > best > > > > way to address this - takes the name out of the zone, locks it for > > editing > > > > and makes sure that the customer gets the point. Counter-problem is > that > > > it > > > > might be prone to abuse, but I'm thinking that it would be "blatantly > > > > apparent" abuse that we could easily police and control...Comments? > > > > > > > > -rwr > > > > > > > > > > > > ps - chuck - better start filling out that PCR ;) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "John T. Jarrett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > To: "Ross Wm. Rader" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 22:36 Moo! > > > > Subject: RE: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > > > > > > > Ok, like I said I'm playing by the rules I agreed to. > > > > > > > > > > But let's take what you've said. You have a fellow bulk-buy > > > > > his domains from you, say ten at $200. Then he backs out so > > > > > you've paid at least 3% both ways to your merchant account > > > > > at this point - plus your time. > > > > > > > > > > Let's say he backs out because he found he could register > > > > > them for $7 somewhere else and save himself $130. > > > > > > > > > > If you then delete them, he CAN now register them and save > > > > > himself the money. > > > > > > > > > > You, however, are now out the $100 to OpenSRS plus the 6% > > > > > (say $12) to merchant accounts and by getting the domains > > > > > deleted, you will never see a penny of that $112 - not to > > > > > mention compensation for your time in good-faith registering > > > > > those names. > > > > > > > > > > That is not a fiscally responsible handling of the > > > > > situation! > > > > > > > > > > > At point in time does the registrar or the > > > > > > reseller have any claim of > > > > > > "ownership" to the domain name. > > > > > > > > > > Who ever does? That's a misnomer. And I'd state again, if I > > > > > paid for the domain name and they didn't, I should! If they > > > > > pull their payment, then they have pulled their right to > > > > > what that payment bought as well. > > > > > > > > > > John > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > From: Ross Wm. Rader [mailto:ross@;tucows.com] > > > > > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 9:14 PM > > > > > > To: Donny Simonton; 'Charles Daminato'; 'Mark Petersen' > > > > > > Cc: 'John T. Jarrett'; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > At point in time does the registrar or the > > > > > > reseller have any claim of > > > > > > "ownership" to the domain name. If it hasn't been > > > > > > paid, the "right" thing to > > > > > > do is delete it. The registrar has no superior > > > > > > claims to a domaim...we are > > > > > > also just "pass-throughs"...section 3.5 of your > > > > > > registrar accreditation > > > > > > agreement is pretty specific about this. Besides, > > > > > > you should know better > > > > > > than to let other registrars set a bad example > > > > > > for you. If this was the best > > > > > > way to proceed, then we'd all suck as much as > > > > > > Network Solutions - and be > > > > > > charging $35 a year for the privilege. > > > > > > > > > > > > Can't say that I like it much, but the rules are > > > > > > there to be played by - > > > > > > except by those that don't. > > > > > > > > > > > > -rwr > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > From: "Donny Simonton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > To: "'Charles Daminato'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > > > > > > "'Mark Petersen'" > > > > > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > Cc: "'John T. Jarrett'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; > > > > > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 21:29 Moo! > > > > > > Subject: RE: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Chuck, > > > > > > > Don't want to make this any worse, but we do > > > > > > the same thing at > > > > > > > directNIC. If a customer charges back on us, > > > > > > they did not pay for the > > > > > > > domain, I did. Not only did I pay the > > > > > > registration fees, but I paid the > > > > > > > chargeback fees. So we take the domains and > > > > > > put them up for sale. If I > > > > > > > could I would redirect them to some horse porn > > > > > > site, but the owners > > > > > > > wouldn't let me. :) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > So I do understand why register.com and godaddy > > > > > > confiscate domains. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Donny > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > [mailto:owner-discuss- > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Charles Daminato > > > > > > > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 7:47 PM > > > > > > > > To: Mark Petersen > > > > > > > > Cc: John T. Jarrett; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Precedence does not make it "right". I don't > > > > > > fully understand the > > > > > > > > legalities of it (Ross would have to explain > > > > > > - Ross?), but I > > > > > > > > believe Register does not take control of the > > > > > > domain (i.e. they > > > > > > > > don't assume ownership and sell to soemone > > > > > > else). They simply > > > > > > > > "hold" it, if it's not paid it stays on hold > > > > > > until the day it > > > > > > > > expires (then it goes up for deletion) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Charles Daminato > > > > > > > > TUCOWS Product Manager > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mon, 4 Nov 2002, Mark Petersen wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Stand on precedence. Register.Com is > > > > > > allowed to seize domains on a > > > > > > > daily > > > > > > > > > basis. > > > > > > > > > The routinely change registrants WHOIS > > > > > > information from whatever > > > > > > > *was* > > > > > > > > there > > > > > > > > > to: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > register.com > > > > > > > > > Unpaid Names Department-R > > > > > > > > > 575 Eighth Avenue > > > > > > > > > New York, NY 10018 > > > > > > > > > US > > > > > > > > > Phone: 212-798-9200 > > > > > > > > > Fax..: 212-594-9876 > > > > > > > > > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If they can do it, why shouldn't we be able to? > > > > > > > > > It's supposed to be a level playing field, right? > > > > > > > > > Good luck, > > > > > > > > > Mark > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Mark Petersen [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > Planet Nic http://www.planet-nic.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > > > > > > From: "John T. Jarrett" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > > Sent: Monday, November 04, 2002 3:45 PM > > > > > > > > > Subject: Changing Admin Info after Refund > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Paul over in compliance says it is > > > > > > against ICANN reg's for > > > > > > > > > > me to change admin info after a customer > > > > > > refunds on the > > > > > > > > > > domain name registration: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > "I hate to tell you this but you are not > > > > > > allowed to change > > > > > > > > > > the whois information - ICANN rules. It > > > > > > appears as though > > > > > > > > > > you are trying to take away someone > > > > > > else's property." > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Frankly, I couldn't care less how it > > > > > > looks. I've offered the > > > > > > > > > > refund codes from the merchant account > > > > > > holder LinkPoint > > > > > > > > > > themselves so there's proof behind appearances. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Can y'all point me to what he's talking > > > > > > to? I can't find it > > > > > > > > > > in the UDRP or the Reg Agreement. I don't > > > > > > mind complying > > > > > > > > > > with written rules if I can find them, > > > > > > but I'd rather not > > > > > > > > > > let this woman steal three domain name > > > > > > registrations if I > > > > > > > > > > don't have to! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > > > John > > > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
