Should Teens 17 and under be allowed to do business- Cast your vote now.

**Reece** · 03-09-2008, 08:04 PM

There are plenty of companies that actually do just that -- block entire countries where there's known to be large incidences of scamming or have policies in place to monitor their behavior -- just look at eBay and PayPal in example.

Originally Posted by thevirtual

I don't think the problem is with Teenagers on the forum. In regards to the recent scam(s) on this forum, the persons directly involved were most likely not teenagers. A scammer is a scammer no matter what age. You wouldn't block a country from the forum because of a higher amount of scammers being from that country.

**Bender** · 03-09-2008, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by thevirtual

You wouldn't block a country from the forum because of a higher amount of scammers being from that country.

try to go to www.escrow.com while being in Romania

3/9/2008 6:07:00 PM: Your access to Escrow.com has been denied.

**smashfactory** · 03-09-2008, 08:08 PM

so, technically, you are not supposed to use paypal if you are under 18, or reg a domain.

hmmmmm, somehow i see a whole big thing coming from this thread....

**thevirtual** · 03-09-2008, 08:10 PM

Originally Posted by Bender

try to go to www.escrow.com while being in Romania

I am aware that many countries are blocked from using services like Escrow, Paypal... I don't agree with this, my point is that this is not the way to prevent scammers by limited access for a particular group...

**ddaybofb** · 03-09-2008, 08:12 PM

well i registered on both paypal and GoDaddy and got my own accounts. So i dont see how those two rules come into affect lol.

**Rom** · 03-09-2008, 08:12 PM

Once again, restricting users under 18 will not work unless DotComGod plans to refund membership fees thousands of members.

**gobrightwork** · 03-09-2008, 08:13 PM

I don't think the problem is that 17 year olds are scammers any more than 51 year olds. The problem is that if you are under 18 in most parts of the world you can not enter into a binding contract.

**Bender** · 03-09-2008, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by thevirtual

I am aware that many countries are blocked from using services like Escrow, Paypal... I don't agree with this, my point is that this is not the way to prevent scammers by limited access for a particular group...

I agree.
Don't block innocent people - but take measures to prevent scams.

as for the whole "Should Teens 17 and under be allowed to do business" - from a legal standpoint, no.If anything goes wrong, there are very few things you can do to recover your money/domain(s).

Nevertheless, there are very serious teenagers here - and they deserver to be treated seriously.

**DNGeeks** · 03-09-2008, 08:19 PM

Most companies that I've seen refuse to do business with minors because they are not legally permitted to enter into a contract. It doesn't matter if you've done it, that doesn't make it right or legally binding.

sedo
1. Eligible Users
Use of the Site and Services is restricted to persons: (a) at least 18 years old, and (b) who reside, or have a business address within the United States or Canada.

Google Adsense
By enrolling in the Program, You represent that You are at least 18 years of age

Google Checkout
By agreeing to this Terms of Service for Buyers, you represent that you are:
18 years old or older; and
capable of entering into a legally binding agreement.

Moniker
you have selected the necessary security option(s) for your domain name registration record; and you are of legal age to enter into this Agreement.

Escrow.com
The party entering into this Agreement on behalf of any User represents and warrants that he/she is authorized to do so and to bind the User and is a natural person of at least eighteen (18) years of age.

Enom.com
INFANCY: You attest that you are of legal age to enter into this Agreement.

t-mobile
You represent that you are of legal age and have the legal capacity to enter into this Agreement.

verizon
About You
You represent that you’re at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to accept this agreement

Note that were applicable, "legal age" usually refers to the age of majority, which in North America is usually either 18 or 21.

**Andrew Shaw** · 03-09-2008, 08:31 PM

I would be more then happy to verify my identity here... even long-term members... It only makes sense for us to know exactally who we are dealing with. A user name can be quite deceiving... and a registration form can be minipulated.

Anyone here willing to do serious business would be willing to pull off the mask... Replace avatars with actual pictures, and provide any verification needed. This wont only eliminate the people under 18... Which I feel shouldnt be doing business anyway. But it will take care of those that have reason to hide something.

**Banned: theinvestor** · 03-09-2008, 08:33 PM

I like that idea Ashaw. It would create a friendlier community as well!

**smashfactory** · 03-09-2008, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by ddaybofb

well i registered on both paypal and GoDaddy and got my own accounts. So i dont see how those two rules come into affect lol.

now see, your age is showing son.

now, with a thread like this being posted, all it takes is someone to now see what underage sellers have, and report them to godaddy, or whoever, for operating underage. according to their terms, they can pull your domains so fast, you would have rather peed your pants at the prom.

one should never never take any of this stuff lightly. all it takes is the start of something, and watch how things can change.

and some of you with good names.... lets just say, i would stop posting and make the proper arrangements to protect my investment.

**MediaHound** · 03-09-2008, 08:37 PM

Those of you who could not vote on the poll, please try again, you should be able to now:
http://www.dnforum.com/f72/should-te...ad-284136.html

**RazorNF** · 03-09-2008, 08:37 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_majority

**EG.domains** · 03-09-2008, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by MediaHound

Those of you who could not vote on the poll, please try again, you should be able to now:
http://www.dnforum.com/f72/should-te...ad-284136.html

Yes, working fine over here.

Voted for "No"

**Bender** · 03-09-2008, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by RazorNF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_majority

yeah, move to Uzbekistan, and you're set!

**smashfactory** · 03-09-2008, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by Ashaw

I would be more then happy to verify my identity here... even long-term members... It only makes sense for us to know exactally who we are dealing with. A user name can be quite deceiving... and a registration form can be minipulated.

Anyone here willing to do serious business would be willing to pull off the mask... Replace avatars with actual pictures, and provide any verification needed. This wont only eliminate the people under 18... Which I feel shouldnt be doing business anyway. But it will take care of those that have reason to hide something.

again, any of this can be faked. i think people want soooooooooooo badly to have a sense of security, but i would not feel any safer seeing a pic in an avatar. my lord you can put any picture in there.
i am more concerned about a FALSE sense of security that can be created. THAT will be the worse trap of all folks. this should not be about making this forum more secure, because it is only a venue- thats it- a vbulletin forum- not bank of america for petes sake.

you get hooked up with a buyer, then YOU take the steps needed to secure a solid transaction. i think there is wayyyyyyyyy too much pressure being put on dnforum in this issue to be a secure ground- this isnt the cashier- that happens AFTER the fact. this is just the meeting place.

**DNGeeks** · 03-09-2008, 08:49 PM

As pointed out recently, and I had thought of it already, we can solve the problem ourselves by just getting everyone under 18 TOS'd from registrars and increase our own portfolio's.

And my vote has been entered, thanks DCG for getting that fixed up.

**idevlabs** · 03-09-2008, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by thevirtual

I don't think the problem is with Teenagers on the forum. In regards to the recent scam(s) on this forum, the persons directly involved were most likely not teenagers. A scammer is a scammer no matter what age. You wouldn't block a country from the forum because of a higher amount of scammers being from that country.

I don't think this question is necessarily being posed to determine a solution for reducing the amount of scammers, but rather as a way to improve the forum experience in general.