For those enjoy Horror stories, here’s one for you. I have basically lost a domain by dealing with Globat. In June of 2007 I received a ‘bonus’ domain with ‘privacy’ for extending my GLOBAT hosting plan to 2010. (really stupid). I have since closed my hosting account, walking away from 2 yrs. prepaid hosting due to misrepresentation and their ceaseless and sleazy ‘automatic upgrades’ - but that’s another story.
I have spent 53 days (and counting) trying to get my authorization code to transfer my domain (although ICANN policy requires a registrar to respond in 5 days). To complicate matters my domain was put under privacy and it looks like Globat has acted as a reseller and the domain is actually at ENOM! I have also contacted ENOM with no response – probably because it’s a ’reseller’ issue. Below is step by step documentation of this horror story. Globat has ceased responding and I suppose my only other option is the courts. I understand that ICANN is basically useless in resolving this type of issue and the registry business seems to be like the ‘wild west’ with no real regulation or enforcement. I wonder if it possible to file an ‘intervention’ at Globat’s next license application? Any legal ideas would be appreciated.
ATTEMPTS TO GET TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION CODE FROM GLOBAT:
Jan. 29 - 1st email to
support@globat.com
- requesting authorization code for transfer of domain.
Jan. 30 - email from ‘Buisan’ of ‘support’
- asking for confirmation of my name, credit card and account data.
Jan. 30 - 2nd email to ‘Buisan’ of ‘support’
- supplying all requested data.
NO RESPONSE FROM GLOBAT (6 days).
Feb. 6 - 3rd email to support
- resending requested data.
NO RESPONSE FROM GLOBAT (11 days)
Feb. 17 - 1st phone call to ‘Sherry’ at ‘customer support’
- who informs me “they have not received my data”.
Feb. 17 - 4th email to ‘support’ copied to: Ben Neuman (Pres), Billing, and Customer Service.
- resending of my data
NO RESPONSE FROM GLOBAT (7 days).
Feb. 24 - 2nd phone call to ‘John’ at ‘customer service’
- John who “acknowledges receipt of my data” and issues new ‘help ticket’.
Feb. 25 - Email from ‘Michelle’ at ‘billing’
- informing me she sent authorization code to registrant’s email address.
CODE NOT RECEIVED.
Feb. 25 – 5th Email to ‘Michelle’ at ‘billing’
- informing her: 1. had rec’d her email informing me she sent code. 2. advising I had not received code. 3. requesting she resend and copy to my second registered email address:
zenlogo@netvigator.com NO RESPONSE FROM GLOBAT (8 days).
Mar. 4 – 3rd phone call to ‘Sherry’ at ‘customer service’
- informed her of non-receipt of code, she confirmed they have my correct email address and I requested resend to both my registered email addresses.
Mar. 6 – email from ‘Michelle’ at ‘billing’
- advising that she had resent code to primary address (no mention of sending to backup email address).
CODE NOT RECEIVED
Mar. 6 - 6th email to ‘Michelle’ at ‘billing’ copied to: Ben Neuman (Pres), Jackie Otero (Billing Mgr), Tom Cox (Customer Service Mgr).
- informing that: 1. I had received her notice of resend. 2. I had not received the code. 3. they failed to copy to my secondary email. 4. advising they must have code sending malfunction. 5. requesting resend to my primary and secondary emails.
NO RESPONSE FROM GLOBAT (5 days)
CODE NOT RECEIVED
Mar. 11 – 7th email to ‘Michelle’ at ‘billing’ copied to: Ben Neuman (Pres), Jackie Otero (Billing Mgr), Tom Cox (Customer Service Mgr).
- documenting all foregoing and requesting help.
Mar.14 – reply from Jackie Otero at “billing”
- saying they have sent authorization code “to registrant” for a 3rd time.
CODE NOT RECEIVED
Mar. 14 - 8th email to Jackie Otero, copy to ENOM legal dept.
- informing I have still not received code and to please check their registrant address.
NO RESPONSE FROM GLOBAT OR ENOM (10 days).
NOTE:
- I do not have any email receipt issues from any other source.
- I do not use a spam filter.
- I have thoroughly rechecked my email files and ‘trash’ folders – just in case.
- I am an experienced web user and have 100 domains at 7 other registrars, without any issues.
- Both my primary and secondary email addresses are registered in my Globat account profile.
- WHOIS lists ENOM as the registrar with PRIVACY ON on behalf of Globat (cannot switch Privacy off).
I know many will suggest I call the ‘king’ John Berryhill or Ari Goldberger. And I guess I might have to in the end, but I don’t have much money. I suppose if I could recover legal costs and get punitive damages it might be worth suing. The domain name is not valuable, but I like it and would like to develop it someday. However, it’s a principle thing, I feel I shouldn’t have to walk away from it due to registrar incompetence. Thanx for listening. - Zen