ICANN or other entity for support

who do you call when Registrar fails in duties?

[Tapolyai]

I have two domain names that was registered and parked at a reseller.

The reseller is gone, so I have no way of renewing the domains with them.

The primary registrar refuses to help, or renew domain.

I will loose the domains.

Whom do contact at ICANN/or any authority to get this squared off?

I want my domains, and I want to pay for them. I have it till the end of the month, and they are not expired just yet.

[davezan]

Unfortunately only ICANN can help, though not necessarily. Why did the registrar
say they can't help?

[Tapolyai]

LOL. Because it is the "reseller's responsibility"!

[gpmgroup]

A solution maybe to sign up with a different registrar and then get the names transfered to the new registrar, your existing primary registrar should not be able to block the transfer.

[mcavic]

[icann.org...]

I'd be a little more demanding with the primary registrar. if the reseller is gone, then the domain will be completely under the registrar's control.

Or, transferring the domain somewhere else may work. You need 10 or 15 days before expiration to be safe.

[Tapolyai]

Tried to transfer it to an other registrar, but the domains are "protected" and locked. When I asked them to unlock it... guess to whom they suggested I send e-mails?

I found telephone numbers for the reseller, the number is now a nurse's cell phone. She is not happy.

The address in Atlanta, GA is an appartment - no longer there - return-to-sender for letter.

The address for the WHOIS is now shows China, and a letter sent there... well who knows where that is?

Thanks for the link to ICANN. I have that in my "Favorites" (how appropriate name). ICANN, as far as I am concerned (and these notes are my own, and no way reflect anyone elses, or Webmasterworld.com's, or any other participants) is a useless pile of horse dung stacked with a bunch of wanna-bes with absolutely know understanding of real world.

ICANN does monitor such complaints to discern trends

So when I had a similar problem, they simply said "Wow, thats terrible, thanks for the info." & that was it.

To transfer a domain, the registrar can hold it forever. You say no way?

ICANN has no policy that permits or requires registrars to deny outgoing transfer requests solely because the registration is within X number of days before expiration. In any case where a "losing" registrar does deny a transfer request, it is required to provide the "gaining" registrar with a notice of the denial and a specific reason for the denial.

The specific reason simply can be, the domain is "protected" by lock so it cannot be transfered.

To "unlock" you have to provide a blood sample, DNA evaluation, retina & iris scan, finger print, left arm, and your first born. Once that is satisfied, they will begin the process of reviewing if you are eligable for transfer... :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

[Tapolyai]

Well, after several days of going back and forth, they informed me that they have an internal policy which would allow me to "transfer" the domains to them - after 5 days.

The 5 days has passed, and I immediately requested the information. (12:01am), they told me that for a mere $49 they will process this "transfer", and of course the additional renewal fee.

Right now I am waiting for them to approve my registration for the $49.

The ironic part is that they are already the registrar. I am paying for them to remove one of their distributors from their own system...

There is also a clause in there that I cannot transfer the domains for an additional 60 days from the time of registration with them... So I have to wait till June - ish...

[davezan]

Registrars' online service agreements (or any online service agreement for that matter)
are generally one-sided to favor the provider.