Renewals via Postal Mail anyone?

not from my registrar though.

[EliteWeb]

It has come to my attention that it is a postal spamming campaign done by registrars now a days. I have received 8 different domain renewal notices letting me know my domain name is expiring.

However its not from my registrar, it seems many people are actually renewing through these companies that are sending out the notices.

One I got from Verisign, another from Domain Registry of America.

GoDaddy has a notice or warning [godaddy.com] on their site informing people of these tactics.

[mivox]

I get renewal "offers" and "reminders" in postal mail from both Verisign & Register.com on a regular basis... I haven't had a domain registered with NetSol/Verisign in over a year, and I've never done business with Register.com.

I guess they figure domain owners must be savvy to email spam by now, so their renewal "offers" will be better received if delivered through the "official" channels of the US Mail?

[Marcia]

I just received an urgent notice by email sent by the President of Godaddy to those who have domains registered with them warning that Verisign is sending deceptive U.S. mail out to lure customers into renewing with Verisign. From the Godaddy site:

Please be aware that VeriSign, Inc. (formerly Network Solutions) is sending, via the US Mail, what we believe to be deceptive and predatory domain expiration notices.

The purpose behind these notices is to get the unsuspecting customer to transfer to and renew their domain name(s) with VeriSign Inc. at significantly higher prices.

Godaddy's Warning to Customers [godaddy.com], posted at their site, is identical to the text of the email I received from them, and has a link to a scanned copy of the letter Verisign has allegedly been sending out.

[Marcia]

I received the mail today by U.S. Post Office. On the outside of the envelope it says

Expiration Notice
Reply by April 19, 2002

There is no company name on the envelope. On the back flap, all it has is:

Expiration Department, 200 Berwyn Park Berwyn, PA 19312

Inside are the instructions:

1) Complete the attached form
2) Provide credit card information for payment
3) Sign the form to authorize your renewal, transfer and payment.
4) Fax form to 1-866-234-4134 or mail it in the enclosed envelope.

It very plainly says "Domain Name Renewal Form"

With the domain name and a check mark next to it. That domain is indeed registered through GoDaddy and is up for renewal, which will cost $8.95 through Godaddy, not the $29 in this "RENEWAL NOTICE."

At the bottom there is a space for entering information for "Renewal and Transfer Authorization"

In tiny print at the very bottom of the page it says to review the terms and conditions on the back of the form - which are at the very bottom of the reverse side, also in miniscule size print.

The addressee on the Business Reply postage-paid envelope is:

EXPIRATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 7885
HERNDON, VA 20172-9930

No company name is indicated.

[john316]

The Postmaster General loves to crack down on mail that presents itself as "official". I would hope that verisign gets some attention from them, it is quite misleading and they know it.

I have already had several phone calls from clients wanting to know what this is all about. It is purposely misleading and intimidating.

[Marcia]

john316, I've called on legislative consituency people before, I'll be calling the office of my State Assemblywoman and Congressman Monday morning, and faxing copies over. It's not only the U.S. Postmaster, the California Attorney General might also take some interest in how this is being done.

[IanTurner]

Bulk Register provides the same warning.

I usually get these type of notices via email, what I am worried about is that they might send directly to our customers who in a lot of cases won't know any better than just to pay.