Stay Away From 1and1

[dotbeyond]

1and1.com is currently testing their new business model. It became obvious to them that keeping 10 people in their customer support, who have knowledge about domain names is "kind of" expensive, so their "geniuses" at biz development department came with idea to replace them with 100 people in India. Their logic is simple: people who don't have phones at their homes will be enthusiastically repeating "Thank you for contacting us." and 1and1.com's customers would control their emotions, because it's a bad Karma to get mad at poor provider for family of 24.

After 1and1 locked all my accounts, I asked for assistance:

Hi,
I need help with domain transfer.
I sold domain name XXX.com and tried to initiate transfer of registrar / transfer of ownership. I need a transfer code, which used to be located at cancel.1and1.com, but i'd guess something had changed. Since my account has been "locked" I don't have an access to domain's settings
how does it work now?
regards.
dmitri

1and1.com reply
Dear Dmitri Ivanov,
Thank you for contacting us.
Please provide us the name of the domain.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
--
Sincerely,
**name removed per email request 01/08/07**
Technical Support
1&1 Internet

I replied
please read original request. 3rd line has this info

1and1.com reply
Dear Dmitri Ivanov,
Thank you for contacting us.
Transfer codes? when the domain name is transfered to other registrar from 1and1, it doesn't ask for any transfer codes. Please ask for your upcoming registrar what do they mean the transfer code..
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
--
Sincerely,
Pauline Taton
Technical Support
1&1 Internet

I had to provide a little consulting session:
the transfer code is Auth (authorization) Code
According faq.1and1.com"
"An Auth (authorization) code is a 6 to 16 character code assigned by the Registrar at the time a domain name is created or after it is transferred. The Auth Code is basically a password for transfer of the domain. Auth Codes are an extra security measure, ensuring that only the owner of the domain can make transfers.

1and1.com replied:
Dear Dmitri Ivanov,
Thank you for contacting us.
The authcode can be found in your control panel. Please refer to this link, where you can find the authcode:
http://faq.1and1.com/domains/other_issues_regarding_domains/4.html
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
--
Sincerely,
Pauline Taton
Technical Support
1&1 Internet

I replied:
Yes, I already learned that it is in my control panel. The thing is that I cannot access it. It looks like we will be resolving this matter in court, because 1and1 simply chose to ignore my my email which i sent 3 days ago. ( and i included the copy of email, which is a total nightmare (http://www.1and1faq.com/forums/showthread.php?t=381)

1and1's reply:
Dear Dmitri Ivanov,
Thank you for contacting us.
Please contact billing department for this issue, your contract has been locked, our billing department number is 1-877-300-8316 Monday through Friday (except holidays) 9am to 5pm EST.
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
--
Sincerely,
Pauline Taton
Technical Support
1&1 Internet

As of today NOTHING has been resolved.

SO PEOPLE, THINK AT LEAST 1 TIME BEFORE CHOOSING 1AND1.COM AS YOUR DOMAIN REGISTRAR AND HOSTING PROVIDER

[garandjf]

why 1and1 lock you account??

[dotbeyond]

because i refused to pay for domains which i set to expire ( and which i notified 1and1 about). They decided to open me a "credit", then registered those domains on my behalf and demanded me to pay

[Highland]

I bet you prompted this. Noticed it today when canceling a few domains I'd moved to Godaddy for long term registration (which 1and1 doesn't offer at all)
Cancelling your domains
We have received your order and will cancel the selected domains and/or items immediately.

No written confirmation is required.

[phatPhrog]

By and large, current problems notwithstanding, 1and1 is an excellent host. The bulk of the current problems will be resolved and all will be great once again.

You must consider the fact that refusing to pay voids your contract.

If you refused payment to us on a hosting account, we too, would lock your account. Wouldn't you do the same to a client refusing payment for your products/services?

Don't misunderstand, not critcising you for voicing an opinion, just offering a logical reason for their decision to lock accounts.

[dotbeyond]

what are you talking about? "logical reason"?

If your phone company would charge would charge your your card $150 for the service , which
- you did not ask.
- specifically notified them that you don't have any plans to buy.
- which is straight up illegal, because it totally contradicts existing regulations;

Just say honestly - would you pay additional $40 ?

[phatPhrog]

When you purchase a domain and/or IP you do so at an interval specfied in the TOS.

When purchasing a domain or ip it is purchased according a one year plan. If one cancels the domain and/or ip purchase you are still obligated to pay for the initial period.

I'm not a 1and1 employee. If I were, it would NOT last unless their TOS was changed.

When purchasing services via 1and1 one MUST read the TOS/AUP to avoid this kind of problem.

Once you click, you've greased the stick.

[dotbeyond]

When you purchase a domain and/or IP you do so at an interval specfied in the TOS.

When purchasing a domain or ip it is purchased according a one year plan. If one cancels the domain and/or ip purchase you are still obligated to pay for the initial period.

- I signed for service.
- I paid for 1 year.
- Before 1 year period was over i contacted 1and1 to CANCEL my domains , which i paid for 1 year ago ,and which were about to expire.

1&1 CHOSE TO RENEW THEM.




I'm not a 1and1 employee. If I were, it would NOT last unless their TOS was changed.

When purchasing services via 1and1 one MUST read the TOS/AUP to avoid this kind of problem. Once you click, you've greased the stick.

WELL, YOU SHOULD APPLY TO 1&1. THEY NEED MORE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. i DID READ TOS. IT DID NOT HAVE ANYTHING ABOUT REQUIREMENT TO HAVE ACCESS TO FAX...

MORE, ACCORDING ICANN I DID NOT HAVE TO NOTIFY ANYBODY IF I WANTED TO CANCEL THOSE DOMAINS.



Subsection3.7.4
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.

Subsection 3.7.5
Registrar shall register Registered Names to Registered Name Holders only for fixed periods. At the conclusion of the registration period, failure by or on behalf of the Registered Name Holder to pay a renewal fee within the time specified in a second notice or reminder shall, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, result in cancellation of the registration.



I AM TRULY AMAZED OF PEOPLE LIKE YOU. YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT , YET YOU HAVE TO STICK YOUR OPINION.

[phatPhrog]

My, my are we a testy one. :P

I have over 30 domains registered via 1and1, both for personal use as well as for clients. We have bought, sold, cancelled and renewed without problems.

Like with our current problems accessing our server, it's obvious a problem exists with your particular problem.

We're sorry to have made you feel we're intruding, but you really don't need to yell at me.

This is a forum for the exhange of ideas, tips, tricks and support, not for p-n contests.

So sorry to have ruffled your feathers so. It isn't that bad. All can be resolved without getting blood pressures up.

Good luck and good evening to you.

[eWebtricity]

dotbeyond: So what happened when you contacted the billing department? Surely they worked out something with you? They have been very easy to work with when we had some issues in the past. I know alot of registrars won't let you transfer domains if they are 90 days away from expiring so you have to renew with them first and then transfer out. Did you get caught close to your expiration?

phatphrog:


Once you click, you've greased the stick!


LMFAO I have to remember that one

[phatPhrog]

eWebtricity - It gets a chuckle every now and then, except from those with extremely high blood pressure.

IMO there's no need to get all worked up. The tech support team for any company could care less, the blood pressure only affects the client.

Way too old to get that worked up, although there are times I do let go on 'em.

[dotbeyond]

No, they refused to make any refunds. they also refused to un-freeze my other domains, which were never part of dispute and were paid. (about 20 of them. they show "404 Datei nicht gefunden
Die angeforderte Datei oder Seite konnte leider nicht gefunden werden." crap.

dotbeyond: So what happened when you contacted the billing department? Surely they worked out something with you? They have been very easy to work with when we had some issues in the past. I know alot of registrars won't let you transfer domains if they are 90 days away from expiring so you have to renew with them first and then transfer out. Did you get caught close to your expiration?

[datentod]

I moved from 1and1 domains to directnic/yahoo,etc. about two years ago.

Diversify is the keyword here!

If there is a problem with ur acct with 1and1 then all your domains are also gone/locked,etc. Therefore its better to keep it externally.

<!-- picture edited for content -->

[phatPhrog]

That graphic is just wrong! You should be ashamed of yourself for EVEN considering associating that with yourself, much less posting it in a public forum!

[datentod]

Due to common misconception mental retardation is not a degeneratory term but a scientific term used by scientific community worldwide. The image depicts a person who is retarded, to be more specific a person with a down syndrome.

Fact - Persons who participate in Special Olympics have various intellectual disabilities.

Fact - 99.99% of them will have those disabilities for a lifetime.

Fact - Brent Mikesell is a world-class athelete in powerlifting. He is missing his index finger. When he starts competing and when he finishes competing he still only has nine fingers.

The joke does not apply to Special Olympics & retards though, it applies to the internet users like you:)

[Highland]

Your argument is unconvincing. If this thread were about mental retardation it would apply but it isn't. Furthermore you wholly ignore the inherent analogy which is "If you argue on the internet, and you manage to win, you are a mentally retarded person". That is why the image was made, not as a tribute to mentally retarded people. And your "facts" are irrelevant to this discussion. Last but not least, I don't see the need for such an insult. It's flame baiting, pure and simple but there's not even any arguments in the thread! We don't all agree but there's no need to resort to personal insults.