GoDaddy: Express Written Objection to Transfer

Last week I decided to simply try another domain registrar by transferring 3 domains away from GoDaddy. After happily blindly relying on GoDaddy as my primary domain registrar for years, I had an extremely difficult time believing they would stoop as low as they did. As a result of the events described below, they've permanently lost not only my business, but the business of my clients, friends, family, and potentially a few Nullamatix.com readers. Just last week I was beginning to accept the fact that GoDaddy would never release and eventually claim ownership of all my domains. If you're currently using GoDaddy and think you're somehow immune to their immoral and unethical business practices, keep reading.

At first, 3 domain transfer requests were all denied, almost immediately. Here's the standard email template they send to the Administrative Contact address:

Dear Bill McGoo,

The transfer of SOME-OR-ANY-DOMAIN.COM from GoDaddy.com, Inc. to another registrar could not be completed for the following reason(s):

Express written objection to the transfer from the Transfer Contact. (e.g. - email, fax, paper document or other processes by which the Transfer Contact has expressly and voluntarily objected through opt-in means).

The express written objection may be the result of a pending or recently completed Change of Registered Name Holder. This is an opt-in process during which the new Registered Name Holder agrees not to transfer for 60-days. This domain will be transferrable [SIC] on 12/18/2009.

If you believe that this domain name does not fit the situation described above, go to http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/support.asp?prog_id=GoDaddy&isc=gdbb95 for assistance.

Regards,
Domain Services
GoDaddy.com, Inc.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Copyright 2009 GoDaddy.com, Inc.. All rights reserved.

Right out of the shoot, "transferrable" is misspelled, and the link they provide leads to their index rather than a dispute form, assistance form, or anything relevant to the email. So much for "assistance." After a bit of research, I discovered this basically means,

A portion of the whois information for the domain has changed in the last 60 days and you voluntarily agreed to avoid transferring the domain until after 60 days has passed.

Ok, I'll play your stupid game. I did voluntarily agree to this idiotic voluntary "opt-in" process, so what? Now, I voluntarily disagree and wish to "opt-out."

A phone call to their 24 hour support line was less than assuring. The first guy Thomas or Timothy informed me there was nothing he or I could do to reverse the 60 day hold on my domains. Ok, "put your supervisor on the line." After 30+ minutes of some hold action, DeeAnna was kind enough to take my call. She too initially claimed there was nothing she or I could do to remove the hold, and made sure to emphasize the process was voluntary.

Pardon me, but not only is this GoDaddy "process" against ICANN policy, facing additional charges/penalties or even domain suspension/removal due to erroneous Whois information hardly makes the process voluntary, DeeAnna. After citing the ICANN registrar policy and an announcement addressing this exact "process", DeeAnna eventually said she or someone at GoDaddy could address my issue on Tuesday, the following week. "Just send me an email with the details." she said.

Here's the email I sent a couple hours after our discussion:

DeeAnna:

     We spoke briefly this morning about the rejection notice I received when attempting to transfer a few domains to another registrar. Before going into the details, I'd first like to thank you for taking the time to assist me with this incident. Your willingness to address the issue restored some of the confidence I've recently lost in GoDaddy. An acceptable resolution in a reasonable amount of time will ensure GoDaddy retains a customer that will continue to expand for many years; however, after today's blatant disregard for such a simple request, I'm questioning whether or not GoDaddy is a company I'm willing to grow with. In an effort to maintain an on-going positive business relationship, I'm respectfully requesting GoDaddy adhere to and comply with the ICANN,

     "Policy on Transfer of Registrations between Registrars Revision Adopted 7 November 2008 Effective 15 March 2009. [1]"

     In addition, please consider reviewing the ICANN advisory released April 3rd, 2008, entitled,

     "Registrar Advisory Concerning the Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy [2]"

     which clearly states in English,

     "A registrant change to Whois information is not a valid basis for denying a transfer request."

     GoDaddy has never received a written objection to transfers for 60 days after whois information is updated/modified in the form of an email, fax, paper, or voluntary opt-in from me. A check box without the ability to "opt-out" is not a form of voluntary "opt-in" if one is unable to also voluntarily "opt-out." If that check box is GoDaddys attempt at making a "voluntarily" "opt-in" process available to customers, consider this email a voluntary official written request to opt-out of the GoDaddy "opt-in" process which denies transfer requests from external registrars seeking any and all the domains associated with my GoDaddy account (#XX98XXXX) due to whois modifications which might have taken place within the last sixty days.

     Again, just to be clear. Unless one or more of the nine legitimate specific instances cited in the ICANN "Policy on Transfer of Registrations" is applicable to the transfer, I'm voluntarily opting-out of the voluntary opt-in GoDaddy Whois Record Modification 60-day Transfer Lock Process, and respectfully request GoDaddy allow the release of any and all domain names associated with my account, seeking or awaiting transfer to an external registrar that posses a valid "Authorization" or "EPP" code for the transfer. Despite how crooked this whole ordeal has been, I've held off filing any type of complaint or dispute with the BBB or ICANN in the hopes that you guys will just do the right thing.

     The account isn't hacked; I'm the administrative contact, hostmaster, and technical contact on all of the domains associated with my GoDaddy account (#XX98XXXX). I have the credentials to the "Domains by Proxy" account, all the payment information, whatever you guys need to make this happen. What more do you want from me? I've called your support line a grand total of 2 times since registering my first domain years ago. It's not like I'm some trouble maker that's calling everyday to have my password reset or to haggle over prices. GoDaddy has been great, but this whole experience has really given me a new and extremely disappointing perspective...

     So, DeeAnna. Can I trust you'll send this to the right people? I'm not looking for a fight, just seeking the same amount of courtesy and respect everyone deserves. I've always paid my dues, even made recommendations to people every opportunity possible. GoDaddy is the leader when it comes to domain names; to see a "leader" keep something legitimately obtained by someone else is pretty 'Kim Jung Il' like.

Again, thank you for your time, and peace be with you.

Regards,

-Guy P
Mobile: 555.555.5555 (24x7)
Mobile: 555.555.5555 (24x7)
Land: 555.555.5555 (EST:8-5,M-F)
------------------------------------------
1. http://www.icann.org/en/transfers/policy-en.htm
2. http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/advisory-03apr08.htm

Shortly after sending that email, I initiated the transfer process for a second attempt. Eventually, all 3 of the previously denied domains were successfully transfered. DeeAnna replied 3 days later after the majority of my domains were in the process of transferring. I still wonder why GoDaddy suddenly, and without any explanation, decided to release the domains for the second transfer request. Perhaps they know their shady tactic is unethical and they lack the balls integrity to admit when they're wrong.

Still not convinced? Here are some additional GoDaddy horror stories:

• NoDaddy.com Horror Stories
• Inaccurate Email Address? rm -rf your-domains.com
• GoDaddy: Cyber Squatting 101
• GoDaddy Permits Trackback Spamming
• Why I Don't Owe GoDaddy $6,579.51 (or $969) - Part 2 (The Refund)
• Domains By Proxy is a Waste of Money
• NoDaddy.com Forums - GoDaddy Horror Stories
• Wikipedia: GoDaddy Controversies

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