wtf? Godaddy is exorting me for $200! What can I do?

Discussion in 'Domain Names' started by session99, Sep 26, 2008.

  1. #1
    I have a Clickbank website, where the product is promoted by affiliates which I have no control over. One affiliate decided to send out some spams and his account has been disabled by Clickbank.

    But godaddy is not happy enough with that. They're saying that I'm responsible for my affiliate's action. They sent me this:

    "We present to you the following solution to resolve this issue:

    First, reply to with a statement that you (or your employees, affiliates, 3rd party marketers, etc.) will no longer send messages to individuals that did not ask to receive information specifically from your domain name.

    Second, include in this statement authorization for GoDaddy.com to charge a $199 non-refundable administration fee to the credit card on file for your account (you may want to log into your Go Daddy account and confirm that the card on file is valid and has not expired).

    Go Daddy believes this solution to be a fair one that will ensure that you will correct the problem on your end, and prevent any future violations of Go Daddy's Anti-Spam policy. Additionally your services are not interrupted and your customers and affiliates are not inconvenienced. If you reply with this statement and agree to pay this fee, Go Daddy will accept this, in good faith, as proof of your commitment to correct this problem. If not, your domain name may be immediately redirected and your service suspended."



    If you're familiar with Clickbank at all, you know that it's IMPOSSIBLE to have control over your affiliates' actions. There's nothing that I can do to prevent affiliates from sending unsolicited emails, only ways to deal with it after it takes place. I don't even have any kind of contact details to any of my affiliates at all. Clickbank does not share that information with publishers. I'm not going to promise them that my affiliates will no longer send unsolicited emails because as much as I never want to see it happens, I am powerless in preventing it. This means that not only their request to me is unreasonable, it is impractical.

    And now they are blackmailing me for $200 or else my service is suspended? Quite absurd for something I did not do, had no control over, and will never have any control over.

    What can I do at this point against this extortion? I have a lot of domains at godaddy. If I transfer the domain name in question away to namecheap will that solve the problem? If I refuse to pay the $200 fee will they suspend only the domain name in question, or does "your service suspended" mean they will suspend ALL of the domain names I have in service with godaddy?
     
    session99, Sep 26, 2008 IP
  2. Dave Zan

    Dave Zan Well-Known Member

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    #2
    Possibly, but that's if Go Daddy hasn't locked you out from that domain name
    in question. They'll suspend it if you don't pay the $200 fee, but only they will
    say if they'll only deal with that or (knock on wood) all the domain names that
    are in that very same account.

    Go Daddy has consistently done that against alleged spam complaints. That's
    a high price to pay for doing business with them.

    BTW, I remember Go Daddy has another option where you pay $50 if you will
    transfer your domain name out. I realize that's not palatable, but that can be
    better than paying $200.

    You can complain to your local government unit handling consumer gripes, but
    that's not likely to solve your immediate problem. Only you can decide what to
    do, and good luck.
     
    Dave Zan, Sep 26, 2008 IP
  3. Digitalguy

    Digitalguy Active Member

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    #3
    i think godaddy is turning in to another registerfly! i wish someone will sue godaddy one day! gotta transfer my domain today

    dont forget to post this in www.nodaddy.com forums

    Digitalguy
     
    Digitalguy, Sep 26, 2008 IP
  4. chunnumunnu

    chunnumunnu Active Member

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    #4
    that's why i say never buy any domain from credit card use paypal . i registered domain with paypal . then i saw that paypal fix 500$ as payroll monthly . it means that godaddy can withdraw 500$ from my account without my permission. but i edit the payrol and set the monthly limit to 15$ :)
     
    chunnumunnu, Sep 26, 2008 IP
  5. kohashi

    kohashi Well-Known Member

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    #5
    godaddy sucks, use another registrar.
     
    kohashi, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  6. zangief

    zangief Well-Known Member

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    #6
    zangief, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  7. alfalogic

    alfalogic Well-Known Member

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    #7
    In your case I would study the LAW little bit and then ask GoDaddy to prove and confirm their actions by law.
     
    alfalogic, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  8. jasonsc

    jasonsc Well-Known Member

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    #8
    that's extortion! Complain to Better Business Bureau - www.bbb.org

    Added:

    Now this is how DYNADOT handels spam:

    Hello,

    One of your customers is using the URL shortening service that you offer at my-domain.com in order to send spam. Is there anything you can do about this issue? The URLs are:

    http://my-domain.com/bec7
    http://my-domain.com/ced6

    Thank you for your prompt attention.

    Regards,
    Dynadot Staff


    Now you compare that to extorting godaddy! DYNADOT IS THE BEST!!!!
     
    jasonsc, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  9. Dave Zan

    Dave Zan Well-Known Member

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    #9
    But what law or whose jurisdiction has Go Daddy violated, though? They don't
    really have to prove or confirm anything unless one forces the issue in court,
    and one agrees to their contractual terms when doing business with them:

    http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/legal_agreements/show_doc.asp?pageid=REG_SA

    While contracts are upheld and voided by courts every other day, one has to
    go through such to determine if that term is good or not. It so happens that
    Go Daddy's contract really places the burden on the user to ensure that their
    domain name isn't being used to send spam or what not, and it's a very heavy
    one to carry.

    Any update, session99?
     
    Dave Zan, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  10. labeak

    labeak Peon

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    #10
    open an account with moniker.com and transfer your domains out of godaddy, you did nothing wrong no reason to but up with there B.S would you mind telling what is the affiliates name , I would also let clickbank know of the situation
    hope every thing works out ok
     
    labeak, Sep 27, 2008 IP
  11. chadski19

    chadski19 Peon

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    #11
    i had this problem too long time ago
     
    chadski19, Jun 10, 2009 IP