I have a domain over at Network Solutions. I renew it every year with no problems. However, I got a DEACTIVATION NOTICE e-mail from them today saying that the domain needs to be renewed now or it'll be deactivated. 1. It doesn't expire until May, over 3 months from now. 2. WTF? A couple days ago I got an e-mail saying they were going to charge my credit card today for the renewal because the Auto-Renew was turned on. I promptly logged in and shut that off. Again, WTF? Why are they trying to get me to renew a full 3 months before expiration? Has this happened to anyone else? Is this a new policy? I always renew about a month or so before expiration so that's not a problem, but this is kind of ridiculous. I called them up and the guy I spoke with said I should be ok. They usually send out "reminder" e-mails and he doesn't know why I got the semi-threatening RENEW NOW OR WE'RE GOING TO DELETE IT e-mail. Still, I'd like to know if this is a new policy or what. Their FAQ says they auto-renew on the day your term is up which I assume is the expiration date. Fair enough, but again over 3 months ahead of time is pretty ridiculous. I know they've done other ridiculous things lately, like locking domains that people do a search on in hopes that they register with them. I wonder if this idiocy is now in the billing department as well. As for why my domain is at Network Solutions, it's been there for 10 years and I use it as a nameserver. So it's easier to keep it there for now, despite their ridiculous $34.99/year price. Although I remember when domains used to be $100/year - which is what I paid for the one in question 10 years ago. If they're changing their billing policy to try and get money out of people MONTHS before something is actually due then maybe it's time to bite the bullet and go through the process of getting it away from them.
This seems to be a tactic to force you to renew. They cannot delete your domain just because you do not renew with 3 mnths left. Just phone them and get the domain out to some other registrar.
Instead of thinking of it as a renewal notice, consider it a transfer notice. Seriously, you should transfer your domain to godaddy or another affordable and semi respected registrar. For what you pay for a Network Solutions 1 year renewal, you can get 4 or 5 years from another Registrar. Anyway, Network Solutions recent episode of locking up available domains that were searched for at their site has me thinking that everyone should avoid them for other reasons beyond the cost issue. I agree, it's time to bite the bullet and move it to another Registrar.