Consumer Alert - Issued by auDA
Announcement posted by auDA 08 Jul 2002
Internet Registry Pty Ltd Mail out contains inaccurate information
auDA has become aware that a company called Internet Registry Pty Ltd (Internet Registry) is sending out incorrect information to domain name registrants.
The mail out, headed IMPORTANT NOTICE, contains numerous inaccuracies. Chief amongst these is the following statement:
Secure your domain with Internet Registry in the new system before 31st July. Any existing registration period for your domain will be added to your two year registration!
This statement could be taken to mean that registrants can renew their existing .au domain name for a period longer than 2 years. THIS IS INCORRECT.
Domain names in .au can only be licensed for 2 year periods and cannot be renewed until 90 days before they are due to expire. Registrants should be wary of paying for renewal at any earlier time.
Please see auDA's previous Consumer Alert about early renewals at http://www.auda.org.au/about/news/2002032202.html
auDA has lodged a complaint about Internet Registry with ACCC.
Protecting yourself
Registrants should be aware that only auDA Accredited Registrars and their appointed resellers are bound to abide by the Code of Practice and auDAs published policies. Registrants should be wary of dealing with organisations that are not Accredited Registrars or their appointed resellers. A list of Accredited Registrars is available at http://www.auda.org.au/registrars/ and a list of appointed resellers will be published at the beginning of August.
Pricing
Since the introduction of competition, consumers now have a range of price and service offerings to choose from. auDA strongly encourages registrants to compare prices charged by Accredited Registrars and their appointed resellers.
If you believe you have been misled or deceived into renewing your domain name license to your disadvantage, then you should contact the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC is responsible for administering the Trade Practices Act 1974, which contains prohibitions against certain types of misleading or deceptive conduct. Contact details are at http://www.accc.gov.au.
For further information see www.auda.org.au or you can contact auDA by emailing info@auda.org.au.
The mail out, headed IMPORTANT NOTICE, contains numerous inaccuracies. Chief amongst these is the following statement:
Secure your domain with Internet Registry in the new system before 31st July. Any existing registration period for your domain will be added to your two year registration!
This statement could be taken to mean that registrants can renew their existing .au domain name for a period longer than 2 years. THIS IS INCORRECT.
Domain names in .au can only be licensed for 2 year periods and cannot be renewed until 90 days before they are due to expire. Registrants should be wary of paying for renewal at any earlier time.
Please see auDA's previous Consumer Alert about early renewals at http://www.auda.org.au/about/news/2002032202.html
auDA has lodged a complaint about Internet Registry with ACCC.
Protecting yourself
Registrants should be aware that only auDA Accredited Registrars and their appointed resellers are bound to abide by the Code of Practice and auDAs published policies. Registrants should be wary of dealing with organisations that are not Accredited Registrars or their appointed resellers. A list of Accredited Registrars is available at http://www.auda.org.au/registrars/ and a list of appointed resellers will be published at the beginning of August.
Pricing
Since the introduction of competition, consumers now have a range of price and service offerings to choose from. auDA strongly encourages registrants to compare prices charged by Accredited Registrars and their appointed resellers.
If you believe you have been misled or deceived into renewing your domain name license to your disadvantage, then you should contact the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC is responsible for administering the Trade Practices Act 1974, which contains prohibitions against certain types of misleading or deceptive conduct. Contact details are at http://www.accc.gov.au.
For further information see www.auda.org.au or you can contact auDA by emailing info@auda.org.au.