Beware the jabberwocky!
Well, at least beware the “Domain Registry of Canada”. This official sounding name is a “registered business style” of Registration Services Inc. They send what look like real invoices to domain name holders asking for payment. If one is careful and reads the text, it becomes clear that they are trying to get you to change your domain host. But looked at quickly:
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they look like an official invoice
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the name Domain Registry of Canada sounds like a government organization (I showed my adult son who’d never seen one, and he asked, “Why is the government sending you these?)
- they have the domain information on them (which is public) so it looks like they know about your account
- they state a reply-requested date 4 months in advance of renewal. Most domain hosts give 3 months notice. This deceives in two ways: implying a reply is urgent, and ensuring this notice is received before legitimate ones
So if you get one, unless you already have registered a domain with them, let your local consumer protection agency know. If you have registered with them in the past, re-register with another host: you’ll save a bundle, the rates are outrageous! $40 per year for a single registration! I phoned Domain Registry of Canada last year and requested they stop sending me these, but they’ve ignored my request, so this time I’ve filed a complaint with the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority of British Columbia. Ah, that feels better!
Yes, a scheme they try here to. That and false telephone bills…. I filed a complaint too a few months ago. It was on the news a few days ago, apparently government is starting to take it serious and goes after these guys !
Good !
Comment by Francois — Thursday, March 13th, 2008 @ 1:44 pm
Yeah, got one of those stupid notices too, exact same one you did. Caught it quickly as I’d paid for my webspace renewal not two days before. Like most letters I get that appear even vaguely in the ‘government du canada’ style at all, I took it out to the driveway and burned it with my lighter.
Comment by Mike (lotus films) — Friday, March 14th, 2008 @ 12:21 pm
I got one of those notices as well, I wasn’t too pleased but I’ve learned basically all name registrars are trying to screw people one way or another. Just wait until you sell one to a third party through a registrar, they will do anything they can to get that domain for themselves.
By the way, that image you posted of the ‘invoice’ still has your domain listed in the first paragraph although you took the effort to black it out throughout the remainder of the document.
Comment by Doom — Saturday, March 22nd, 2008 @ 7:41 pm