1&1 Internet Domain issue

[purplelime]

I've had a .biz domain name through 1&1 Internet for about 5 years now. Every January I am charged around £10 for it. Because I plan on closing my site sometime this year, I have decided to let some of my domains go, especially the ones that don't seem too popular. My .biz domain is one of them. In December I logged into my 1&1 control panel and cancelled my agreement as I didn't want the domain renewing in January. I went through the process successfully (clicking a few links to confirm, that sort of thing). Then I got a letter last month from them saying they were unable to debit my credit card for the domain. I pretty much ignored it as that was the intention anyway. But, I got a letter from them this morning with SUSPENSION OF SERVICE NOTICE on the top, and to tell me if the payment of £10.56 is not made in 13 days then it will be passed to a finance company and their lawyers and I'll be charged an additional £15.00.

The fact is, I cancelled my agreement a month or more before the domain renewal was due. I was fully paid up until the expiry date this year. In the control panel it shows the domain status as 'delete' which it has eversince I cancelled the agreement. I've never had such problems with other domain companies. If I didn't want the domain then I didn't renew - simple as.

Any suggestions on what I can do here? I really don't want the domain but I'd rather pay the £10.56 and avoid the silliness as 1&1 seem to be absolutely intent on that. From their letter they really don't give me a whole lot of options. No way to contact them to speak to someone about it. Just seems to be "pay up or else".

Thanks in advance!

Sam

[Whatever]

From reading some other forums, it's the ISP's fault if they renew a domain if it's not set to auto-renew or unless you ask for it to be renewed and pay. If you don't pay it should be left to de-register and that should be the end of it.

Write them a registered letter stating that if they don't cancel proceedings you will charge them for your time and costs in sorting out their mess and make them aware of the fact you have not asked them to renew the domain.

[sarahA]

1 & 1 are notorious for just renewing domains and then chasing for payment. As Netcomm said, write them a registered letter. Print off any proof you have of cancelling the domain and send that too.

Just over a year ago I chose not to renew with an ISP as I didn't need the domain or dial up service any more. A month after the payment had been due for the forthcoming year they sent me a bill for £30 saying if it wasn't paid immediately it would go up to £250+ to cover their solicitors fees. So they were threatening me with legal action over a service I'd not even received yet! Typical big companies leaning on single consumers hoping they'll pay up for fear of being taken to court.

Yes I paid, I didn't have the time to argue my point

[purplelime]

Thanks for your help, guys.

I have searched my mail boxes and can't find any proof of the cancellation. I *think* that the e-mail address I had attached to my 1&1 account was invalid at the time of cancellation which may explain why I didn't receive confirmation. But, I know that when I went through the process it stated I had cancelled my agreement. I thought that would be the end of it, but they've just gone ahead and renewed it again anyways. I even tried logging into the page which allows you to go through the cancellation process, but my login wasn't recognised as I've already gone through all that. I've sent them an e-mail but to be honest I don't hold out much hope of that being responded to, given what I've read about this company.

I have been looking around some other forums and noticed that this is classic 1&1 behaviour, as is the threatening legal action and pumping up the fees - even sending CCJ's! Naturally I wish to avoid that over the small matter of £10.56. I don't *want* to pay as it means I'm paying for a domain that soon won't even be attached to a website, but I also don't want the hassle that these guys are apparently going to cause me.

Sam

[Phantom]

where 1&1 are concerned, ALWAYS screenshot every stage of the canx procedure! their service cancellation procedure is a nightmare at the best of times (takes ages to find the different bit you have to log into to action the cancellation in the first place).

[purplelime]

Thinking about it, I'm sure I did receive confirmation via e-mail as I needed to click on links to ensure that I wanted to go ahead and do it. But, no idea where they are as I wouldn't intentionally delete them. I know the whole process went through as I was then unable to get to the 'Packages' or 'Administration' part of the 1&1 control panel. When I log in now the status is 'delete' and the 'Administration' tab is blanked out. I have no control over the domain whatsoever and this has been the case since the day I cancelled.

Their website is just a maze of unhelpful nothingness. Another Google search for 1&1 brings up a whole load of very familiar tales, with people having gone through the same process as I, only to have this completely ignored and renewed anyway.

Sam

[sarahA]

If the status of your domain is delete now isn't that proof enough? (sorry besides it taking 6 months to get a domain transferred away from 1&1 I've never used them).

[purplelime]

If the status of your domain is delete now isn't that proof enough? (sorry besides it taking 6 months to get a domain transferred away from 1&1 I've never used them).

Yeah, I would certainly hope so. But, after reading through pages and pages of stuff about 1&1 on various other forums it seems that many people are in the same position. One guy even cancelled 27 of his 1&1 domains only to have them renew them all and he can't even gain access to most of them.

I'll see if I get a reply by Monday. If not then I'll write a letter.

Sam

[Whatever]

Sam,

Don't worry about threats of CCJ's. These can only be issued once a claimant has taken you to court and a judge has agreed with them and set judgement against you. You get the chance to counterclaim but my info is that it would take a while to do so, they cannot do something like that overnight.

[Jeewhizz]

Use spotlight to search for the email

[purplelime]

Sam,

Don't worry about threats of CCJ's. These can only be issued once a claimant has taken you to court and a judge has agreed with them and set judgement against you. You get the chance to counterclaim but my info is that it would take a while to do so, they cannot do something like that overnight.

Thanks netcomm. I think their scare tactics are definitely working.

Use spotlight to search for the email

I did that, nothing I can only imagine I deleted them because it seemed final to have been told that the contract had been cancelled and didn't expect anything like this to happen given my other dealings with domain registrars when a domain was about to expire.

I'll see if I get any reply from 1&1 tomorrow. If not then I'll get that letter sorted out.

Thanks again for your help

Sam

[purplelime]

Just got a reply via e-mail which leaves me even more confused and convinced 1&1 aren't really on this planet...

Thank you for your email.

This is to inform you that the account was cancelled in 12.08.08.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us.

I'm about to post my letter off. If the above is anything to go by then I don't hold out much hope of this being resolved quickly or satisfactorily.

Sam

[sarahA]

That's clever

[Whatever]

Just got a reply via e-mail which leaves me even more confused and convinced 1&1 aren't really on this planet...

Thank you for your email.

This is to inform you that the account was cancelled in 12.08.08.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us.

I'm about to post my letter off. If the above is anything to go by then I don't hold out much hope of this being resolved quickly or satisfactorily.

Sam

Include a copy of that email in your letter to prove their incompetence.

[purplelime]

Include a copy of that email in your letter to prove their incompetence.

I printed that off last night and sent it, along with a copy of the letter I wrote on Monday, to them today.

I just got home this afternoon and found this e-mail...

Thank you for your letter.

I am pleased to confirm your account was sucessfully terminated by
yourself.The invoice of £10.56 was issued before termination was
actioned. I have cancelled this invoice as a goodwill gesture.

If you have any further questions do not hesitate to contact us.


So, I had to point out to them that I'd terminated my contract for them to confirm that my account was successfully terminated, by myself. I'm so pleased to hear that  And it's complete balls about the invoice being issued before termination was actioned.

Anyway, they'll have two letters from me this week. I don't think I'll firmly believe that this case has been closed until I get an official letter from them stating as such.

Sam

[purplelime]

Another e-mail with 'Satisfied with our Service?' in the subject line...

On 13.02.2008 you, or one of your colleagues, contacted Nicole Sidawi from our billing department.

We are constantly striving to improve our service performance and your opinion is greatly appreciated.

*link snipped*

Mmmm, tempting, veeeeery tempting

[Phantom]

Another e-mail with 'Satisfied with our Service?' in the subject line...

On 13.02.2008 you, or one of your colleagues, contacted Nicole Sidawi from our billing department.

We are constantly striving to improve our service performance and your opinion is greatly appreciated.

*link snipped*

Mmmm, tempting, veeeeery tempting

bad marks all round, its the only way they'll learn. they'll probably send you a letter tomorrow saying you owe them a tenner again so stab em inbetween the floating ribs while you have a chance.

[purplelime]

bad marks all round, its the only way they'll learn.

I did indeed

they'll probably send you a letter tomorrow saying you owe them a tenner again so stab em inbetween the floating ribs while you have a chance.

Tomorrow? Better than that, how about two hours after saying I owe them nothing. Just got this...

We are sorry to inform you that your current PayPal balance is insufficient to cover your recent
order(s). In order to place new orders or renew your package(s), please update your 1&1 PayPal Limit

To update your 1&1 Account Limit,

1. please log into your Control Panel at https://admin.1and1.co.uk, using your Account number or a domain name in one of your packages and your password.

2. On the 'Account' page, go to 'User Settings' > 'Payment Method' and then select 'PayPal'.

3. Click on 'Go to PayPal' and update your '1&1 PayPal Account Limit' by ticking the 'PayPal Billing Agreement' box.

After completing these steps, you may resume your order process.

FFS 

[purplelime]

I received a reply to my letter(s) and e-mails from 1&1 this morning...via e-mail. It's a pretty lengthy one with the usual FAQ stuff about cancellations and such, but also a couple of apologies thrown in for the confusion and PayPal trying to take money from me when I was told the invoice had been cancelled. She confirmed that the account and the invoice have both been terminated and I will receive a credit note in support of this over the next 3-4 days.

Pleased to have that sorted out. Thanks for your encouragement in writing to them

Sam

[Jeewhizz]

Congrats

Loving the avatar