I'm kind of a noodle brain when it comes to web pages / hosting etc. but what happened today I'm sure can't be above board. I do have an active web page and another domain registration of which, because it revolves around art events, is only active with events, otherwise it sits there...but I do keep it up with annual registration payments.

Over the past couple weeks Hover/Tucows Domain Registry has called and sent email to me reguesting that I transfer over my username/login that they would like to have for one of their new projects. The user name is 'Windows'; not a wonder it would be popular. All they were offering in return was a free year of hosting. I told them that when my consultant returned from holiday, I'd discuss it, but probably wouldn't change it. Well, it would appear that Hover/Tucows couldn't wait for my answer and today, they freakin hijacked my username/login. I received a confirmation receipt from them this afternoon, that they had given me one free year of domain registry in return for my username.

WTF? Can they do this, just waltz in and take my sheit? Do you think I have any recourse? BTW - I checked out recourse with Cira.ca and ResourcesCanada (watchdogs for Canada) and if you launch a formal complaint there is a starting fee/one person panel of $2000 that must be paid before they'll even look at your case.

This is one freakin greeeeeeeeedy world we live in today. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Contact the police

Red said:

I'm kind of a noodle brain when it comes to web pages / hosting etc. but what happened today I'm sure can't be above board. I do have an active web page and another domain registration of which, because it revolves around art events, is only active with events, otherwise it sits there...but I do keep it up with annual registration payments.

Over the past couple weeks Hover/Tucows Domain Registry has called and sent email to me reguesting that I transfer over my username/login that they would like to have for one of their new projects. The user name is 'Windows'; not a wonder it would be popular. All they were offering in return was a free year of hosting. I told them that when my consultant returned from holiday, I'd discuss it, but probably wouldn't change it. Well, it would appear that Hover/Tucows couldn't wait for my answer and today, they freakin hijacked my username/login. I received a confirmation receipt from them this afternoon, that they had given me one free year of domain registry in return for my username.

WTF? Can they do this, just waltz in and take my sheit? Do you think I have any recourse? BTW - I checked out recourse with Cira.ca and ResourcesCanada (watchdogs for Canada) and if you launch a formal complaint there is a starting fee/one person panel of $2000 that must be paid before they'll even look at your case.

This is one freakin greeeeeeeeedy world we live in today. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

nevermind anything else, this part right here is the crime

Damn, that's fucked up.

I hope you win...

Are you able to use www.NetworkSolutions.com in Canada?

if so, when you win, you'll be able to transfer domain name registration and hosting to them

I've been using them for my own site and my clients' sites since the mid-1990s.. *never* ever a problem..

http://about.networksolutions.com

so....am I blowing it out of proportion? I mean it is only a username, but I thought domain registry info was yours and yours only until you let it go. Just seems wrong.

I need someone to tell me - this is something you should go after or pffffft fuckgetaboutit.

I agree Zombie - that's some messed up business - Cria. How do some of these people sleep at night screwing everyone left and right. Probably pretty dayum good. It's only those that have a conscience that lose sleep.

Red said:

so....am I blowing it out of proportion? I mean it is only a username, but I thought domain registry info was yours and yours only until you let it go. Just seems wrong.

I need someone to tell me - this is something you should go after or pffffft fuckgetaboutit.

I agree Zombie - that's some messed up business - Cria. How do some of these people sleep at night screwing everyone left and right. Probably pretty dayum good. It's only those that have a conscience that lose sleep.

it's punishing those who need help - ridiculous

Red said:

so....am I blowing it out of proportion? I mean it is only a username, but I thought domain registry info was yours and yours only until you let it go. Just seems wrong.

I need someone to tell me - this is something you should go after or pffffft fuckgetaboutit.

I agree Zombie - that's some messed up business - Cria. How do some of these people sleep at night screwing everyone left and right. Probably pretty dayum good. It's only those that have a conscience that lose sleep.

No. If you can afford to, fight back.

First, I agree about NetworkSolutions, but that doesn't help.

Second, there are ways that people can claim in use domain names, but I barely know anything about the process in the states and NOTHING about it in Canada. Again, no help.

Last (and hopefull helpful), seek legal consultation on the matter (in other words, ask the experts). It may be free (should be if you hunt around), at the very least it will be FAR less than $2000, and it should be educational either way.

Iccan or internic. Hopefully they will help.

thanks for the suggestion littlefish. I checked Iccan, but it's not that diff than cira, which I think is designed from Icaan. Icaan's fees are actually higher and their bottom line (after wading thru so much legal jargon) says that they can NOT resolve issues between you and the registration company and that one should seek OUTSIDE council. Again, of course they won't go after the registration company, indirectly that's their client. I guess most people's litigation is between companies or people - not providers.

Anyway, after spending way too many hours on this, they have achieved what they know will inevitably happen. They are $et up for corps, not little joe domain holder. I throw up my hands in confusion and capitulation. Yes, I might win if I took it on, but I'd be old, grey and have to spend too many hours, brain cells, pennies and miles. Ain't worth it. Just tell everyone you know - don't use HOVER/TUCOWS - because two cows = smelly bull shit.