JFC, what's next with Moniker?
 

First they suspend a domain without informing me (I only discover by accident)

Now because someone complains that my domain profile site has "wrong information" about their site they threaten to remove privacy and reveal my details!!!

Since when is a registrar a fucking net cop?


Dear Sir/Madam,

Please see the following complaint.

As the owner of the domain name, it is your responsibility to address this matter.

If this matter is not addressed within 5 days, we will be forced to remove privacy from the domain and reveal the default contact information to the complainant.

Please keep in mind that Moniker.com can not mediate between you and the complainant.

Thank you.


Sincerely,

Moniker Support Center

some people never learn

Truly fucked up.

The problem with many registrars regarding privacy is that they are willing to give it up easy and in some cases reveal it due to tech problems also.

If you would lke more details of the service I offer clients - true swiss domain identity protection that can be used at all registrars email me.

[email protected]

Thanks

What do they mean about wrong information on your site, like libel? Has this person subpoenaed Moniker?

Absolute privacy is not the main concern, Moniker have flapped with that before, sometimes their privacy doesn't seem to work

It's the fact that they're trying to be like godaddy and playing net cop.

Revealing my details to the complainant won't be the end of the world, but what's next... they suspend my domain because he still doesn't shut up?

My site has a web crawler that gathers information about each site and displays it on a profile page. It's 100% autonomous. The complainant is saying that his site is closed and he wants his profile page removed. I can delete it but the data will just appear again because most of the information gathered is based on external references (eg anchor text, referers) from other sites... the crawler will continue to find that.

I doubt there's been any legal process since the complainant appears to be in Switzerland.

Since Moniker says they're not mediating I presume they pass on every abuse complaint - regardless of the content - with the same threat of revealing contact info.

You are probably correct and if you are it just shows how insecure domain privacy is with major registrars. ( not all)...sometimes all it takes is a phone call actually to get it

Obtaining or revealing private info without proper legal process shouldnt be allowed as it can cause huge damage to both the person thier family and possibly thier business.

If the correct papers have been served of course that is a different matter if the domain privacy service etc is USA based.

Although you mentioned its not the biggest concern you have it would be interesting to find out the full details for other domain holders that put thier trust in such a service.

Good luck with your dispute and hope it gets fixed to your satisfaction.

privacy just keeps the spammers away from your contact info, If you want to find out whois you just contact the register...

I wouldn't be surprised if there's a law or at least a code of conduct being broken by releasing that information to a third party who asks for it. Imagine if every company suddenly started releasing their customer's details publically?

The other thing I'm concerned about is that if this issue isn't "resolved" Moniker are going to do something more drastic like suspend the domain.

Try not to be so Australian next time, your backwards ass colleagues have ruined it for you.

If someone whats to find you they will eventually, and people will make fake claims regarding a trademark issue...which raises red flags with registers.

Instead of privacy, I have an LLC set up with a PO Box, and a phone number with an answering machine, and don't use the same email in the whois as the one your using for your register account. Privacy is added security but too expensive for 500 domains.

Jim , I agree and disagree slightly with your statement.

Using most registrars I agree will not really protect your privacy.

Using a LLC and post office box offers a little better protection but it doesnt take much to find out the details of the P.O box holder and in most cases the directors/owners of a LLC. ( It can also get expensive)

It is not impossible to get total 100 percent protection ,the service I use for clients is guaranteed as not only is it offshore but no info is stored at the registrar or anywhere else online other than on encrypted data sticks stored in a safe depost vault.

Yes it does sound all James Bond type stuff and drastic but actually its a simple inexpensive service and to some people identity protection must remain 100 % at all costs due to family ,work and/for business reasons and could have serious consequences if breached.

At the end of the day its simply down to how much you need to and at what level you need to protect yourself.

the LLC is set up to protect my personal assets just in case a legal issue comes up...and sure it is very easy to find out the owners of an LLC. I would prefer someone's lawyer to contact me directly regarding an issue instead of bringing an issue up with my domain register. If you have a lot of domains your bound to have an issue with a few. I have no problem turning a domain name over to a party if they show me proof of trademark infringement. But some people try and scare you into giving up your domains and I don't flinch.

You should just post the link to that Privacy service...

I understand the LLC protecting some of your assets and thought that might be a reason you had such.

One of the biggest concerns for many of my clients in adult is the fact that it is ADULT and it could affect thier work and or family if such infomation was to be exposed.

Due to the subject matter and views on this business It doesnt take much for someone to dislike what your doing and then going to great expense,time and trouble to find all the info they can..... then turn your life upside down......its a sad fact but true !! most dont think of it until it happens.

Regarding the privacy service,I would due to its nature prefer to recommend it to clients or people from here by email etc

boring thread.

Privacy at Moniker is a joke. A glitch some time ago caused privacy to be temporarily lost on some domains my partner had there. They restored the privacy but given places like DomainTools that keep whois history, the damage had been done and can't be undone.

That's why I have barely anything there myself.

So how's about someone make a frivolous complaint about a tube site that Moniker is the registrar for... you never know! :D

fucked up :)

Rowan - Please hit me up either via email or ICQ wtih the details of this particular issue so I can have it investigated immediately.

Thanks for the headup. I'm moving all my domains away from them. Try answerable.com.

Right. Lets do this. You register "microsoft-fucks-people-over.com" and use your super privacy and we'll see how long you last against ICAAN, the WIPO, UDRP complaints and a civil lawsuit for trademark infringement, cybersquatting and trademark dilution. They would also argue that you used whois privacy as part of your scheme to deceive and benefit unfairly from your acts at Microsoft's expense, and being that federal courts have already rule the use of whois privacy to be an act of material falsification that would not look very good.

You are one of the dumber people on this board.

Let me know the hour, minute and second you register that domain so I can call Microsoft and tell their IP attorneys that some goofy twat on a porn message board has it all figured out. Then I will start the stopwatch and count the minutes until you are found as the registrant of the domain and served with a lawsuit.

:2 cents:

This is some shity stuff :Oh crap I can imagine I will have same problems one day when some scammer will decide to go for my business. Really, Godaddy and Moniker are getting worse with every day.

Does Moniker have an ownership stake in DomainTools?

Moniker needs to receive a court order to release private info.

If they are doing it based on some looney email - fuck them.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Reply from Moniker. I love the snide closing sentence...


"Hello,

we received a complaint and are passing it along. If law enforcement or judicial authorities get involved then yes, we will remove the whois privacy, and we reserve
the right to do so should we see the need.

Thank you for confirming you have received the complaint."

not that I'm aware of, TrafficZ bought domain tools a while ago http://thoughtconvergence.com/

who are you using these days and what are their rates, new reg., renewals, and renewals at 100 domains at a time?

Also domain tools sucks, my account had logging in problems from the 2nd I joined, then I sent an email to them and they tell me 2 months later they received the email and will look into it (auto generated) another month no news. :(

moniker has the worst support ever.

where is barry, the so called stand up top notch rep for moniker

Sounds like it's time to add a blacklist to your crawler. :2 cents:

post #20

I wouldn't do that, Bari looks cute.

Bari already posted on here about this, putting Moniker in the Top 1% of registrar support, IMHO.

Has the issue been resolved?

The issue with the complainant has been addressed, but I presume Moniker's anal and intimidating approach to passing on complaints hasn't.