please
note: there is now a website www.verisly.com
that is not in any way associated with the topic or content of this article.
This site did not exist when this article was written but has been brought
to our attention since. (November 6, 2003)
WARNING - VERISIGN SCAM ALERT
Friday May 5, 2002
In this day and age, you need to treat your customers well. Honesty
and fair business practices from all Internet related businesses are
absolutely necessary for the success of our industries and economy. Without
honesty and fairness, the most important element of a good business relationship,
TRUST, has no fertile ground to grow in. Check this out.
We received what appeared to be a standard notice of domain renewal
in the mail from VeriSign this morning. Mail from VeriSign is automatically
sent to our Admin. desk, where the "fine print" is considered
an important thing to read. This domain renewal notice was extra-important
to us as it was notice that our main domain, stepforth.com is going to
expire in July. That's ok. We already knew that it would expire in July
and plan to renew our registration through our local licensed registrar,
the way we've always done it. That's not the problem.
The mail we received from VeriSly was a two sided (as well as two faced.)
billing notice.
Front of VeriSign Billing Notice:
Here is the front of the bill.
Note the phrase, "Renewal and Transfer Instructions:" (huh,
who said anything about "transfer"?)
Now, here is the fun stuff! On the back of this notice, in very fine,
light coloured font (too light for us to clearly scan), the fine-print
reads:
"Terms and Conditions: By signing the reverse side of this form,
you hereby authorize us to transfer the registration
of your domain name(s) from your current registrar to VeriSign,
renew your domain name registration(s) for a period of one year from
the current record expires date, and charge your credit card for this
order. You agree to be bound by the terms of the VeriSign Change of Registrar
Agreement, which is located at https://www.netsol.com/en_US/legal/change-registrar-agreement.jhtml,
and the VeriSign Service Agreement which is located at http://www.netsol.com/en_US/legal/static-service-agreement.jhtml,
both of which form a part of the terms and conditions of this offer.
You acknowledge and agree that our ability to transfer and renew your
domain name(s) is subject to, among the other conditions set forth in
the above-referenced agreements, your current registrar permitting the
transfer to VeriSign. You acknowledge and agree
that unless and until your domain name(s) is/are transferred to VeriSign's
registrar, VeriSign will not be providing you with domain name registration
services for the domain name(s) listed on the front of this form and
you will continue to work with and pay your current registrar for such
services."
Please note: The bold red font was highlighted by us. Also, this font
is about six times larger than the font used on the back of the notice.
This is a SCAM folks. If it isn't illegal it should be. Before filling
out this form and giving these people your money, call your website designer,
host, and/or registrar. If it helps, please call StepForth, free of charge
at 1-877-385-5526.
STOP ONLINE SCAMS BEFORE THEY SUCCEED! We are also suggesting you call
your local Better Business Bureau if you receive this type of notice
|
