OnlineNIC Gone AWOL

[Seraphim]

I have an expiring domain with OnlineNIC, and realized a couple of weeks ago they never sent out a password a year ago when I won the domain via a SnapNames auction. I should have checked earlier, my fault there. However for 2 weeks now I cannot get an email or phone response from OnlineNIC to get the password to my account so I can renew the domain, and their password retrieval system isn't sending me the password either...

It looks like I'm going to lose a valuable domain because of this. Have they completely shut down all operations? Any advice?

 

[jberryhill]

They are falling apart.

I've been trying to move out a domain won in a UDRP, and it's been a major PITA.

 

[Seraphim]

They are falling apart.

I've been trying to move out a domain won in a UDRP, and it's been a major PITA.

I was afraid of that... They're also headquartered in Xiamen, China, which means it's fried wantons all day in fuk all time zone. Brilliant!

 

[katherine]

Pray for icann to step in...

 

[Seraphim]

Is there any legal action I can take to keep the domain from dropping?

 

[draggar]

I'm sure they've closed their doors after Verizon won their lawsuit against them.

RegFly all over again?

 

[copper]

Didn't Verizon got $33.2 million judgement against OnlineNIC recently?
Sounds like another registerfly story.

 

[jberryhill]

RegFly all over again?

In practical terms, yes, but they were always unresponsive. While Registerfly involved definite malfeasance, the onlinenic folks strike me as simply not knowing what they are doing.

The effect is the same, though.

 

[Seraphim]

Another business day almost over, and OnlineNIC is still nowhere to be found... the password retrieval system is completely broken, no phone service, no email service, no support available of any kind...

Can I report this to ICANN? Can they lock the domain to keep it from dropping? The domain is going to drop, if I shell out more money to buy it upon the drop, it will likely end up right back with OnlineNIC, assuming I can even grab it. Going to lose a couple grand here.

 

[draggar]

In practical terms, yes, but they were always unresponsive. While Registerfly involved definite malfeasance, the onlinenic folks strike me as simply not knowing what they are doing.

The effect is the same, though.

The sad thing is that their customers are the ones who end up getting screwed in the end. My question is - IF (and that's a big if) Verizon gets their assets - will all of the domain registrant's domains be available to them or would they be considered assets for Verizon to do with as they see fit?

Another business day almost over, and OnlineNIC is still nowhere to be found... the password retrieval system is completely broken, no phone service, no email service, no support available of any kind...

Can I report this to ICANN? Can they lock the domain to keep it from dropping? The domain is going to drop, if I shell out more money to buy it upon the drop, it will likely end up right back with OnlineNIC, assuming I can even grab it. Going to lose a couple grand here.

You can but the question is, will ICANN listen and act? We had something very similar over the past year or so with RegFly / Register Fly and I'd say do some research now on what happened with them, how people got their domains back (mind you - most people lost their domains) and maybe it'll give you a head start on what to do to get your domains back, if possible.

 

[copper]

The sad thing is that their customers are the ones who end up getting screwed in the end. My question is - IF (and that's a big if) Verizon gets their assets - will all of the domain registrant's domains be available to them or would they be considered assets for Verizon to do with as they see fit?

No registrar have right to ANY domain names registered by their customers.
Thus, Verizon have nothing to do with domain names registered by customers of OnlineNIC.

 

[Seraphim]

I just sent off an email to ICANN. Is there anyone else I should contact?

 

[Focus]

Verisign? I'm guessing here but they do operate the underlying registry for the .com/.net domain names...maybe they can do something..or at least hold the name until this all gets sorted out...again, I'm guessing..

http://www.verisign.com/contact-information/index.html

http://www.verisign.com/information-services/naming-services/com-net-registry/

 

[Seraphim]

Verisign? I'm guessing here but they do operate the underlying registry for the .com/.net domain names...maybe they can do something..or at least hold the name until this all gets sorted out...again, I'm guessing..

http://www.verisign.com/contact-information/index.html

I'll drop them an email, it won't hurt.

 

[stuff]

http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal...-collect-33-million-judgment-experts-say/3659

 

[elmister]

http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal...-collect-33-million-judgment-experts-say/3659

I'm not sorry for Verizon