SnapNames and Moniker Return Domain to Prior Owner after Win

[bhartzer]

I purchased a domain name at Snapnames on June 26th. I paid for it, the domain was put into my Moniker account. Last night I went into my Moniker account and it's completely gone.

Moniker put the domain back into the prior owner's name (whois is no longer in my name) and Snapnames sends me an email:

Good Afternoon Bill,
Thank you for previously bidding and winning the auction of XXXXXXXXXXX.com, unfortunately that domain was erroneously included in an auction. You have been refunded for your purchase and the domain has been returned. I apologize for the misunderstanding.

Thank you,
Jonathan
SnapNames


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Do they have the right to yank a domain name and give it back to the prior owner 22 days after I purchased it?



I am concerned about buying names from SnapNames in the future. How do I know that this won't happen again--and how do I know it won't happen to YOU?



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[domaingenius]

Interesting, may I ask what the domain names was (PM if you wish) ?. Did it
actually go back to the previous owner or will it change later on maybe ?.

DG

Thinking about it, it seems to be Moniker is the culprit as they put it to Snapnames
to auction. I would guess that the previous owner created a stink, paid the renewal fee
and got it returned. Snapnames would feel obliged to so as not to upset Moniker (If
they are not connected anyways).

DG

 

[bhartzer]

I will PM the domain name.

The problem I have here is that apparently they "auctioned off the wrong domain" (according to their email). They auctioned off the .com and not the .net.

I'm not sure who the culprit is, Moniker is saying that it's Snap's fault. 22 days after I've had the domain they decide to yank it back and give it back to the prior owner.

As far as I can tell, it went straight back to the prior owner.

 

[domaingenius]

I got your PM thanks. Given the whois details it is clear it had not expired and thus I would tend to believe it was just a very unfortunate mistake. It is quite conceiveable that with human input it could be easy to mistakenly put .com instead of .net. I would give them this one, but I would want the money back onto credit card unless you use them often.

DG

 

[bhartzer]

Just curious...how do we know it did not expire? Is there a way to check that?

My concern here is that there apparently weren't security measures in place that would make sure that "human mistakes" wouldn't happen?

And how do I know that this won't happen in the future?

 

[Yofie]

If you can remember, was it an In Auction domain or an Available Soon domain?

I had submitted several domains for auction and when the domains were listed one had a typo. It was a 3 letter domain and two of the letters were out of order. If I wouldn't of seen it, the domain would of finished auction etc.

This could be the case if it was an In Auction domain.

 

[bhartzer]

I do not recall exactly whether it was an 'in auction' domain or if it was an 'available soon' domain. The history of it has been removed from my snapnames account for that domain so there is no way for me to go back and look at it.

That's just the point. It is nearly 22 or 23 days later and the STILL return it to the prior owner.

I am not sure if I should sell or buy domains from Snap in the future. 30 days later they might come back and return it to the previous owner.

 

[domaingenius]

Just curious...how do we know it did not expire? Is there a way to check that?

My concern here is that there apparently weren't security measures in place that would make sure that "human mistakes" wouldn't happen?

And how do I know that this won't happen in the future?

I simply checked whois and it gives;
Record created on: 2002-01-13 03:15:00.0
Database last updated on: 2008-07-18 18:46:33.717
Domain Expires on: 2009-01-13 03:15:00.0

Does'nt look like it expired at all. I would trust Snapnames and I have used
them for several years with not one problem.

DG

 

[Theo]

How large of a purchase was it?

 

[Onward]

This is really bad business no matter WTF happened.

I would be livid.

 

[Theo]

Exactly, what if you had already sold the domain?

 

[BELLC1]

Consider yourself lucky. Register.com took back a domain I had for a full six months and had, fully developed. Cost me about $40,000.00.

 

[HBK216]

If the domain was not expired, you have no case. It was a mistake & the original owner should not have to lose a domain due to an error by a third party.

 

[domaingenius]

I guess you've got to put yourself in the owners shoes and think how you would feel.
It appears this was a mistake. As for the one BELLC1 lost ,nothing surprises me with Register.com

DG

 

[Onward]

If the domain was not expired, you have no case. It was a mistake & the original owner should not have to lose a domain due to an error by a third party.

WOW...This is a brilliant statement...Obvious info is always great to have to waste time reading.

We are talking about the third party error...and that being bad business.

 

[HBK216]

WOW...This is a brilliant statement...Obvious info is always great to have to waste time reading.

We are talking about the third party error...and that being bad business.

**** off with your sarcasm. The original poster seemed frustrated that the name was returned to the previous owner & they have no right to be.

If you are not being sarcastic I apologize.

Also to say it is bad business is ridiculous. Mistakes happen so anytime one does, should we chalk it up to bad business? No, we wouldn't as that makes absolutely no sense. If this was an ongoing occurrence, it would then be bad business.

 

[Dave Zan]

Do they have the right to yank a domain name and give it back to the prior owner 22 days after I purchased it?

Unfortunately yes. It's under section 21:

http://www.moniker.com/help/dtc.jsp

Furthermore, you agree that we may suspend, cancel or transfer your domain name registration services in order to: (i) correct mistakes made by us or the registry in registering your chosen domain name, or (ii) to resolve a dispute under our dispute policy.

(And John B will chime in the classic mistake defense. Not that anyone has to
like it, but it's an arguably valid defense nonetheless.)

One can always verify if it was indeed a mistake by contacting the registrant.
That is, if they'll reply.

Sorry to read what happened to you Bill. Again, unfortunately, that happens,
and there's no foolproof way to ensure it doesn't.

That's one thing that term in the agreement is for.

 

[BLazeD]

So the original poster has no right to be frustrated?

 

[jberryhill]

Just out of curiousity, was the .net scheduled to expire?

 

[Onward]

So the original poster has no right to be frustrated?

Right???:?: