Throw out this letter.
Part of the reason we started this company, nearly 4 years ago, was to help small businesses with confusing aspects of the digital world. It’s unreasonable to expect every new business owner to become savvy in every vertical of running a company, and we want to be the experts they can turn to for advice when they need it. We happily have taken emails, texts, and calls from clients and friends to clear up any confusion when a suspicious letter, email, or phone call has come their way.
Unfortunately, there will always be bad actors working against someone’s best interest. This is a great example of a predatory business practice, that is legal, despite how intentionally confusing it is designed. Sure, all the disclaimers and disclosures are there to keep them on this side of the grey line of simply being a scam. So Kudos to these guys for doing the bare minimum to not be fraudsters, but let’s clear up the confusion they seem to bring small businesses who don’t have time to read and understand every delicately worded letter labeled “OPEN IMMEDIATELY”.
What is “Domain Name Services”?
Domain name services is a phrase typically referring to any service for your domain name, or you may think of it as your website URL. There are plenty of options known better in our industry as “Domain Registrars” and the company behind these letters is just one of the many options. Better known ones include Namecheap and GoDaddy, among countless others.
In this case, it’s also a name this company is doing business as. It’s not by accident they chose this name, given their business practice of utilizing these mailings. Sounds pretty official, and to someone not in our industry, could seem like the only option or the one you forgot you leased your domain name through. Thankfully, we’re not the only ones who noticed, Google it and you’ll see articles just like this one.
Will I lose my Domain Name unless I pay them?
Likely not. You’ve probably leased your domain name through another domain registrar and may even have auto-renew enabled there. This letter is not a bill, one of the few things they make very clear in bold. If you don’t know where your domain is leased through, you should track down that information for future reference (and make sure there’s always a current card on file for renewals).
While we’re pointing it out, it’s also a bit expensive, so we wouldn’t recommend accepting their offer. Right now, as this article is being typed, Namecheap.com would charge $69.90 (before discounts, offers, sales, etc.) for a 5-year domain registration, and GoDaddy.com would charge $109.95 (before discounts, offers, sales, etc.) for the same period. Both are a fraction of the $265.00 this “courtesy offer” is soliciting.
Is there a way I can be sure?
Of course, and we’re not going to charge or solicit you to keep you from falling victim of another overpriced service your small business doesn’t need.
- Enter your domain name (no https or www) in the free ICANN Lookup tool (e.g. “mydomainname.org”).
- Double check your Registry Expiration Date provided to see when it will “expire” but don’t be worried if it’s coming up soon, there’s more to look at.
- Figure out where your domain is currently leased through (your Domain Registrar). You may need to contact whomever helped you set up your website, as they may have registered it on your behalf and include it with your hosting bill. Or search your email(s) you may have used to sign up your account using.
- Log into your Domain Registrar account and make sure you have auto-renew enabled and an active credit card that won’t expire before your domain name.