Consumer Alert             Issued by auDA - 8 July 2002

 

CAUTION

Internet Registry Pty Ltd - Mail out contains inaccurate information

 

auDA has become aware that a company called Internet Registry Pty Ltd
(Internet Registry) is sending out incorrect information to domain name
registrants.

 

The mail out, headed "IMPORTANT NOTICE", contains numerous inaccuracies.
Chief amongst these is the following statement:

 

"Secure your domain with Internet Registry in the new system before 31st
July. Any existing registration period for your domain will be added to
your two year registration!"

 

This statement could be taken to mean that registrants can renew their
existing .au domain name for a period longer than 2 years. THIS IS
INCORRECT. 

 

Domain names in .au can only be licensed for 2 year periods and cannot
be renewed until 90 days before they are due to expire. Registrants
should be wary of paying for renewal at any earlier time.

 

Please see auDA's previous Consumer Alert about early renewals at
http://www.auda.org.au/about/news/2002032202.html 

 

auDA has lodged a complaint about Internet Registry with ACCC.

 

Protecting yourself

Registrants should be aware that only auDA Accredited Registrars and
their appointed resellers are bound to abide by the Code of Practice and
auDA's published policies. Registrants should be wary of dealing with
organisations that are not Accredited Registrars or their appointed
resellers. A list of Accredited Registrars is available at
http://www.auda.org.au/registrars/ and a list of appointed resellers
will be published at the beginning of August.

 

Pricing

Since the introduction of competition, consumers now have a range of
price and service offerings to choose from. auDA strongly encourages
registrants to compare prices charged by Accredited Registrars and their
appointed resellers. 

 

If you believe you have been misled or deceived into renewing your
domain name license to your disadvantage, then you should contact the
Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC). The ACCC is
responsible for administering the Trade Practices Act 1974, which
contains prohibitions against certain types of misleading or deceptive
conduct. Contact details are at http://www.accc.gov.au. 

 

For further information see www.auda.org.au <http://www.auda.org.au/>
or you can contact auDA by emailing info&#167;auda.org.au.