Hi Folks

I have just checked my traffic and found this gem.  I received inaccurae
information from MelbourneIT.  On the face of it, it seems as if MelbourneIT
has made actions for which others have been shut down.  That  is, if my
understanding of the traffic is correct.

So, why isn't there a consumer alert on MelbourneIT (or did I miss it!), or
more to the point, why hasn't MelbourneIT been shut down for violation of
code of pracitce?

Are there different sets of rules??

Rgds

ADrian

-----Original Message-----
From: Chris Disspain [mailto:ceo§auda.org.au]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 March 2003 11:11 AM
To: dns§lists.auda.org.au
Subject: [DNS] Consumer Alert


auDA has today issued the following Consumer Alert.





Consumer Alert



CAUTION

U REGISTER.com.au - Mail out contains inaccurate information



auDA has become aware that an organisation calling itself
URegister.com.au (URegister) is sending to domain name registrants
solicitations for business that contain incorrect and possibly
misleading information.



The letter, headed "Commercial Domain Protection Advice", is both
inaccurate in parts and also breaches the .au Domain Name Suppliers'
Code Of Practice.


Registrants should be aware that URegister's letter is a solicitation
for business and NOT a renewal notice. Registrants are under no
obligation to respond and may choose to renew through their current
registrar or reseller


URegister cannot renew a domain name until 90 days before it is due to
expire and registrants should be WARY of paying URegister for renewal at
an earlier time.

Registrants who are unsure when their domain name is due to expire
should contact their existing registrar to check the expiry date.

URegister is NOT an auDA Accredited Registrar and so, renewal of the
domain name through URegister may require registrants into transfer
their name to another registrar.


The letter states that URegister "has allied with an accredited
registrar ...". auDA has confirmed that URegister is not an Appointed
Reseller of any auDA Accredited Registrar.



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 and appointed resellers is
available at  <http://www.auda.org.au/registrars/>
http://www.auda.org.au/registrars/.



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>
http://www.accc.gov.au.





.au Domain Administration Ltd - 4 March 2003

Chris Disspain

CEO - auDA

03-9349-4711

 <mailto:ceo&#167;auda.org.au> ceo§auda.org.au

 <http://www.auda.org.au/> www.auda.org.au