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Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

inessential.com

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Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#221
post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually really funny to me. I got an email from them a week ago telling me that my "auto billing renewal" had failed because my card expired. I checked "don't automatically renew" when I first signed up. I removed my credit card a month ago, when I realized it had been saved.

This is nothing when it comes to GoDaddy. My father is out $500 for 3 lousy domains (typical name extension coms swindles) and the typical GoDaddy "premium" services, because GoDaddy managed to find his new credit card info without him entering it. That is GoDaddy found out the new expiration dates for his card. Seriously, they can do that. There is VISA/MC program which merchants can use to obtain new credit card in…

It's surprising, but some banks do enable rebills on cards regardless of the expiration date. I learned this because I have subscribers whose cards are 'expired', but the charges still go through. I needle them constantly to update their billing info, but I still have one guy with a card that expired in 2012.

More importantly, your dad shouldn't be out $500. I had some SSL certificates rebill through Godaddy at an astronomically higher rate, so I called, and was able to easily obtain a refund. If Godaddy isn't willing to offer a refund, just call your credit card company and issue a chargeback. The chargeback process greatly favors the consumer, and you're almost certain to win.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#222

Didn't see this tweet earlier, seems to be Netsol's primary public response: https://twitter.com/netsolcares/status/425751251369095168 "We are working to get you opted out." Holy shit, what a crazy response. "Working" to get him opted out? Like they are doing him some kind of a favor and putting in effort above and beyond just not defrauding him in the first place?

This echoes the response I've received from them when trying to just cancel my account in general. I e-mailed them months ago asking to have my account cancelled. I was told:

> Please be advised that your account through Network Solutions will not be cancelled or deleted for historical purposes. However, if the system determines the inactivity of the account, your Network Solutions account will be deleted automatically.

Long story short, my account was never cancelled. I called them by phone yesterday to attempt to cancel again. The rep told me that he would have to "escalate" the issue to someone else, but then told me my account had been cancelled. However, I am still able to log into the account today so I'm guessing it hasn't been cancelled at all.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#223
post #33

I'm glad to see he's transferring to hover.com. I moved my domains there a little over a year ago and couldn't be happier. I didn't have issues with NS but had a lot of issues with Register.com doing shady things like this. Hover.com is about first domain registrar I've used that didn't feel shady as far as milking every last dollar they could out of me. Trying to up sell, etc.

namecheap is also great IMHO

+1 for Namecheap, although I don't use their own DNS.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#224
post #214

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is actually really funny to me. I got an email from them a week ago telling me that my "auto billing renewal" had failed because my card expired. I checked "don't automatically renew" when I first signed up. I removed my credit card a month ago, when I realized it had been saved.

This is nothing when it comes to GoDaddy. My father is out $500 for 3 lousy domains (typical name extension coms swindles) and the typical GoDaddy "premium" services, because GoDaddy managed to find his new credit card info without him entering it. That is GoDaddy found out the new expiration dates for his card. Seriously, they can do that. There is VISA/MC program which merchants can use to obtain new credit card in…

[deleted]

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#225
post #30

I have an account with Network Solutions that they will not let me cancel without calling their sales team. I do not have an active credit card on file with them nor do I have any domains or hosting services. They send me e-mails every month trying to bill me for something that I haven't signed up for with language indicating that I'm about to "lose" my services (that don't exist) if I don't pay. They're terrible. It…

I always like thinking about this "company culture" question when you see the external communications from a company. GoDaddy is very similar in that most all the emails they send are titled "ACTION REQUIRED" or another equally misleading alert. Very frustrating, builds nothing but distrust from me... like having a friend crying wolf every 10 mins.

It's the "company culture" of a tech company on the downslide. Remember 20 years ago when NSI had a monopoly on all domain registrations and a basic .com was going to cost you $100/yr? If you can't sell something people want, sell them something they never asked for.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#226
post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm pretty sure it's you that's misunderstanding the letter, actually. "Starting 9:00 AM EST on 2/4/2014 all of your domains will be protected via our WebLock Program. In order to make changes to your Domain Name's configuration settings you must be pre-registered as a Certified User. [...] To establish Certified Users and pre-register authorized phone numbers and email addresses please call 1-888-642-0265 Monday to…

I would generally agree with your assessment of the situation, but the fact that the company decided to opt-in AND bill the customer $1850, does not make sense. and this "WebLock enrolled customers" sentence makes it clear that only enrolled customers will have this service, so although it seems like you have no choice, I'm betting my virtually nonexistent reputation on the opposite. I guess the time will tell.

Everyone is saying that you can opt-out, which makes you a non-Weblock enrolled customer. That is not in question.

The problem is the opt-out bit, that you are by default enrolled in at a cost of $2k a year.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#228
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you use a bitcoin notary service (like http://www.proofofexistence.com/about ) and use this evidence to dispute a charge? It seems like this would be more efficient then sending a letter. Seems like this could be more reliable than an easily forged email.

That doesn't prove that they have received or read it though...

I guess the point I was trying to make is that sending an email, or showing that you've sent an email also doesn't prove that they have received or read it. I think in edge cases, it's probably possible to forge that you've sent an email in the past when in reality, you've sent that email this morning.

By using something like the aforementioned service, at least you can prove without a doubt that the message was sent at a specific time, putting the impetus on the receiving party.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#229
It's been almost a day since this was posted, but I still haven't heard of any other customers having had the same experience.

Is there anyone else out there to whom this has happened? I'm having a hard time finding a colleague that is a NetSol customer -- so I have no one to ask. Can someone confirm that this isn't the only case of this happening?

I'm no fan of NetSol, but this seems ridiculous beyond belief. I just want to know if there is more to the story.

Re: Network Solutions Auto-Enroll: $1,850

#230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would generally agree with your assessment of the situation, but the fact that the company decided to opt-in AND bill the customer $1850, does not make sense. and this "WebLock enrolled customers" sentence makes it clear that only enrolled customers will have this service, so although it seems like you have no choice, I'm betting my virtually nonexistent reputation on the opposite. I guess the time will tell.

Everyone is saying that you can opt-out, which makes you a non-Weblock enrolled customer. That is not in question. The problem is the opt-out bit, that you are by default enrolled in at a cost of $2k a year.

"Starting 9:00 AM EST on 2/4/2014 all of your domains will be protected via our WebLock Program"

They are only saying you will be protected via their WebLock Program, not enrolled in their service. But they are deliberately ambiguous to make it sound like they are the same thing.

"To establish Certified Users and pre-register authorized phone numbers and email addresses please call 1-888-642-0265 "

"If you wish to opt out of this program you may do so by calling us at 1-888-642-0265"

"Give the security team a call and they can explain 1-888-642-0265"

They are pushing hard for you to call them, that is where they will attempt to get you signed up for this "service"

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