[LINK] Fwd CONSUMER ALERT from auDA

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Fwd: From: <consumeralert at auda.org.au>
Sent: Saturday, August 19, 2006 1:27 AM
Sub: CONSUMER ALERT from auDA, The Australian Domain Name Administrator

(Also see: http://www.auda.org.au/consumeralert/consumeralert-16082006/)..

auDA has become aware that Domains Australia Pty Ltd is sending letters 
and/or faxes to some domain name registrants offering to arrange 
registration of the net.au equivalent of the registrants com.au domain 
name for $225. 

The letter is headed .DOMAIN NAME AVAILABLE. and some versions of it 
offer a free MP3 player with each registration.

auDA has received numerous complaints which indicate that; 1.  despite 
the net.au name being paid for, it is NOT being registered and 2.  
registrants are NOT receiving the .free. MP3 player.

Based on the complaints received auDA is concerned that the letters may  
mislead people into believing that they are renewing their existing 
com.au domain name when in fact they are purchasing a new net.au name. 

Further, consumers should be aware that $225 for a net.au domain name is 
significantly higher than prices charged by auDA accredited registrars 
and their resellers.  

Domains Australia Pty Ltd is a company controlled by Blair Rafferty, the 
brother of Chesley Rafferty. It is NOT an auDA accredited registrar nor 
is it a reseller of an auDA accredited registrar.

auDA has previously successfully taken legal action against Chesley 
Rafferty and companies controlled by him under the Trade Practices Act. 

If you have paid Domains Australia Pty Ltd and the domain name has not 
been registered or you have not received the .free. MP3 player and you 
wish to lodge a formal complaint, auDA advises that you immediately 
contact the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) either 
by lodging an electronic complaint at http://www.accc.gov.au/ or by 
faxing it to their Canberra office on (02) 6243 1199. 

Alternatively you may wish to contact your State based fair trading or 
consumer affairs office.

A similar mass mail out has also occurred in New Zealand.  New Zealand 
Domain Registration Ltd, owned by Blair Rafferty, was recently exposed on 
a New Zealand television program Fair Go.  To view this video please 
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/816241. 

For more information see http://www.auda.org.au. 

auDA
www.auda.org.au
info at auda.org.au
--

Regards all ..
Stephen Loosley
Victoria,
Australia

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