Useless Uniform Support

[timmie23]

I have a client who wants to move his website over to my hosting, as his current web host has just disappeared without a trace. Can't get hold of him via any know phone numbers or email addresses. Even their website doesn't have any useful info on it anymore. Just a bunch on Lorem Ipsum. He even failed to pay the annual domain renewal fee, which I paid for the client, just to get the website back online due to suspension.

Now we've tried to do a transfer, no vote from the webhost.
We've tried the manual transfer request with the certified form and IDs, etc.
The web host registered the domain in his name instead of in the owner's name.
So all uniform tells us is that they can't help us, cause the site is not registered in the owner's name.

So I asked the useless support person what is the next step. Tells me to go to http://www.domaindisputes.co.za/ and log a complaint.

From what I can see, this website asks R10 000 for a complaint to be logged. It also seems like it is more aimed towards domain name disputes regarding trademarks, etc. Not a case of the domain was just not registered in the right name.

EAch time I've asked the support person to just phone or email the owner, using the details on the website, and ask them their side of the story. Obviously if you phone the number that is on the website, then it would at least help a bit.....

Any ideas guys? Cause I'm really starting to lose it here. Thanks

 

[Tinuva]

If a domain was not registered in the right name...isn't that the same as disputing who the domain belongs to?

 

[timmie23]

Sorry, forgot to mention another point. The CC details are invalid on cipra as well.

I am actually wondering why there isn't an alternative method as I can see how this must happen quite often with these 1 year businesses. Is a R10 000 court case really going to help matters at all?

 

[warwickw]

www.domaindisputes.co.za is the correct avenue, it's not a court case you either pay R10000 for 1 adjudicator or R24000 for 3 adjudicator's your choice. There is nothing Uniforum can do if the domain was registered in the wrong persons name but follow the proper procedure.

This once again stresses the point, make sure the registrant of the domain is the actual person who owns the domain, and not your hosting company or web developer.

 

[w1z4rd]

What legal authority does DomainDisputes have?

I thought it was just a bunch of people you pay insane amounts to... to give their suggestions on who should own the domain. Im not sure how legally binding their ruling is...

 

[ambo]

What legal authority does DomainDisputes have?

I thought it was just a bunch of people you pay insane amounts to... to give their suggestions on who should own the domain. Im not sure how legally binding their ruling is...

They are empowered to act through various ICT laws. There decision is an instruction to the registry (in this case Uniforum) that controls the domain to either allow or decline a transfer and is legally binding.

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

You are not going to be able to get round what Uniforum says.
Would it not be easier to register a new website? I know that the site name is part of the branding but I would rather spend R10 000 in marketing than paying it to an adjudicator to agree to moving a website.

Regards

Tim