Sunday, March 16, 2008

EPP, Password, Auth Code denied by a fraudulent Italian Registrar

I need the ICANN opportune branch help or the support from an
international Registrar to solve an annoying issue I
have with an Italian registrar (Register.it) the avoid the transfer of some
domains I registered through it.

What happened is very simple.

Thank to a promotion of this Italian registrar, I had the chance (on last
August) to register a certain amount of domains (about a hundred).

Of this promotion I have the original "step by step" screenshots and I indeed
didn't use any fraudulent method to register these domains (the name is mine as
well the VAT code requested during the registration process).


After some days I tried to access the CP of this new domains and I
discovered that register.it had frozen them.

The reason?

The promotion was intended for only one domain per person and so they locked
any EPP - Password - Auth Code inhibiting domains transfers.

I don't understand why they did it, considering that I used (differently from
a lot of other people that surely filled the promotional forms with fake data) my real name,
real address, real VAT Code, real phone and personal email.

Probably I know (and you know) the reason.

With a fake name I'm not able to transfer the registered
domain to another registrar (I can't provide official Identity documents owned
by the fake name used). So Register.it is sure that if I develop contents and
activities on that domain, it will remain "at home" and will "pay" the
"promotional efforts" of the Registrar.

Since I used real data (and no double entries checking tools
had been set up on the database to avoid this), I could be able/succeed in
transferring the domains to another registrar.

They told me I've been fraudulent in registering all those
domains, and that I have to pay more and less 10000 USD to get my domains EPP.

I think that on national basis they can act against me, if
they really think I'm damaging them cause I've been fraudulently using their
promotion (if they're able to demonstrate it), but (even reading ICANN rules on
these kind of issues) they can't deny to provide the EPP code and let me use
regularly un-locked domains about which I'm the Owner ADMIN-C, BILLING-C.

These are the domains involved and below them the screenshots
of the "step-by-step" procedure I followed to register them:


venicefarm.com
fioridarancio.net
edenservizi.net
associazione-consulting.org
bahiabossa.com
dentropadova.com
padovagate.com
venetotraining.com
euganeaservizi.com
beditalia.eu
beditalia.net
bedpadova.com
roompadova.com
roompadova.net
camerepadova.com
camerepadova.net
bedbreakfastpadova.com
bedbreakfastpadova.net
bedbreakfastcivitavecchia.com
bedbreakfastcivitavecchia.net
bedbreakfastitalia.net
bedbreakfastit.com
padovacom.net
civitanet.com
abitarepadova.com
abitarepadova.net
vicenzacom.net
padova-net.com
trevisonet.net
hellopadova.com
schiocom.com
thienecom.com
myvicenza.net
anticlericale.org
ceisitalia.com
ceisveneto.com
ceisveneto.net
ceisitalia.net
comunitalautari.com
comunitalautari.org
comunitalautari.net
comunitalautari.eu
lepatriarche.net
sgaetano.com
sgaetano.net
pasubio.net
vivischio.com
vivipadova.net
vivivenezia.com
veniceadvisor.net
recoaro.org
vinylgrabber.org
stantongirl.com
venicecounselor.com
venicelido.eu
venezialido.org
piazzasanmarco.eu
venicepromenade.com
veniceexcursion.com
venicementor.com
abanohotsprings.com
abanomontegrotto.org
termeeuganee.org
fattorievenete.com
fattorienaturali.com
disneyfarm.com
italianfarm.org
italianfarms.org
lafattoria.org
progettareformazione.com
formazioneformatori.eu
trainingtrainers.eu
difensoriassociati.com
difensori.eu
italianlawyers.net
formazionedonna.com
womentraining.org
padovaformazione.com
venetoformazione.net
venetoformazione.org
venetoformazione.eu
fondosociale.eu
fondosociale.org
fondosociale.net
fondosocialeeuropeo.org
fondosocialeeuropeo.eu
fondosocialeeuopeo.net
corsifse.eu
corsifse.net
corsifse.org
corsigratuiti.org
corsigratuiti.eu
formazionefinanziata.org
formazionefinanziata.eu
formazionefinanziata.net
borsedistudio.org
europeansocialfund.org
europeansocialfund.net
aulainformatica.org
aulainformatica.eu
aliasdigitale.com
digitalalias.org
digitalalias.eu
aliasdigitale.net
aliasdigitale.org
aliasdigitale.eu
esperanta.eu
esperanta.net
padovacasa.eu
venicehotsprings.com
abanohotsprings.org
abanohotsprings.net
abanohotsprings.eu
stefaniacastelli.com
stefaniacastelli.net
pratodellavalle.eu
pratodellavalle.net
bedpadova.net
promozionidubbie.com
dormireapadova.com
soulgroover.com
doyouvenice.com
mypadova.com
villeveneziane.com
villepadovane.com
veniceabout.com
veniceagain.com
veneziamica.com
jazzgroover.com
vernonburch.com
morethanvenice.com
venetianfriend.com
venicepenthouse.net
venicepenthouse.org
venicepenthouse.eu
schionet.com
schioonline.com
omniaservizi.net
vicenzanet.com
dentrovenezia.com
introducingvenice.com
veniceadvices.com
venicedoor.com
vicenzatravel.com
padovaminore.com
villamason.com


Here's the screenshots:


This first shot tells surfers that Register.it gives a domain
for free (a present). It's totally free and (in red) "only for today". A free
hosting service is included (anyway if they don't want to provide this last
service,
there's no problem for me, but they have to let me manage my domains)


Welcome to the Register.it Promotion

In this second shot all my real data are filled. No fakes. No
scam.


'First


This is the third step: the control panel at Register.it (I
emphasized the "active your promotion now" section)



Control Panel at Register.it. With emphasis on the promotion


This is the Bonus Window. From here the registering a domain
process, starts.


This is the bonus windows at Register.it

The choosing a domain window.


Choosing a domain at Register.it


The chosen domain is available. To finally check my data and
email I select the option "register to another person"



The domain is available at Register.it


Shoppin Cart.



Shoppin Cart at Register.it


Checking Admin-C and Billing-C data. Final Steps at
Register.it



Checking if everything is correct at Register.it


The summary page at register.it. Disclaimers, contracts and
conditions don't talk about any issue relating to the promotion involved.



The summary page at register.it


Here we are. The domain is registered. But.....



End of the domain registration procedure at Register.it


Ok. This is the WHOIS result for "promozionidubbie.com"
domain. But....


------------------------------------------- 

[whois.register.it]

REGISTER.IT SPA - Whois Server Version 1.4

The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET and .ORG domains.

Domain name: PROMOZIONIDUBBIE.COM
Created on: 2007-08-25
Updated on: 2007-08-25
Expires on: 2008-08-25
Registrant Name: STEFANO CASTELLI
Contact: Stefano Castelli
Registrant Address: via Rovxxxx
Registrant City: Padova
Registrant Postal Code: 35142
Registrant Country: IT
Administrative Contact Organization: Stefano Castelli
Administrative Contact Name: Stefano Castelli
Administrative Contact Address: via Rovxxx, xx
Administrative Contact City: Padova
Administrative Contact Postal Code: 35142
Administrative Contact Country: IT
Administrative Contact Email: stefania.castellxxxxx
Administrative Contact Tel: +39 348 302XXX
Administrative Contact Fax: +39 700 5808XXX
Technical Contact Organization: Technical Support
Technical Contact Name: Technical Support
Technical Contact Address: Via A Ponti, 6
Technical Contact City: Bergamo
Technical Contact Postal Code: 24126
Technical Contact Country: IT
Technical Contact Email: support@register.it
Technical Contact Phone: +39 035 3230400
Technical Contact Fax: +39 035 3230312
Primary Name Server Hostname: NS1.REGISTER.IT
Secondary Name Server Hostname: NS2.REGISTER.IT


>>> Last update of whois database: Sun Mar 16 09:52:15 2008 <<<

----------------------------------------- 

But the problem is in this mail they sent me......


------------------------------------

Gentile cliente,



tramite i pannello di controllo intestati a Castelli Stefano risultano essere
stato effettuato un utilizzo improprio della promozione visibile dal link:

http://promotions.register.it/index_it026.html


"Register.it TI REGALA UN DOMINIO"


La sollecito a non effettuare ulteriori registrazioni, ho inoltrato la sua
segnalazione all'ufficio competente.



Le ricordo che nella pagina di parcheggio e' correttamente indicato che "Register.it
si riserva la possibilità di modificare, sospendere o prorogare l'offerta in
qualsiasi momento. L'offerta è valida solo per il primo anno di registrazione.
E' severamente vietato l'uso improprio del sistema. Ad ogni cliente viene
offerto in omaggio un solo dominio: qualunque operazione volta alla
registrazione di più domini in violazione di quanto sopra comporterà l'addebito
automatico dei relativi corrispettivi secondo il listino prezzi Register.it e, a
discrezione Register.it, la sospensione immediata del servizio. "


Come indicato chiaramente dalla promozione, Register.it offre la possibilita\'
di registrare un dominio gratuito, l'utilizzo da lei effettuato non e' quindi
ovviamente autorizzato e la invito a non accedere ulteriormente al link sopra
riportato.

--------------------------------

In few words it means that according to them I fraudulently
used their promotion so if I want to use my domains I have to give them this
money:

-----------------------------------------

La invito ora ad indicarci la modalita' di pagamento per saldare la registrazione dei domini sopra riportato, l'importo ammonta ad un totale 6132?.

i domini registrati sono 146, per un canone di registrazione di 35? piu' IVA.

Grazie per la cortese collaborazione.

Buona giornata

Federica Previtali

Support Team

---------------

Register.it SpA

-----------------------------------------

So I should to pay 35 Euros more VAT for each
domain registered (something like 55 USD for a mere
registration in common ccTLD domains class).

If you think this is a correct behavior from a registrar, I'll
stop bugging the net with this issue. On the contrary, if you're an
International Registrar representative, please contact me in order to transfer
to you these up listed domains, even calling for an advice the ICANN board or
Ombundsman.

On a national level, my legal firm is evaluating the best
strategy to act against them, involving, if the case, some consumers
associations.


I'm looking for an International Registrar because my country
is afflicted by a malign sort of agreements/trusts of ICT services providers (to
be honest not only in ICT).


Thanks in advance


Stefania