A 60 day lock from transferring a domain name to another ICANN accredited registrar is in place when a domain name is newly registered or transferred in from another registrar. This is a small tool that is in place to help with fraud if a domain name is stolen and transferred away.
ICANN requires domain name owners to keep whois information up to date and it is pretty common that a domain owner may have a phone number change, address change or even an email change. If you were to update any of the whois information, many domain name registrars would apply the 60 day lock on the specific domain name updated or the entire account if the changes were account wide.
If I have had a domain name in my account for several years and simply update my phone number on file, I see no reason for a 60 day registrar lock. Same thing goes for an address change. Well, ICANN agrees that an update to whois information does not meet the guidelines of a 60 day lock.
The problem, many domain registrars are still violating this ruling and prevent domain name transfers because of an update to whois. This is one of those things that is good and bad all at the same time. If somebody other than you changed whois details, you would be happy with the 60 day lock as it would prevent a transfer if somebody attempted to steal the domain. On the flip side, if you update whois and wish to transfer the domain name for whatever reason, and it is blocked because you updated your phone number, it becomes a pain in the ass.
In the past, Network Solutions prevented a transfer of mine because of an update I did to whois. This weekend, Godaddy is doing the same thing to me!
It was thought that around September of 2008 that Godaddy had changed the 60 day lock rule for updating whois information and was allowing a transfer if the whois data was update but clearly dated below and right at Godaddy.com they state otherwise:
You can see the information was updated July 9, 2009. (link to screen shot page above) The problem for Godaddy, ICANN has an advisory in place to prevent this lock but Godaddy is still doing it! Organization field or not, the domain owner has ever right to put what they wish in for the "Organization Field". I changed mine to DotWeekly.com and is likely the reason Godaddy locked my domain.
ICANN has an advisory concerning the inter-registrar transfer policy date April 3, 2008 which states : A registrant change to Whois information is not a valid basis for denying a transfer request.
Name, Organization, Mailing Address, Email Address, Phone and Fax are all whois information!
As far as I can tell, Godaddy is still using the standard registrar transfer denied email they have for years, which states a generic rule why the transfer was denied. The Godaddy denial email is as follows:
Dear Jamie Zoch,
The transfer of DomainHere.com (domain removed) from GoDaddy.com, Inc. to another registrar could not be completed for the following reason(s):
Express written objection to the transfer from the Transfer Contact. (e.g. – email, fax, paper document or other processes by which the Transfer Contact has expressly and voluntarily objected through opt-in means).
The express written objection may be the result of a pending or recently completed Change of Registered Name Holder. This is an opt-in process during which the new Registered Name Holder agrees not to transfer for 60-days. This domain will be transferrable on 5/24/2010.
If you believe that this domain name does not fit the situation described above, go to http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/support.asp?prog_id=GoDaddy&isc=gdbb35 for assistance.
Regards,
Domain Services
GoDaddy.com, Inc.
The express written objection section is the BS line they are using for blocking the transfer due to a whois information update.
So how do you take care of this problem? It is important to let ICANN know that Godaddy is still preventing domain name transfers because of a whois information update. I have in the past sent the following email to Network Solutions and you can do the same thing for Godaddy.
Email Address: transfers@godaddy.com
CC: registrar-info@icann.org
The email address to use for Network Solutions is registrar@networksolutions.com
You will be contacted by a rep within about 24 hours or less and the domain name should be unlocked. Now if the domain name is in the 60 day lock period because of it being a new registration or you had transferred the domain name in the past 60 days, clearly the lock is correct. Once the lock is removed, you will likely have to restart the transfer at the receiving domain name registrar.
One thing I do not agree with the 60 day lock and change of whois contact details is the email address. If the email address for whois is changed, that should lock the domain name for 60 days and the domain should not be able to transfer. According to the ICANN advisory, it is not clearly stated that if the whois email address is updated (changed), this would lock the domain. It should lock the domain, because that is often what is changed when a domain name is stolen.
In the end, the transfer denied becomes more of a pain in the ass than anything. You will likely get the domain unlocked by sending the above email but really this process should not have to happen when you simply update whois information other than the email address (IMO) when your domain is in good standings otherwise. This tactic is often used to retain domain names so the current registrar continues to profit from the domain name renewals and other services.
Attila
Pain in the ass, sure. But rather be safe then sorry. I have seen and heard one too many domain hijackings these days that make me worried security from within the registrars.
Domainer
Instead of writing this huuuuuuge post, why didn’t you just call Godaddy and explain the situation and ask them to remove the executive lock?
Jamie Zoch
@Domainer,
Why did you waste my time and others by posting a useless comment? The huuuuuuge post was to inform those who get a similar transfer lock denial because they updated their whois. This lock should not happen! If you call Godaddy, you will get a common round of musical chairs about why the 60 day lock is in place and blah blah. Doing what I suggested, will skip the musical chair process and get the domain name unlocked.
SL
Nicely written and explained, Jamie.
It’s a topic that needs to be addressed periodically.
Tim
When I have called my GD account exec they remove it immediately.
I do understand the frustration though.
ADR
When a domain is first registered it is locked by the registry for 60 days. There is nothing that can be done about this – not at any level. For 60 days the domain can not be transferred to another registrar. It is locked by the registry and not the registrar. Nobody in the world – including the registry – can circumvent this lock.
Rules are very similar when a domain transfers between registrars. There is a 60 day lock placed on domains transferred to another registrar. This is done for security purposes and makes a lot of sense when you look into why someone would want to transfer registrars more than once in a 60 day period. These “registry locks” are overall a very good thing.
The confusing part is the status of a domain recently registered or transferred is “ok” when you look at registry whois data. However there is what seems to be a “hidden lock” end users can not see. This is confusing and leads to countless hours of people thinking they can transfer domains but get stuck and terribly confused.
The above are different from GoDaddy’s whois update lock. When you update a domain’s whois at GoDaddy they implement a “registrar lock” whereby they lock the domain themselves. It is not well documented as you suggested, but you have to check a few boxes that agree to this before updating whois. I understand this now, I was confused the first few times it happened.
I hate to go against you on your post, but I think for security this is a good feature and something you should respect GoDaddy in doing. It is annoying to a lot of people, but when you value your domain assets, it is a protective feature they have implemented.
Yes, I have been annoyed by this many times in the past. With the right contacts and persuasion you can get this hidden “registrar lock” removed.
Ray
Nice post Jamie…I’ve had some bad experiences with Go Daddy auto renewing stuff through hidden clauses and bad business practices.
For the life of me can’t imagine why so many people flock to them.
Steve Newman
I wrote a letter very much to the effect of yours. Your post was very helpful. I’ll keep you apprised of how it goes. I referenced the same ICANN promulation. Thank God that ICANN has some sense of fairness.
Jamie Zoch
@Andrew,
I agree it is a catch 22. It would be nice as you stated if they would clear up the “status” situation. Another one is AutoRenew Period. If you were to renew during auto renew (or win a domain at let’s say NameJet that was a Pre-Release) and transfer it during the AutoRenew period, you lose the gaining year of registration.
Duke
I actually initiated a domain transfer from the evil Network Solution *to* Godaddy today. Along the the flurry of emails from NetSol begging me to contact them to see if they could retain the business (not a chance) was an email asking me to check the WHOIS info on the NetSol account. I’m wondering if this was a last ditch attempt to cause the transfer to fail (you changed the WHOIS so now you’re locked for X days). I can’t remember the last time I received this sort of notice from NetSol. Just a coincidence?
Stefan
I just got a domain name using the GoDaddy.com auction and wanted to transfer the domain to my local registrar and was prompted by the “Registrar Transfer Denied” email.
I used your email – thanks for that – will see what happen now.
Robert Cheney
I called GoDaddy to remove lock. They said it’s an Icann rule. Just used your email. See if it works.
Robert Cheney
45 minutes after sending this enail, I received this response:
Dear Robert Cheney,
Thank you for contacting online support.
We apologize for any confusion, however, note that the lock on your domain does not conflict with this rule. The 60-day lock on your domain is a result of a voluntary opt-in which is requested when you make the updates to your Registrant data. We do not require you to update this data prior to completing the transfer, and as such you are not required to agree to the 60-day lock placed on the domain. As noted, this falls under the Express Written Objection rule, stating that a domain can be locked as a result of:
Express written objection to the transfer from the Transfer Contact. (e.g. – email, fax, paper document or other processes by which the Transfer Contact has expressly and voluntarily objected through opt-in means).
However, as a one-time courtesy, we would be willing to remove the lock from this domain so that you may continue with your transfer. In order to do so, we must first ask that you modify the Registrant data and revert it back to the information it was prior to the lock being placed on the domain. Once you have made these updates, you will need to reply to this message so that we can review your request with the appropriate parties. We thank you for your understanding.
Please let us know if we can help you in any other way.
Sincerely,
David P.
Online Support Team
Thanks, Jaime. Your email worked in under an hour.
I am replying that there is nothing voluntary about the “opt-in”. No “opt-in” means no changing whois. “Voluntary” would mean I had a choice.
Cindy Sue Causey
Just changed mine two weeks ago.. Each time I did it from a fresh reboot, it *CAME ACROSS* that I had to toggle yes, I understand I will not be able to transfer MY DOMAINS for two months.. Here I’m seeing you all reference the “opt-in”.. THAT IS NOT how they make it appear if we are all talking about the same thing, and it sure never occurred to me to try altering anything without that switch.. GAH, PARDON ME while I say some seriously bad words.
That whole industry has a SERIOUS racket going against the little guy domain owner right now.. Must be nice to have absolutely no conscious whatsoever as one walks through this Life.
EHN-EE-WAY…
Thanks for the article..
Warmest from Talking Rock..
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GoDaddy Has Lost It's Mind!
GoDaddy has some additional insane demands on its customers like asking for “GOVERNMENT ID” like a passport or drivers license to cancel protected services. I am not going into my long and infuriating experience with GoDaddy having been with them over 5 years. What I will say is ICANN should investigate GoDaddy for using bully tactics to obtain government ID’s from their customers so they can potentially sell it to government agencies. What on earth is GoDaddy about? They act as if they are the immgiration service. I just has to write to the CEO and I will be writing to ICANN as I will not allow my privacy to be invaded or demanded by anyone. As for replies about GoDaddy protecting me or my domains from being stolen or taken please…………I just read an ICANN report how GoDaddy is notorious for cancelling domains and that is why they “upsell” like mad with additional services people do not really need to make more cash.
Sunstar
Godaddy still using this 60 day lock if “any” whois information is updated. I initiated a transfer, updated email for administrator, now, I get the 60 day lock. Talk to its technical support and they cannot do anything to unlock it. My domain renewal is up in the next 30 days. Was told to renew at godaddy and transfer it when the 60 day luck is over. The new registrar will carry the remaining years or add one more year to my registration.
Chris Brunner
I was having the exact same issue. I called, and the CSR’s did nothing. Now, after reading your post, I emailed your letter (and CC’d ICANN as you suggested). Hopefully it works.
Thank you for making this post!
Kelly Beard
We just had this happen to us. We wanted to transfer one of our domains out, when we removed the Privacy – our Whois data was completely wrong! It wasn’t even us – it was a proxyserver in the Cayman Islands. So, I went in to change the admin, the tab above has a box that offers you to change everything, so we did. WE DID NOT see the window screen you are showing NOTHING came up. We have been telling Go Daddy for the last year that some of their settings do not work on our browser – they only reply with “well it works for us, we don’t know what to tell you.” Anyway, I changed all the info and shortly after trying to transfer got the e-mail that we “opted in” to a lock.
When we called to talk to support, they couldn’t get past the fact that in their opinion, they don’t know why that warning page didn’t pop up but it does on their site and since I changed the info then that means I agreed. I asked them for a copy of an electronic agreement. They explained that it didn’t matter because the pop up warning shows up on their screen. I offered to take screen shots and they still said it didn’t matter.
So, the first problem is why was my Whois all screwed up and before you ask, I wouldn’t know what was there because Go Daddy helped me set up with privacy the moment we transferred over a year ago to them so I haven’t seen my Whois data for a year. Then, I didn’t get the warning and didn’t say ok to that warning. They have no electronic signature and cannot prove otherwise.
Bottom line, in my opinion, when do you think you would normally look and update your Whois?? Probably when you are transferring and that is usually when you start to expire – wouldn’t you agree? Rhetorical question. Anyway, it is a scam to force you to pay an additional year with them because they lock you out from transferring for 60 days when you are due to expire well before that.
I will send the e-mail above and hope for the best but we have been at this for 3 days and the site domain expires tomorrow, I am sure they will not release it in time.
Oh, and before anyone criticizes this post and disagrees with what I say – it only makes you appear to be working for Go Daddy or a Troll so don’t bother. Your words are biased and do not make a difference. It is illegal to force a voluntary opt in when the opt in doesn’t even appear!!!
Thanks for this post, it has been very helpful. Keep up the good work warning and educating people.
Kelly
Si Feng
I have the same issue. Was about to transfer one domain out to 1and1 in order to get their FREE private registration. The instruction from GoDaddy is really misleading. To me it’s more like a trap, as they want you to modify WHOIS information, and at that time you have to agree to the so-called “voluntary agreement” which allows them to lock your domain for 60 days.
I contacted them after realizing this issue. They were really RUDE. Nothing could be done.
So I filed BBB complain. Don’t expect to get it unlocked, but at least share my experience with others.
paa
2 Si Feng – Do NOT go to 1&1 before googling to find their horrible rep / track record amongst domainers – cheap is not always the best choice !!! Their site LOOKS smooth and sophisticated, but it moves like an antique horse-and-cart and lacks most of the features a modern domain-registrar site now has.