Alert on second mail out from Domain Names NZ

Public Alert
Issued 31 October 2003-04/058

Commission alerts public to second mail out from Domain Names NZ

The Commerce Commission is aware of a second mass mail out by Australian-based company, Domain Names NZ, and strongly urges that people look carefully at all details before considering paying any sum requested.

The Commission initially alerted the public to a mail out from Domain Names NZ in August this year. The unsolicited letters, styled as an invoice or renewal notice, were sent to registrants of .co.nz domain names, seeking fees for the registration of the .net, .net.nz or .com version of the same name.

Deborah Battell, Director of Fair Trading, said the Commission is concerned that the second mail out raises similar issues as the first.

“The Commission is receiving calls from members of the public and businesses. Some of these callers believed what they had received was an invoice they had to pay to keep their existing .co.nz domain name,” Ms Battell said.

“Those people who have been misled and who have already sent a cheque to Domain Names NZ may wish to consider whether it is appropriate for them to cancel the cheque.”

The Commission is working with the Domain Names Commissioner and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in assessing this latest communication from Domain Names NZ.

For more information visit www.comcom.govt and select Publications and Media Releases.
2003/14 Commission urges caution when dealing with Domain Names NZ, 7 August 2003
2003/46 Commission issues warning to Domain Names NZ - .net offer liable to mislead, 8 October 2003

Commission media releases can be viewed on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz

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