GM
Gert M
Active since Apr 2025
3
Reviews
0
Industries
Reviews
3 reviews9 months ago
Domain "Ransom" Scheme Cost Our Client Their Business Domain
My Experience with Domain Transfer Predatory Practices I'm writing this as a web development company owner who has witnessed this pattern repeatedly across multiple registrars including Tu***s, KwikWeb/KwikWap, and GoDaddy. What Happened: Our client, Eeden Social Media Marketing, requested a legitimate domain transfer for eedenmarketing.com. Despite providing the correct auth code, the losing registrar placed the domain in redemption mode rather than allowing the transfer. The Scheme: Domain placed in artificial "redemption" status Client offered option to pay R1,800+ redemption fee to hostile registrar When client refuses, domain eventually drops Domain instantly acquired by major registrar (in milliseconds) Original domain now held for ransom at R61,535.77 What I Witnessed: I was monitoring the domain's WHOIS status and watched it change from "redemption" to "active" - completely skipping "available." This happened so fast it's clearly automated, not coincidental. The Pattern: This isn't isolated. I've seen identical behavior from: Tu***s (hostile during transfer process) KwikWeb/KwikWap (deliberately uncooperative) GoDaddy (now holding domain at premium price) Impact: A legitimate business lost their established domain and now faces paying 4,000x the normal registration fee or starting over with a new domain. Evidence: Screenshots of real-time status changes Documentation of all transfer attempts Records of registrar communications To Other Business Owners: Transfer domains well before expiry Document everything Consider registering backup domains Be aware this practice exists This appears to be a coordinated effort across registrars to monetize domain transfers. The speed and consistency suggest industry-wide systems designed to capture dropping domains. GoDaddy even has a reporting mechanism for domain grabbing complaints, suggesting they're aware of criticism but continue the practice.
0 replies
11 months ago
Be very careful of hosting with KwikWeb aka Kwikwap
Be very very careful when dealing with this company. When you attempt to trans fer away from them they give you an Auth Code to transfer your domain, but they also suspend your domain and then send you this email: Good day, Please see the attached PDF copy of your email, where you requested the EPP Auth code, in order to transfer the domain away from us, and we supp**** same. It was then up to you / your new host to have initiated the transfer. The domain was never transferred away, and has since expired. The domain is now in redemption phase and cannot be transferred. There are two options going forward: We can either renew the domain, and then your new host can initiate the transfer. Or you will need to wait approximately 90 days from the expiry date, for the domain redemption period to end, at which time the domain gets deleted, and your new host would then be able to re-register the domain. The cost for us to renew the domain whilst in the redemption period, is $100 dollars. Please advise should you require us to renew the domain on your behalf, in order for your new host to initiate the transfer. Should you wish to go this route, we will then provide you with the renewal invoice, and renew the domain thereafter. Kind Regards The Kwikweb Team Tel: 021 072 0303 / 012 809 0055 Website: www.kwikweb.co.za Email support: www.emailhelp.co.za Technical support: technical@kwikwap.co.za
0 replies
12 months ago
Beware of Hustlery.co.za ...or be hustled
Our client wanted to move his hosting and domain away from Hustlery.co.za due to poor service and no results. Hustlery.co.za owner Tyrone Williams went ballistic and insulted his client and the new service provider in writing. Tyrone Williams then deleted the client's website and refuse to release his domain for transfer. The client account was paid up for the balance of the month and no fees or subscriptions were outstanding. Tyrone Williams also do not respond on any written communication. Hustlery is a fairly new company and was established on 21 June 2023 with only one director, Tyron Williams. I strongly discourage anyone dealing with this business. Tyron Williams was according to the client very friendly and full of promises when he signed up with Hustlery.co.za, but sadly that was only sales talk. I guess you only find out who you are dealing with once you become a client and want to leave....you get hustled.
116 replies
Review Distribution
5 Star
0 (0%)
4 Star
0 (0%)
3 Star
0 (0%)
2 Star
0 (0%)
1 Star
3 (100%)