I had a lot to learn in a short time so naturally I used the internet search engines looking for information, there is very little useful information available about how to pay for Domain Renewal when you can not contact the service provider.
So I go searching and discover WHOIS, from the information in the file I discover my service provider is a Reseller for a Registrar called Wild West Domains, a quick search and I am in their site sending email on the form provided, time passes and more emails are sent with no replies.
As part of my search I found the ICANN web site, great relief after all they are the number 1 body for assigning the domain names, Accrediting Registrars, making the rules and regulations on how Registrars must behave, surely I was in the right place?
Well no, the site is one of the least friendly for the average person to try to navigate, the majority of the help for the ordinary person appears to recommend engaging Lawyers, Hello ? ? I am in Ireland and rarely see a Lawyer how am I supposed to find an internet law specialist at a moments notice ?
After a long search I did find one email address where as a consumer I may be able to get some help/ advice with renewing my domain names so I send an email and wait watching the clock tick as I had discovered time is running out.
I had discovered my domain names were now opening pages directed to the Go Daddy Web Site, they did advise to renew the domains or make an offer to buy them.
I paid for Go Daddy to transfer my Domains into an account with them, I contacted Go Daddy Support explaining they had my domains for sale and I wanted to renew them their answers amounted to there is nothing we can do your problem is with a Wild West Domains Reseller.
The Gentleman from ICANN contacted me and undertook to contact the Registrar on my behalf as he had direct contacts within the group, transpired Wild West Domains is part of the Go Daddy Group and they are the department who look after the Reseller accounts.
The ICANN representative did manage to get Wild West Domains to reply, trying to get usefull information from them was impossible of course I did not know they had a hidden agenda, it is called the in house Auction System.
What many of us may never know is a Reseller is Not Answerable to ICANN, the Registrar who appoints the Reseller / Agent is also NOT RESPONSIBLE for the actions of the very person or company they allow to work under their ICANN Accreditation.
So by using the services of a Reseller we consumers give up any of the very few rights we have under ICANN rules, In Fact it can be in the Registrars interests to have us deal with Resellers.
Never Expect ICANN to actually provide any real help, the process under which the domains were stolen was overseen by the ICANN representative who was supposed to be helping me, which begs the question is there a conflict of interest that allows the Registrar to hinder rather than help the consumer even when ICANN is watching?
