British Domain Registrar Offers 'No Transfer Fees,' Charges Transfer Fee

First time accepted submitter RealSurreal (620564) writes "British web host 123-reg, which previously advertised 'no hidden transfer fees' has angered customers by introducing a £12 fee per domain for transfers out. Best of all, they didn't bother to tell anyone they were doing it relying instead on terms and conditions which say : '123-reg reserves the right to change, add, subtract or in way alter these Conditions without the prior consent of the Client.'"

Re:Typical corporation bullshit

[hankwang]

I believe that in the EU, consumers have a legal right to terminate a contract without additional costs, within 1 month if being informed of a change in the terms.

Just refuse to pay the fee.

[mysidia]

It wasn't agreed to... so just transfer your domains out and refuse to pay.

A registrar cannot decline to transfer your domain due to refusal to pay or due to a dispute [icann.org] over payment.

The Registrar of Record must not refuse to release an "AuthInfo Code" to the Registered Name Holder solely because there is a dispute between the Registered Name Holder and the Registrar over payment. ....

Instances when the requested change of Registrar may not be denied include, but are not limited to: Nonpayment for a pending or future registration period
....

General payment defaults between Registrar and business partners / affiliates in cases where the Registered Name Holder for the domain in question has paid for the registration.

...

The Registrar of Record has other mechanisms available to collect payment from the Registered Name Holder that are independent from the Transfer process. Hence, in the event of a dispute over payment, the Registrar of Record must not employ transfer processes as a mechanism to secure payment for services from a Registered Name Holder.