Frequently Asked Question
Why does GEN Require Paperwork for Domain Transfers
Last Updated 8 years ago
The Domain Registration System through which all domains are registered and processed has several serious flaws in it, and you hear regularly about domain theft and the massive fallout from such. If you think about it, one a domain has been siezed by another entity, then that entity has access to email on that domain through which they can further escalate the theft through password resets on other domains or services owed by the original owner.
The only reason the system isn't better is sheer volume of domain transactions. The entire system relies solely on email addresses to verify registrations, transfers, and so on, and we all know how easy it is to spoof an email address, or better still convince a registrar that your email account is not accepting their emails and to use another, or even to poison DNS caches to intercept messages.
GEN is different because we understand that we have a duty of care to our customers and their intellectual and commercial properties and leases. Over the last 20 years we've worked to improve the process so that at no point there is ever any doubt about a domain related transaction and that all transactions are completed correctly and to process. This is one of the few processes that still requires bits of paper to be exchanged, but in this case we do need it.
Once the Paperwork is completed satisfactorily we will then contact both parties in any transaction by telephone using the numbers we have on file (not any information on the form) and verify personally with the parties that the transaction is agreed. If for whatever reason both parties have not signed the paperwork, then we'll forward more paperwork for signatures to ensure compliance. In the last decade we've been taking security questions from applicants and these will be used to verify if available.
When all the paperwork is in place, and calls have been made and indentities verified then we'll action the transaction. Whilst some may feel this is excessive, I suspect those who have in the past been victims of domain theft would disagree. We work to strike a balance between process and ease of use and we belive we've got it about right. If you disagree please feel free to comment and let us know.
The only reason the system isn't better is sheer volume of domain transactions. The entire system relies solely on email addresses to verify registrations, transfers, and so on, and we all know how easy it is to spoof an email address, or better still convince a registrar that your email account is not accepting their emails and to use another, or even to poison DNS caches to intercept messages.
GEN is different because we understand that we have a duty of care to our customers and their intellectual and commercial properties and leases. Over the last 20 years we've worked to improve the process so that at no point there is ever any doubt about a domain related transaction and that all transactions are completed correctly and to process. This is one of the few processes that still requires bits of paper to be exchanged, but in this case we do need it.
Once the Paperwork is completed satisfactorily we will then contact both parties in any transaction by telephone using the numbers we have on file (not any information on the form) and verify personally with the parties that the transaction is agreed. If for whatever reason both parties have not signed the paperwork, then we'll forward more paperwork for signatures to ensure compliance. In the last decade we've been taking security questions from applicants and these will be used to verify if available.
When all the paperwork is in place, and calls have been made and indentities verified then we'll action the transaction. Whilst some may feel this is excessive, I suspect those who have in the past been victims of domain theft would disagree. We work to strike a balance between process and ease of use and we belive we've got it about right. If you disagree please feel free to comment and let us know.