Another misleading email

I got this email from 1and1.com that makes it seem like I have completed the cancellation process. The problem is that I know from talking to there tech support folks that I still have to sign and fax 50 forms before they will cancel my account. This sounds hard to believe but it's true.

Note that this email is very careful not to say when the domain registrations will be canceled. They make this hard to understand when you initiate the cancellation on their website. My goal is to avoid being charged by them again.

We have received your cancellation request and confirm that the requested
cancellation action with the above listed reference number will be carried
out as of the date which you chose in the online cancellation tool.

IMPORTANT NOTES:
* Your package will remain active UNTIL the date selected when you made
the cancellation request.
* Only the domains you selected will be cancelled.

The current status of your cancellation order can be checked under the
menu item 'Cancel/Restore Status' found in the left navigation bar at
https://cancel.1and1.com. Detailed information about the cancellation
process can be found there as well.
Also, it's important to note that when I go the cancel.1and1.com website it says that my cancellation request is "unconfirmed".

More people with bad 1and1.com experiences

I'm not alone:

http://dancameron.org/general/929
http://www.obharath.net/blog/2006/03/07/1and1-scams/
http://www.wasitfree.com/

The first misleading email

This is the first email they sent me.  This email leads one to believe that all you have to do is click on the link to cancel your domains.  They don't mention that you also need to fill out paperwork and fax it in.  I can't believe they say "as a final step...you will need to visit the following URL."  This just isn't true!  They will still keep charging you!
We have received a cancellation request regarding your 1&1 package (with
the abovementioned contract ID) through the 1&1 online cancellation tool.

As a final step to complete the process and activate your cancellation
request, you will need to visit the following URL

http://cancel.1and1.com/cancel/confirm.php3?j=23jkj23jlk2j3

to proceed with the cancellation of your package.

Please note: If you do not activate your cancellation request within the
next 7 days, your request will be removed from our system and all
components of your contract will remain active.

If you wish to undo or check the status of this cancellation request,
please log  in to the 1&1 cancellation tool with your 1&1 customer details
and then click on 'Status/Undo' in the left navigation bar and locate the
package by its contract ID. To undo your request, click 'Undo
cancellation'.


Sincerely,

Your 1&1 Internet Team
www.1and1.com

First Phone Call

I called their 800 number to ask about canceling my domains. I got a guy in the Philippines who didn't know how to help me. He told me I needed to follow all the instructions in the email. Unfortunately, there were no instructions in the email. He told me if I was frustrated with the cancellation process I should send an email to them requesting a feature upgrade.

I'm going to sign all 50 forms and hope for the best.

In the beginning...

I registered about 50 domains with 1and1.com and canceling them so they would stop billing me was a huge hassle.

This is the first thing I saw the scared me:

In addition, because we require the domain owners' signatures for the selected domains, we have prepared a separate letter for each one of the domains. Below is a list with links to the required form letters. Please access and print out each form letter. The letter must then be completed and sent by fax to the number indicated on the form.

Please note: Your cancellation will not be completed until you have activated your request by accessing this website link to confirm the cancellation request AND the cancellation will only be valid when all of the forms referring to this cancellation order have been received.

This means I have to print out 50 forms, sign them all and fax them!!!

Next time I'm using GoDaddy.com for sure.