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I think [0] is the article in question; just search the page for the namecheap comments. 0. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18059792 https://news.ycombina

I think [0] is the article in question; just search the page for the namecheap comments. 0. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18059792 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18059792

zawerf 8y ago
It seems like it was just a handful of users who posted their story multiple times. The users highclass, ethanwillis, kweks all had multiple comments only about namecheap on a thread that wasn't directly about namecheap. Can I get more horror stories to confirm those are real? It's unfortunate because namecheap used to have the exact opposite reputation: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3396606 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3396606
- toomuchtodo 8y ago
  I've had namecheap for about 5 years, no complaints other than their 2FA requiring their own app for TOTP instead of supporting Authy. Moving to Cloudflare Registrar when it's released.
  - iamshs 8y ago
    Biggest problem with them is the 2FA. I had to let my domains expire with them after I lost my phone and couldn’t login back. I just want to use freeOTP to get my 2FA codes and nothing else.
- jjeaff 8y ago
  I have used them for years and never had a problem. However, they are slowly creeping their prices upward. .com is now a little over $13.00 and they just this year made domain proxy (hiding your contact info on whois) free. I have been moving my stuff to porkbun.com. They are US based and $8.84 for a .com. Cloudflare is an interesting offering, although as of right now, it's not actually launched and it appears that you are required to be routing all your traffic through cloudflare to be able to use their registrar service. I don't know if that is a permanent requirement or just for now though.
  - faster 8y ago
    Yay for porkbun.com! My office is near theirs; nice people, great price. The admin site is pretty bare-bones, but I've never had a problem with it.
  - icebraining 8y ago
    it appears that you are required to be routing all your traffic through cloudflare to be able to use their registrar service. Why do you say this? You can already use their DNS service without routing your traffic through Cloudflare, so it'd be weird that domain registration required that.
- matt_heimer 8y ago
  I switched to namecheap during the godaddy exodus. Multiple times in the last 30 days they have disabled domains due to requiring whois contact verification. In one case the same domain being disabled 3 times in a row. Each time I'm assured it will not happen again and yet it does. And when it happens, not only do they change your DNS servers but they wipe out all your host records if you use their DNS service so you have to either rebuild your zone or stay online with support for hours while they restore everything. I've also had them revert a domain's DNS servers so that is is parked on an "expired" domain landing page before the domain was expired. I have a client that has also had their domain repeatedly switched to whois validation required this year. The only explanation I've been given is that it was a "system glitch" and won't happen again. Seems likely that some of the issues might have been related to them switching from being an Enom reseller to their own direct ICANN accreditation but I'm still planning on migrating my domains out.
- kweks 8y ago
  I was one of the upvoted posters there. TLDR: I was issued couriered C&Ds to a postal and email address only used on Namecheap. The attacking party had no court order, subpoena, judgement, etc. Ted from namecheap asked me to email him. He confirmed legal had received the complaints, but said they hadn't replied. He hasn't replied to my email since (3 days ago) to offer any explanation how the attacking lawyers got details on in NC. YMMV, but it is a real issue, which cost me just under 2k in legal fees to unwind. I am definitely moving away from NC, sadly, after 10 years.
  - ted0 8y ago
    Hey, I just replied to your email. Wasn't ignoring you just wanted to get all of the facts.
  - zawerf 8y ago
    Just curious, where are you going to move to? If someone really wanted to sue you, it's pretty cheap to issue subpoenas (<$100). The provider can quash the subpoena on the customers' behalf[1] but I don't know any who does. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doe_subpoena https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doe_subpoena
    - kweks 8y ago
      I am considering moving to CF. The problem that I just learnt is that essentially any SaaS provider has an AUP that says: If anyone accuses you of IP Infringement, you're gone. In theory, this seems fine - because unless you're a Bad Person, you'd never infringe someone's IP. In our instance, our service providers received a swath of C&Ds electronically, alleging IP infringement. Within 24 hours, our various services providers had disclosed personal information, cut off services, blocked payments.. all based on an unfounded email. The legal system is based on due process. This process should be respected. If my service provider gets a legitimate subpoena, I expect them to react. However, I don't expect them to divulge personal information and cut off services based on an unfounded email. It's really, really nuts how quickly you can lose your business / take down someone else's business..
  - kweks 8y ago

I think [0] is the article in question; just search the page for the namecheap comments. 0. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18059792 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18059792

zawerf 8y ago

It seems like it was just a handful of users who posted their story multiple times. The users highclass, ethanwillis, kweks all had multiple comments only about namecheap on a thread that wasn't directly about namecheap. Can I get more horror stories to confirm those are real? It's unfortunate because namecheap used to have the exact opposite reputation: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3396606 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3396606

toomuchtodo 8y ago
I've had namecheap for about 5 years, no complaints other than their 2FA requiring their own app for TOTP instead of supporting Authy. Moving to Cloudflare Registrar when it's released.
- iamshs 8y ago
  Biggest problem with them is the 2FA. I had to let my domains expire with them after I lost my phone and couldn’t login back. I just want to use freeOTP to get my 2FA codes and nothing else.
jjeaff 8y ago
I have used them for years and never had a problem. However, they are slowly creeping their prices upward. .com is now a little over $13.00 and they just this year made domain proxy (hiding your contact info on whois) free. I have been moving my stuff to porkbun.com. They are US based and $8.84 for a .com. Cloudflare is an interesting offering, although as of right now, it's not actually launched and it appears that you are required to be routing all your traffic through cloudflare to be able to use their registrar service. I don't know if that is a permanent requirement or just for now though.
- faster 8y ago
  Yay for porkbun.com! My office is near theirs; nice people, great price. The admin site is pretty bare-bones, but I've never had a problem with it.
- icebraining 8y ago
  it appears that you are required to be routing all your traffic through cloudflare to be able to use their registrar service. Why do you say this? You can already use their DNS service without routing your traffic through Cloudflare, so it'd be weird that domain registration required that.
matt_heimer 8y ago
I switched to namecheap during the godaddy exodus. Multiple times in the last 30 days they have disabled domains due to requiring whois contact verification. In one case the same domain being disabled 3 times in a row. Each time I'm assured it will not happen again and yet it does. And when it happens, not only do they change your DNS servers but they wipe out all your host records if you use their DNS service so you have to either rebuild your zone or stay online with support for hours while they restore everything. I've also had them revert a domain's DNS servers so that is is parked on an "expired" domain landing page before the domain was expired. I have a client that has also had their domain repeatedly switched to whois validation required this year. The only explanation I've been given is that it was a "system glitch" and won't happen again. Seems likely that some of the issues might have been related to them switching from being an Enom reseller to their own direct ICANN accreditation but I'm still planning on migrating my domains out.
kweks 8y ago
I was one of the upvoted posters there. TLDR: I was issued couriered C&Ds to a postal and email address only used on Namecheap. The attacking party had no court order, subpoena, judgement, etc. Ted from namecheap asked me to email him. He confirmed legal had received the complaints, but said they hadn't replied. He hasn't replied to my email since (3 days ago) to offer any explanation how the attacking lawyers got details on in NC. YMMV, but it is a real issue, which cost me just under 2k in legal fees to unwind. I am definitely moving away from NC, sadly, after 10 years.
- ted0 8y ago
  Hey, I just replied to your email. Wasn't ignoring you just wanted to get all of the facts.
- zawerf 8y ago
  Just curious, where are you going to move to? If someone really wanted to sue you, it's pretty cheap to issue subpoenas (<$100). The provider can quash the subpoena on the customers' behalf[1] but I don't know any who does. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doe_subpoena https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doe_subpoena
  - kweks 8y ago
    I am considering moving to CF. The problem that I just learnt is that essentially any SaaS provider has an AUP that says: If anyone accuses you of IP Infringement, you're gone. In theory, this seems fine - because unless you're a Bad Person, you'd never infringe someone's IP. In our instance, our service providers received a swath of C&Ds electronically, alleging IP infringement. Within 24 hours, our various services providers had disclosed personal information, cut off services, blocked payments.. all based on an unfounded email. The legal system is based on due process. This process should be respected. If my service provider gets a legitimate subpoena, I expect them to react. However, I don't expect them to divulge personal information and cut off services based on an unfounded email. It's really, really nuts how quickly you can lose your business / take down someone else's business..
- kweks 8y ago