ccTLDs.com » Country Code Specific Forums » .ch Forums

[Alfredo]

SWITCH, the official registry for internet addresses in Switzerland and Liechtenstein wishes to warn you against bogus offers for domain names.

Anyone receiving an offer of a domain name by phone or e-mail should be on their guard. SWITCH's customer service has been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from worried customers. They have received phone calls or e-mails with offers to register one or more domain names for them – generally at an inflated price.

For example: a customer has already registered the company.ch domain name. Someone then contacts that customer, misrepresenting the facts and offering to register similar names, such as company-ltd.ch, for them, saying that they must register the name(s) straightaway. The customer is put under pressure and has to take a swift decision.

Caution: unfair advertising
SWITCH regards aggressive methods such as these as unfair advertising. Anyone who feels that they have been a victim of unfair advertising can lodge a complaint with the Swiss advertising standards committee (Lauterkeitskommission) at www.lauterkeit.ch.

Rapid, simple and inexpensive registration
Anyone wishing to register a domain name can do this either directly with SWITCH, or via an Internet Service Provider, or through one of SWITCH's registered partners.

Registering a domain name with SWITCH costs CHF 17 per year.

http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2009...-angebote.html

[longhorn]

Originally Posted by Alfredo

SWITCH, the official registry for internet addresses in Switzerland and Liechtenstein wishes to warn you against bogus offers for domain names.

Anyone receiving an offer of a domain name by phone or e-mail should be on their guard. SWITCH's customer service has been receiving an increasing number of enquiries from worried customers. They have received phone calls or e-mails with offers to register one or more domain names for them – generally at an inflated price.

For example: a customer has already registered the company.ch domain name. Someone then contacts that customer, misrepresenting the facts and offering to register similar names, such as company-ltd.ch, for them, saying that they must register the name(s) straightaway. The customer is put under pressure and has to take a swift decision.

Caution: unfair advertising
SWITCH regards aggressive methods such as these as unfair advertising. Anyone who feels that they have been a victim of unfair advertising can lodge a complaint with the Swiss advertising standards committee (Lauterkeitskommission) at www.lauterkeit.ch.

Rapid, simple and inexpensive registration
Anyone wishing to register a domain name can do this either directly with SWITCH, or via an Internet Service Provider, or through one of SWITCH's registered partners.

Registering a domain name with SWITCH costs CHF 17 per year.

http://www.switch.ch/about/news/2009...-angebote.html

Yeah I thought this was going to be about aftermarket scams. I still get the odd fake appraisal email.

[DomainInvesting]

I'm also still getting plenty of fake appraisal emails. It's amazing that the fake appraisal sites still continue to operate - seems like there is no way to shut-down an illegitimate business online. Very frustrating...

[Viator]

And unless people have a specific reason to register a .ch domain name through another registrar, I would advise them just to register with Switch. It works well and it is safe.

The only problem is that it is until now only possible to register for one year. For domain names one intends to keep for a long time, it would be nice to be able to register for a longer period.

On the other hand, this probably allows to keep the customers' list quite up to date.

[DomainInvesting]

Really - so the only option right-now is for 1-year registrations? Is there any guarantee that they will let you renew at the end of the year or can they take your domain when they see fit?

[longhorn]

Originally Posted by DomainInvesting

Really - so the only option right-now is for 1-year registrations? Is there any guarantee that they will let you renew at the end of the year or can they take your domain when they see fit?

If you register your domain at Switch, it renews automatically I believe unless you tell them to delete the name either:

1) today (whenever you are making your request)

2) at expiration

If you do not tell them you wish to delete your domain then you will be charged for its renewal. I made the mistake of not knowing about this and was charged by them for domains I really didn't want to renew.

[longhorn]

Originally Posted by Viator

And unless people have a specific reason to register a .ch domain name through another registrar, I would advise them just to register with Switch. It works well and it is safe.

Yeah the only reason you wouldn't is if a reputable registrar could offer you a better price.

[Viator]

The name does not renew automatically, at least not at this point. Well in advance, you get a renewal reminder. You need to renew manually, but you can do it for a number of names at the same time.

Regarding names being taken away from customers, never heard about something like that! Do not forget that Switch is not just a registrar, but the registry. Very reliable. And I doubt that other registrars can offer fees below their price - many registrars ask for much more money for .ch names, other ones approximately the same amount - so better to go to Switch directly, unless you consolidate all your names with a single registrar offering reasonable prices.

Once again: never heard any horror story about Switch! If anybody has one, please share it with us, but I do not expect many such reports.

[NeazMH]

Very frustrating indeed.

[Raihan]

Originally Posted by DomainInvesting

I'm also still getting plenty of fake appraisal emails. It's amazing that the fake appraisal sites still continue to operate - seems like there is no way to shut-down an illegitimate business online. Very frustrating...

Fake appraisals emals are very old story. Surely, a group is taking advantage of it. Sometiemes, they may contain harmful scripting that steals browser details (cross site scripting). So, its best not to open those emails at all.