Tell HN: Godaddy canceled my domain, gave me 2h to respond, then charged €150

Article summary

The author's domain was canceled by GoDaddy due to an alleged issue with payment data, with only a 2-hour window to respond. The author was charged €150 to recover the domain. The cancellation email was sent to the author's spam folder, and the author claims there were no other notifications. The author paid the fee to recover the domain, but is now considering transferring to a different registrar.

Main themes

• Domain registration
• GoDaddy service issues
• Registrar alternatives
• Geopolitical risks
• Domain management costs
• Registrar reliability

What commenters say

• Some commenters recommend transferring domains away from GoDaddy due to poor service and unexpected fees.
• Alternative registrars such as Namecheap, Gandi, and Cloudflare are suggested as better options.
• The reliability and trustworthiness of registrars are crucial, especially in light of geopolitical events.
• Some users have had positive experiences with certain registrars, while others have had negative ones.
• The cost of domain registration can be a significant factor, with some registrars being more expensive than others.
• The importance of having a reliable and trustworthy registrar is emphasized, particularly for those with multiple domains or critical online presence.
• Some commenters disagree on the quality of service provided by certain registrars, with some having positive and others having negative experiences.