Internet

Domain Registry of America Scam

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Domain Registry of America LogoIf you’ve ever registered a domain name chances are you’ve received a ‘renewal’ notice from the Domain Registry of America. You’ll recognise their renewal notices straight away as they have the Stars and Stripes in the corner to show you how legit they are.

Makes you want to salute doesn’t it?

The trouble is I never registered with these guys, and my betting is neither have you. This ‘renewal’ letter isn’t a renewal at all, it’s a scam. They send out these scam letters en mass to domain registrants hoping they’ll fall for the scam and actually transfer the domains to the DROA. That’s the thing you see, it’s a notice of transfer!

Domain Registry of America LogoIf you fill this in you’ll be giving them control of your domain name and the license to charge you what they like. Because the letter actually says on it that it’s not a renewal it manages to get around little legal issues, but rest assured it is a 100% scam.

When I worked at Meridian Design I had countless clients phone up asking why they’d received expiry notices for their domain names when we were supposed to be handling it. It’s because of these jokers.

If you’ve received one of these things, sling it. Do not fill the form out and reply to it.

I just received one for the domain name mrdaz.com, the dozy cheeky arsed bastards. Not everyone is as stupid to sign over their domains to some scam merchant just because they put a US flag on the letter.

If you do a Google search on the Domain Registry of America you’ll find more information on their underhand, thieving practises.

Affiliate Marketing, Google, Movies

Earn money with YouTube

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As I have several videos on YouTube that have received several thousand views each, and as I have a degree in Film I was quite interested to hear that YouTube now offers a partner program that allows you to earn revenue from the videos you make and upload.

This is great, I can earn money for my fonejacker style videos and any old spoofs I’ve made.

My excitement was tempered slightly however when I read the terms. They are as follows:

  1. You create original videos suitable for online streaming.
    No problem, all of my videos are original and they’ve been streamed on YouTube and Google video for some time now.
  2. You own the copyrights and distribution rights for all audio and video content that you upload — no exceptions.
    Yeah, all of my videos are original. This is all sounding good so far.
  3. You regularly upload videos that are viewed by thousands of YouTube users.
    Again no problem. I’ve had videos with tens of thousands of views each.
  4. You live in the United States or Canada.
    You fuckers. Why restrict this to US and Canadian residents? My videos are watched by people all over the world, where I live is irrelevant.

So you see, once again a great opportunity to make money online is denied the UK public because we’re not Americans. Wake up Google and realise that people live outside of the USA.

Stolen Car

Electric gates close on my car

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Anyone that accuses me of being lucky really has no idea. After getting my BMW back, taking 17 months, the bloody electric gates where I live shut on the fucker this morning.

As I drove towards them they started to shut, usually when this happens the sensors realise there’s something in the way and they stop, and reopen. Not this time. They bloody closed on my car, forcing me to reverse back out with the gate trying to take the front of my car off.

I’ve been here since March now, driving the Celica and a courtesy car and this has never happened. 2 days driving the Z3 and the sodding gates try to crush it.

I swear the car is cursed. Hopefully a bit of T-cut will sort it out, but there’s a very noticeable mark on the driver’s side front wheel arch right now. Great way to start the day!

Royal & SunAlliance, Stolen Car

RSA still have work to do

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Today I sold my Celica, which was a big leap of faith because it means I’m having to use the Z3 which hasn’t been fully fixed. For some reason when BMW repaired the bodywork they neglected to fix the door. Why? Guess they missed it.

I’ve told RSA and they said to get it quoted on and they’d pay for it. Fine.

However today, after selling the Celica, I tried to drive the BMW. Not a frickin’ jot from it. Flat, dead, lifeless.

I called the AA and they looked at the car, performed a test on the battery and found it was leaking power. Seems the battery was completely useless and needed replacing. Also, the connections were loose which showed it had been jump started recently. By BMW perhaps to get it on the flatbed?

So I’ve just spent a further £80 on a new battery with the AA, which of course had this car been fixed in July 2006 when it was RSA’s responsibility to do so I wouldn’t have needed to. Being sat idle for 17 months takes its toll.

Guess I need to phone RSA again on Monday and get them to pay for this as well.

I hope this is the last of it, I really do.

Direct Line Insurance, Royal & SunAlliance, Stolen Car

My car has been fixed!

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I arrived home today at 6:05pm to be greeted with the sight I never thought I’d see. My BMW Z3 sat on a flat bed outside my house. It has now, after 17 months, been fixed.

I’m in too much shock to post up a full review of my emotions and feelings towards all of this, and how it has affected me over the last year and a half. I’ll give a detailed summary tomorrow.

But for now, my car, my pride and joy, has been returned to me.

I need a drink.

Affiliate Marketing, Google, Movies

Adsense Video Contest Winner Announced

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Google have posted up the winner of their Adsense video contest, and it’s not me 🙁

Still, this video is good, fair play. Plus they said they’d post some of the interesting ones over the coming weeks, so you never know. If you can’t remember my entry, it can be viewed here.

The winning video is from Don Vandervort from Hometips.com.

You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this YouTube video

Royal & SunAlliance, Stolen Car

Pay to get my BMW radio Keycode? Not bloody likely!

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I had a message left on my phone this morning from Dan at BMW Bluebell. He said they’d managed to get the locks to recognise my car at last, but if I want the radio to be unlocked I have to pay £10.

£10???

Naturally I left a message with RSA immediately stating that I’d had a call from BMW and they seem to be under the misguided impression that I’m going to pay the £10 to get my radio keycode sorted, and for RSA to have a word with them.

Incredibly they did, very quickly. Seems RSA can move fast when they want to. The fact they’re paying for a courtesy car and time is very much money could have something to do with it!

As it stands now my car is ready to be quality checked and road tested so I might get it back this week. I will of course keep everyone posted on this epic saga.

Direct Line Insurance, Stolen Car

My compensation from Direct Line

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I received this cheque for £200 from Direct Line in August, but until now hadn’t cashed it. I was resentful of their insulting offer and had stuffed the cheque away somewhere, refusing to look at it.

I’ve decided now not only to cash it, but to parade it around like some trophy. I will still be pursuing Direct Line for more as £200 barely covers one month’s payment on the car they caused me to store for over a year through their error. I want a lot more than this, but I figured I’d cash it anyway.

This does after all prove they’ve admitted fault, plus their admission of fault in the letter… that helped too!

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So much anger, so little time