Something fishy going on here...

A while back my jono1.net domain expired. However I didn't realise because I hadn't been there in ages, and the people I registered the domain with (www.bottledomains.com.au) never sent me any emails warning me of this. And even when I did find out about it, I couldn't get on to the website to renew it for ages because their lost password retrieval facility wasn't sending me any emails either.

To cut a long story short, I later figured out the password and renewed the domain name, however I just got this in my email:

You recently tried to renew the domain name jono1.net, the domain unfortunately however was in redemption. This means it is past 30 days of expiry. To remove the domain name from this status a fee of $140 must be paid to the Registry through us. We have refunded payment of the renewal and removed the invoices from your account. If you would like to activate this domain please contact me either by replying to this email or by phone on 1300 88 74 74. Please contact me if you have any further enquiries.

Forgetting for a moment that it was beyond my control that the domain went into 'redemption' (whatever that means), I think $140 seems a bit much just to get it back. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, because I'm smelling a scam.

Here is a small article about redemption period

http://www.sitepoint.com/print/period-farce-exposed

Looks like it isn't uncommon to be charged that much money to have your name returned from the redemption period. In his customers case it was $200. The article is 3 years old though so maybe the price of redemption has decreased

Wow. I was never aware of this.

I guess my real question is, since it was their system that screwed up and never sent me any emails...at all....until today, can I make them pay the fee?

Have you tried simply confronting it to them?

That's why I'm asking - I'm trying to decide whether or not to do just that.

Call them up on that number and don't lose it. Stay cool and explain your problem. Tell them it was their fault and they tried to take advantage of you and if the domain isn't removed you will take action. (lol) That's why you should use a well known registrar like godaddy, namescheap or hostway(mine) Good luck

I don't think there is anything you can do. Check their TOS and see if it's a requirement to send you emails about the status of your domain.

Damnit, good point Joe - this was in their TOS

3. Renewal of registration We will email you a renewal notice thirty (30) days before the domain name registration term expires to the email address provided by you. You can renew the registration for another term of between one (1) to ten (10) years and there is no limit in the number of consecutive renewals you can make. Renewal of registration is subject to payment of the relevant fee at the time of renewal. Failure to renew your registration results in the suspension of the domain name and its release for use by others. Although every effort is made to ensure that you receive your email renewal notice, this is a courtesy reminder notice only and does not confer liability upon Bottle Domains Inc. for the cost of renewing your domain name or any other costs or damages if you fail to receive your email renewal notice.

And as unfair as it is, I guess I did agree to that.

ps happy 1000th post to me

3. Renewal of registration
We will email you a renewal notice thirty (30) days before the domain name registration term expires to the email address provided by you.

They did not do that, therefore you should not pay the fees