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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I had one of the worst customer support experiences I can remember with Namecheap that also involved private information disclosure. It was immediately after they had launched a "redesign" of their system (actually, a Frankenstein of some pages being new, the majority of the system being ancient).
It seems like they had a bug where in some cases they discarded the WHOIS information provided and used the billing details instead. Not only did they disclose private information, they endangered a white label contract I was working on.
Bugs are understandable, especially after redesign work, but the biggest problem came afterwards – customer support were useless. First they insisted it was user error and I simply hadn't entered the right details (I'm 100% certain that's not true). Then they claimed that they were unable to update the WHOIS information because they were just a reseller, so they had to forward my support request on. They refused to take responsibility and couldn't get anything done.
At this point they were taking weeks to respond to every message, even after promising a response within 24 hours. I even asked them for a response even if it was just "we asked again and no reply" which they agreed to then ignored. They wouldn't provide contact details for support at their supplier, they wouldn't escalate to anybody who could do anything, their whole attitude was to ignore me as much as they could and (presumably; I have no evidence of this) email their supplier once in a while when I annoyed them enough.
Meanwhile I had no explanation to give to my client, for over a month. We gave up on the domain.
Once I stopped chasing, Namecheap never bothered following up. Namecheap could never fix the problem.
Until that point, I had recommended Namecheap many times. Now I warn people away from them. Now I hesitate to recommend any service until I've used their customer support. I still see plenty of glowing recommendations for Namecheap. I wonder how many of them are from people who have never had to use their customer support.
Just had a follow up from Ted.
He says that legal received a complaint but ignored it, and perhaps the leak vector was via historical whois data.
Historical whois data says otherwise. Hard to draw a firm conclusion apart from the facts.
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.
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..
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