Many of our customers have been receiving advertisements, both mailed letters and emails, from the "Domain Registry of America". This Canadian company uses the public whois database to obtain names and addresses of domain name owners. They use the US flag in their logo and invoice style documents to create an illusion of authenticity. Their letters appear to be a domain name renewal form.
The goal of their communcations is to trick you into transfering your domain names away from BendTel. Their communications falsely claim that your domain name is about to expire, or they falsely claim that you requested a domain name renewal from them. If you sign the document and mail it in with a check or credit card number, DROA takes over your domain name registration and begins billing you for it on a yearly basis. Adding "insult to injury", their renewal costs are considerably higher than the costs of buying and renewing your own domain name directly from BendTel.
If you have already responded to their request, you must call them to get your money back. If you have mailed them a check or used your Visa card, request a refund from them. Alternately, you can cancel the transaction through your bank.
If you feel, as we do, that the Domain Registry of America has acted deceptively, you can make your feelings known by writing to the Federal Trade Commission. They have acted against DROA in the past, as detailed below.