WHOIS issues & Hosting Providers Ombudsman?

ironflower

Hello all,

I'm having a bit of trouble with my website hosting provider.
Originally I bought the domain and hosting in 2006. I opted out of displaying my details on the WHOIS directory, but noticed yesterday it had been updated with my details again (I have since found out the company has changed hands, and it's looking like they've updated it).

long and the short is that they're now trying to charge me to keep info like my mobile number, landline and home address private.
I know legally they need up-to-date info, but the guy I'm dealing with is being pretty obnoxious, furthermore he's now added the invoice without my say-so. In fact, I specifically stated I won't pay this 'new' fee, it's not advertised anywhere on the site or in the terms.

Q's:
- do they have to honour my original agreement with the previous company owner and make my WHOIS private without charge?
- is there an ombudsman (like Nominet) for hosting providers?

My domain is a .net, and I've had it for over 4 years. No problems til this little upstart.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

robt_2

I think it is unlikely that you had whois privacy for 'life' - it is normally renewed each year (much like a domain itself). Have you got anything that says otherwise - for example an email receipt from when you purchased it?

Some more thoughts:

You need a full domain whois privacy service for a .net - if they were hiding it themselves that is against the rules and I'm not surprised the new company won't do it. You can't 'opt out' like you can with .uk domain names.