Short Version:
How do I transfer a .tv domain from one registrar (enom.tv) to another (godaddy.com) when the current registrar considers this a "Premium" domain and won't generate a transfer authorization (EPP) code? (The Premium status was determined after the domain had already been in use.)
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Long Rant Version:
I came in possession of a .tv domain by way of company acquisition, and we use it for streaming video. It was purchased at or around the going rate ($10-20 US), but last week our site suddenly stopped working. The Execs quickly paid the extortionate $750 renewal fee to enom.tv, and once the DNS dust settled, we were back in business. The contact email address is a distibution list, and nary a notice had been received. New priority: transfer registrar.
I've verified that GoDaddy can in fact register .tv domains, which is where most of our domains are registered. So I opened up the domain for transfer within enom's tools, and attempted to run the transfer from within the GoDaddy console. A call to GoDaddy's tech support informed me of a need to get some Authorization Key, so I clicked the appropriate button within the elom tools. And waited. And waited...
Today I called the customer support number and after about 15 minutes was told basically that they are the only authorized registrar for certain .tv domains deterimed to be "premium names", and for them, the higher rate applies.
To summarize: "Eat it and Pay Up."
I have found that nbc.tv is registered through GoDaddy. I find it hard to believe that they are not a "Premium Name"...
The enom rep also claimed that expiration notices had been sent, but nobody on the contact distribution list received anything. (I had, of course, tested that it works previously.) He responded and said that they must have been put on a spammer list, but we're receiving their trouble ticket notices. (Lies, and Lies.)
This screams of shady. Does anybody have any ideas of how to forcibly transfer our domain against our current registrar's wishes? Or failing that, is there any recourse?