Subpoena Chat Records

[16bwhitt]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois, but GoDaddy is in Arizona

To make long story short, GoDaddy charged me $1,600 for a premium domain name I never authorized to purchase, but they are saying I authorized to purchase it over a chat session. I know I did no such thing, and they have no returns on this product. I want proof of the chat session that they are saying I requested and authorized this product purchase, but they are saying i must subpoena it. We tried to simply ask for the chat, but they sent me a link to file a subpoena with their Legal team.

Do they have the legal authority to restrict me from seeing a chat log I was involved in on my account? It is not as if I am asking to see another users information, but my own information.

Thank you.

 

[quincy]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Illinois, but GoDaddy is in Arizona

To make long story short, GoDaddy charged me $1,600 for a premium domain name I never authorized to purchase, but they are saying I authorized to purchase it over a chat session. I know I did no such thing, and they have no returns on this product. I want proof of the chat session that they are saying I requested and authorized this product purchase, but they are saying i must subpoena it. We tried to simply ask for the chat, but they sent me a link to file a subpoena with their Legal team.

Do they have the legal authority to restrict me from seeing a chat log I was involved in on my account? It is not as if I am asking to see another users information, but my own information.

Thank you.

GoDaddy does not have to provide you with a chat log absent a subpoena ordering its production. GoDaddy gave you a link on how to do this through their legal team.

 

[16bwhitt]

GoDaddy does not have to provide you with a chat log absent a subpoena ordering its production. GoDaddy gave you a link on how to do this through their legal team.

I understand, but why not? It is my chat, with my name, and my words. I see no reason why they can not provide me the records other then being a pain. If they have nothing to hide, per say, then why not simply show me the record I am wrong?

 

[Zigner]

I understand, but why not? It is my chat, with my name, and my words. I see no reason why they can not provide me the records other then being a pain. If they have nothing to hide, per say, then why not simply show me the record I am wrong?

Because it is there policy to not release their property (the chat session transcripts) without a subpoena.

 

[16bwhitt]

Because it is there policy to not release their property (the chat session transcripts) without a subpoena.

Even if this policy is not in writing for releasing chat logs?

Their legal page states "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

We are giving express permission....

 

[Zigner]

Even if this policy is not in writing for releasing chat logs?

Their legal page states "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

We are giving express permission....

By claiming to not be a customer, you're forcing them to respond in the way they did. If you claim that you are a customer, that would mean that you approved the purchase.

Kind of a catch-22 there, so GoDaddy is playing it safe.

Now, to reiterate what you've been told. Have the subpoena issued if you want the chat logs.

 

[quincy]

Even if this policy is not in writing for releasing chat logs?

Their legal page states "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

We are giving express permission....

Did you stop payment on the domain name charge or ask for a refund?

In the GoDaddy Legal Agreement, it outlines what you need to do for disputes and GoDaddy has already told you what you need to do in order to get the chat session. You were not the only one involved in the chat session, right? That is why it is necessary to subpoena the records. It is not only your account information that is being requested.

 

[16bwhitt]

Did you stop payment on the domain name charge or ask for a refund?

In the GoDaddy Legal Agreement, it outlines what you need to do for disputes and GoDaddy has already told you what you need to do in order to get the chat session. You were not the only one involved in the chat session, right? That is why it is necessary to subpoena the records. It is not only your account information that is being requested.

GoDaddy provides no refunds on those domain names. It was myself and the chat agent, employed by GoDaddy involved in the chat.

Also, did you see the quote above about their legal page states? "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

From my understanding, I am the customer asking to release account permission.

 

[Zigner]

GoDaddy provides no refunds on those domain names. It was myself and the chat agent, employed by GoDaddy involved in the chat.

Also, did you see the quote above about their legal page states? "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

From my understanding, I am the customer asking to release account permission.

Get the subpoena, or don't. Your choice. There's really nothing else we can say.

 

[CdwJava]

GoDaddy provides no refunds on those domain names. It was myself and the chat agent, employed by GoDaddy involved in the chat.

Also, did you see the quote above about their legal page states? "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

From my understanding, I am the customer asking to release account permission.

As was explained, YOUR argument is that you ae NOT a customer because you never authorized the purchase. If that is the case, then your express permission is moot.

If you ARE a customer, then you could be seen as admitting that you made the purchase.

In any event, GoDaddy is refusing to release the info absent a subpoena. No amount of whining will change that fact. So, if you want the chat log, make your claim and file a court case (Small Claims?) and seek the subpoena.

 

[quincy]

GoDaddy provides no refunds on those domain names. It was myself and the chat agent, employed by GoDaddy involved in the chat.

Also, did you see the quote above about their legal page states? "GoDaddy's Privacy Policy prohibits the release of customer or account information without express permission from the customer, except when required by law, to conform to the edicts of the law, or to comply with legal process properly served on GoDaddy or one of its affiliates."

From my understanding, I am the customer asking to release account permission.

I think you need to read the entire legal agreement. It appears you are picking and choosing parts of it and these parts do not reflect the whole.

Here is a link: https://www.godaddy.com/agreements/showdoc.aspx?pageid=CIVIL_SUBPOENA

You cannot force GoDaddy to release the chat session absent the subpoena. GoDaddy made that clear to you.

I agree with the others that you appear to have no other option than to seek a subpoena (although, if this "chat session" was an email exchange, even a subpoena may not be enough to compel production).

 

[16bwhitt]

I think you need to read the entire legal agreement. It appears you are picking and choosing parts of it and these parts do not reflect the whole.

Here is a link: https://www.godaddy.com/agreements/showdoc.aspx?pageid=CIVIL_SUBPOENA

You cannot force GoDaddy to release the chat session absent the subpoena. GoDaddy made that clear to you.

I agree with the others that you appear to have no other option than to seek a subpoena (although, if this "chat session" was an email exchange, even a subpoena may not be enough to compel production).

I suppose I will seek a subpoena then. The chat session was in fact a chat session, not email.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[CdwJava]

Keep in mind that in order to seek a subpoena, you must first initiate a court action. So, you'll have to file suit against GoDaddy.

 

[quincy]

I suppose I will seek a subpoena then. The chat session was in fact a chat session, not email.

Thanks for the help everyone.

If you DO have a GoDaddy account (just one that, according to you, shouldn't include the $1600 premium domain name), you should be able to get THAT information without a subpoena. It is the chat session that appears to be problematic.

We all appreciate the thanks, 16bwhitt.

Good luck.