Is It An Invoice? No. It's A Solicitation!

I recently received a very official looking document that required I fill out the form and send back both the form and my corporation's annual minutes, along with a $95.00 check to cover the processing fee.

Now, it isn't unusual to receive forms from governmental agencies in the mail. In fact, every two years, the state sends me one with a request for money to renew my Assumed Business Name. But my business isn't incorporated!

To make a long story short, what I received was a solicitation cleverly disguised as official state business.

That made me think about the two "invoices" I received yesterday to renew two of my registered domain names. Both of these domain names will expire in November.

But wait! It's only May! Those names are good for another six months. What's going on here, people?

OK, so much for the Ty Pennington impersonation, (complete with megaphone.)

I recognized the company from the patriotic American flag behind the return address. I've been aware of them for several years. They send out these mailings in advance of the official renewal you will receive from your registrar.

Apparently they have some competition doing the same thing, as they use to send these things out about three months before the name expired. If you actually read the mailing, you will see they are asking you to switch to their service.

It is amazing how many busy people just glance at it, see another bill, pay it and forget about it.

I hope you won't be one of them.