Do I Have To Pay Registry?
"I've received a bill in the mail from Registry Australia, do I have to pay it?"
No, if you've received an unexpected and unsolicited bill in the mail from Registry Australia you should not pay it.
Registry Australia is a privately owned (non Government) company that is known for providing business name and domain name renewals.
Business Names #
A business name is a name registered with the Australian Government, specifically the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
It allows you to trade under a different name than your own name. For example if your name is Alex Jones and you wanted to open a business Alex's Mowing then you would need to register the business name with ASIC.
How Much Does It Cost To Renew A Business Name? #
- one year costs $39
- three years costs $92
Your business name can be renewed via the ASIC website https://asic.gov.au/for-business/renewing-your-business-name/
Companies such as Registry Australia charge a higher cost for the renewal which can be easily done through the government website itself.
Domain Names #
A domain name is an online address such as alexmowing.com.au. It gives you the technical ability to create a website and email address.
Registry Australia has been known to send unsolicited letters to new businesses offering to register a domain name.
You do not have to pay any of these letters.
There are many different providers of domain names such as .com.au or .com addresses.
In Australia two popular choices are Crazy Domains and MelbourneIT.
Crazy Domains charges $8.67 for a one year .com.au registration. This is the cheapest no-frills provider, but customer support might be limited.
MelbourneIT was the first .com.au provider, so it's a good stable choice. The prices is $77.99 for a one year .com.au registration.
False Billing #
The ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) has published a guide on false billing scams. See: False Billing.
In the past, the ACCC has also taken legal action against companies sending letters about domain name registration. See: ACCC takes action against domain registration businesses (11 August 2017).