Nominet has named and shamed one of its members for using the domain registry organisation as part of its controversial selling tactics.

For the first time Nominet has openly critised Domain Registrar Services (DRS), following a flood of complaints about the way the company sells domain names.

Domain name reseller DRS has been telling companies that "mystery shoppers" are trying to buy domain names associated with them, and that Nominet has advised it to warn them of this.

It has also told companies they can only register names through DRS.

After vnunet.com alerted Nominet, which maintains the database of .uk registered internet names, to the allegations, the registry posted a warning on its website about the company's selling tactics.

The warning says: "Nominet would like to make it clear that we in no way endorse the business practices or sales tactics of this company. We are very concerned that some people have been confused or troubled by the wording and tone of correspondence used by this company.

"Domain Registrar Services is a member of Nominet UK, but is not permitted to act on our behalf in any way. We do not own, control or operate in partnership with the [above] company, it is not part of Nominet UK, we do not authorise it to do anything, and we never request it to contact anyone in relation to the registration of any domain name."

Nominet managing director Lesley Cowley said: "This is the very first time that we have named a company and the reason is that they have been alleged to have been using Nominet's name in part of their selling spiel. Because of this we are exploring what other actions we can take and if we have any legal recourse."

Ken Sorrie, a director of web-hosting company Internetters, said: "It is encouraging that at last there seems to be some activity. Nevertheless, this is only a first step. The domain name registration industry needs to adopt a code of practice that gives confidence to the public."

DRS company manager David Hayes told vnunet.com that he had not seen the posting on Nominet's site, but would make no other comment before this article went to press.