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Pre-Selling Domain Names?
Allnighterking asks: "Within the last 24 hours I've been the unwitting victim of a new practice by any number of domain registrars. The concept of pre-selling domain names before they expire. Go to any of the more popular domain registrars and start searching for domain names. You will find dozens of them for sale -with the date they will expire clearly listed-. In my case yes, I was negligent in not renewing. I also did not receive notice that it was to expire either. The day after it expired (or more like 8 hours after). I found out that I was no longer the owner of a domain I've owned for over 3 years, that this domain is now the 'property' of a domain squatter selling google adds on my hard earned search engine status. What can be done? Do we have any recourse?"
"Perhaps this is just another case of ICANN , you can't.
Apparently, the sale of expired domains is big business. See this google search for more. It leaves one to wonder what would have happened a few years ago when Hotmail expired. Would Microsoft have been stuck? Or would they be doing what I've been asked to do: pony up 20k to get my domain back!"
Apparently, the sale of expired domains is big business. See this google search for more. It leaves one to wonder what would have happened a few years ago when Hotmail expired. Would Microsoft have been stuck? Or would they be doing what I've been asked to do: pony up 20k to get my domain back!"
found out that I was no longer the owner of a domain I've owned for over 3 years, that this domain is now the 'property' of a domain squatter selling google adds on my hard earned search engine status.
Not that this is going to make you feel any better, or help out in any way, but you never *owned* the domain name in the first place. IMO that's one of the major problems with the way the registry is set up in the first place.
If you own a trademark to the name you may (and I stress may) be able to get it back, or at least keep others from using the name (take it to arbitration???) but, from the sound of it, you're probably SOL.
Unfortunately, there isn't a lot that can be done about this. Most domain registrars no longer send out notices when your domain is about to expire. To make things worse, if your information (contact info, etc) in the registrars database is incorrect they may cancel your domain within 15 days if you don't respond to their notice. I've read that ICANN started requiring registrars to contact customers yearly regarding domain status, but this doesn't seem to be enforced.
... yours.
As far as what you can do, I suppose the going rate for bulk prevention is still about 16 times that of bulk cure.
Try to keep track of domain names and expiration dates. Consider consolidating domains if you own more than one. Renew early and/or for a longer time period. If nothing else, search the net and try to buy a domain
Verify the owner information with the registrar. For businesses the corporate owner or other company personnel should be listed as the domain owner. (NOT the company name or the name of an outside web designer) Remember this is the person who will be authorized to make changes, renew, etc.
Make sure that you're getting the registrar's emails. Don't give the registrar an email address you may not have in a few years. Add the registrar's domain to your email account's no spam list.
Oh and one more thing: Send a nasty email to your domain registrar from a throwaway email account. That ALWAYS works.
... IMHO, of course.
Look, buddy, I hate to be cavalier about it, because I totally empathize. I let a domain expire about 2 years ago, and was lucky enough to be able to renew it. But honestly, it's your fault, just as it was mine then. It's really not much different than getting your car towed: had you remembered to put change in the meter, you'd be fine, but since you didn't you now have to pay a REALLY exhorbitant amount to get your car back.
Since my episode, I switched to godaddy.com (I am not affiliated, just a happy customer). Godaddy emails me at 90, 60, 30, 15, 10, and 5 days until expiration, and even has an auto-renew option so my domains renew themselves.
Definitely check them out.
DnyDNS (www.dyndns.org) for me. I used their free subdomain service for a couple of years (and of course ddclient), so when I decided to buy a domain I registered it thru them and use them for dns. No problems/complaints for 3 years now.
Don't blame me, I voted for Kodos
Well, I came from netsol. Netsol has just as many ads you have click through, except that they are deceptive. More than once I accidently signed up for their DNS service becuase i didn't correctly answer "Do you not want us to not host DNS for you?" Yes[] No[]
Godaddy has a lot of ads, and probably terrible support - but that's the trade off when you want to pay $8/year. And I've never had to contact support. When you buy a domain they even have "expert" links that'll skip all that crap.
Of course godaddy's web hosting is probably crappy. I don't see what that has to do with their registrar service.