"Suspended" co.uk

What does it mean

[mistah]

I just did a check on a .co.uk domain name that I thought would already be taken. To my surprise there was no site at the address. When I did a whois search at Nominet it said the domain had been suspended. What does this mean? And does it mean I can register it?

[asd_uk]

I'm not an expert but I believe first the domain gets detagged if they dont pay within 21 days of the renewal date and then goes to suspended when they finally don't pay or cannot be contacted. (for a .co.uk)

I believe the domain drops then some 6 to 8 weeks after it is suspended?

You would then be able to register it if you got there first (ahead of the mass volume of comapnies around that are doing it already) - I believe you just need to keep checking every day

I'm new on the forum and hopefully my comments are correct please correct me if not (also for my own knowledge)

regards

Andrew

[asd_uk]

One more comment, I believe there are loads of sites that don't actually lead to anything, normally the DNS settings have been removed and the host that was providing the service for the client is no longer doing so.

regards

Andrew

[TheWhippinpost]

I hope it wasn't my site :>p

It's happened to one of my sites a coupl'a days ago. I think it's due to Nominet's new "positive renewal" scheme which started Nov 03.

I think in my case, the registrar has goofed and not complied with Nominet's scheme quickly enough - Your/my post I fear may be just the start.

[mistah]

I'll try registering it then. I'll report back with my findings.

[asd_uk]

You won't be able to register it until it falls back into the public domain, if the who'is is showing Suspended then that's what it is "Suspended" and you need to wait a while till it drops back into the sea :)

[bignet]

detagged uk domains may take months to get released
read nominet org uk for more info

[asd_uk]

Any that expired after November 2003 should be released in a few months. There are many 1000's prior to that which have been expired for more than a year - I believe there is a huge backlog so you could be waiting a long time

[CHC]

asd_uk is right in saying that once a .uk domain has gone into SUSPENDED status it will be deleted by Nominet, the UK registry, around 6 to 8 weeks later.

Nominet are currently deleting tens of thousands of detagged domain names every month but the competition for the premium ones is fierce. If the name that you are after is particularly good, checking the whois just once a day is likely to lead to disappointment.

[Edwin]

If it's a "good" domain name, it's going to get re-registered within a few seconds of it becoming available. There are at least 4 companies in the .co.uk drop-catching business, plus around another dozen "big" players i.e. people with the resources and means to monitor names 24/7...

... so your best bet is to recruit help by signing up for the domain yourself with one of the drop-catching companies - if the slot's still open, that is.