Domain seems to be hijacked

The admin email id is not with the registrant

[axnfan]

Hello,
I am a webdesigner. One of my clients had 2 domains; say abc.com and xyz.com
His friend had registered them for him. Since abc.com was the first to be registered and hosted, he gave [e-mail] as the admin contact email id for xyz.com
Later, my client choose not to renew abc.com and being not aware of things like WhoIs, didnt know he had to change the admin contact. Later someone else registered abc.com (and has put it for sale)
But now, the present owner of abc.com, has contacted the registrar and changed the reseller and now my client doesnot have any access to the domain.
When he got a new designed by me and wanted to change hosts, the trouble was felt.
Now the domain is under registrar-lock (but renewed in 2003 and expires only in 2005)[None of the contact details previously given by my clients have been changed. Just that he is prevented from administering it]
What should my client do, to get back the admin control of the domain.
Thanks in advance.

[jo1ene]

Are you saying, (1) this client can't manage xyz.com because he no longer has access to the email address [e-mail]? (2) someone has actually stolen xyz.com? Your chances are better dealing with the first scenario.

In any case, if you want to change anything with your registrar, you have to be persistant. Think "rabid dog". Don't leave them alone until you get what you want.

[Edwin]

In general, I always make sure any domain with email addresses used to administer other domains is registered for 10 years.

In your case, so long as xyz.com is currently still your friend's domain, then contact the registrar and they will probably have a process (e.g. a notarized snail-mail letter) to deal with situations in which access to the online control panel is no longer possible.

If xyz.com has been hijacked (pre-expiry) by the new owner of abc.com then it's time to think about going to a lawyer.

[axnfan]

Seems to me like, none of the earlier who is entries have been changed.
The domain was resolving fine and site was available until the hosts had some problems and my client wanted to change DNS.
Now the site is not available; but i think it is because of the DNS/host is not working.
Thanks for the replies

[Drewbert]

You need to talk nicely to the current owner of abc.com, tell him/her your problem, and ask them that if you put through a transfer request to move xyz.com to another Registrar, they would be so kind as to OK the transfer when the confirmation email arrives at abc.com

Naturally, when you apply to transfer the domain to the new Registrar you will put in an email address that works and goes to you or your friend.

Once the name is transferred, change the NS so it works, and maybe send the guy $10 via Paypal for helping your friend out of a mess.