Recently, <a new registrar> somehow acquired our domain and has shut us down -- no website, no email. They are demanding a $100 redemeption fee plus $15 registration fee. Whois, however, says we own the domain and it won't expire until next year. <The registrar>, apparently, has redirected our old domain to an <adult site>, which is hosted in Houston Texas. Their abuse team has refused any assistance. <The registrar> is unresponsive.
We have since registered another domain as our new web address. I want the old domain jettisoned as soon as possible. Any advice? Is this legal? Who can I complain to? Sorry for the long post. Thanks.
[edited by: Webwork at 8:59 pm (utc) on Aug. 10, 2005]
[edit reason] See Forum Charter and WebmasterWorld TOS [/edit]
It appears that someone in the chain of command of your organization may have transferred the domain from NetSol to the new registrar. I wouldn't necessarily assume it's a hijacking since the WhoIs record wasn't changed to a new organization.
First off, you can pay the redemption fee to keep the domain from entirely lapsing - and then debate the issues. Money talks and may convince the registrar that you are indeed the real party in interest. If you don't pay the redemption then the domain is fair game and anyone is likely to register it and put it to any use...
Since it appears that you've lost control of the admin email address that creates some problems, but ones that can be remedied. Often it's a matter of submitting sworn proof of ownership with proper ID, etc. This is to safeguard the owner of record. It's a hassle but that's what happens when there isn't a smooth transition in control of a domain.
I'd start with a phone call and a credit card if you really want to keep the domain. The redemption fee is about average. Once you pay you may find the registrar to be more receptive.
The business of pointing the domain to an adult site is problematic. Save that for later though. Save the domain first. Money talks.
Whois, however, says we own the domain and it won't expire until next year.
Some registrars automatically extend the expiry out by one year in the visible whois records during the redemption period. In other words the true expiry date has most likely passed, the whois expiry isn't always accurate.
So as WebWork says, to get back the domain which has probably been allowed to expire (because notices went to an email address that is no longer used), the quickest and probably cheapest way would be to pay the redemption fee.
I want the old domain jettisoned as soon as possible.
If you really don't want the old name, and don't mind what use it is put to by a new owner, you could just do nothing of course. There's no way to mark a domain as "previously used, don't register" unless you own it.
Can you clarify?
Question for anyone. Has anyone seen a domain in a redemption period that was being redirected to somewhere other then where the owner intended it to be directed to? I thought the DNS server was removed from the registry and the domain pointed nowhere.
