My domain expired someone stole it. Can I get it back?

Need some serious advice

[Compworld]

I've had this domain name since 98. Its the namesake of the company. Hell, the company's name and website are incorporated. However, I have many variations of the spelling of the domain. I just happened to see it not in my domain list anymore. Now it goes to a Godaddy parked page. Anything I can do to get it back? Now, you are going to ask, why did not I not review it. Well, It was set to auto-renew, but the credit card expired. Never received any notification from Godaddy. They said not their problem. I would file a dispute, just don't know how. Its not really worth anything, but would like it back if possible.

[edited by: Compworld at 11:27 pm (utc) on June 14, 2009]

[StoutFiles]

Well first off, the person who bought the domain didn't "steal it", they just bought the domain since it expired.

Your best option is to contact the person who bought the domain and try to get it back. It will likely cost you some money.

[Woz]

But, did it actually drop, become available, and did someone else re-register it?

OR,

Is it pending and resolving to a Godaddy parked page awaiting being dropped?

I would be checking the whois etc and determine its true status and then go from there.

If is has indeed been picked up, then you need to determine its actual worth to the company, and therefore whether it warrants the effort and expense to recover.

If it is not worth the effort but still desirable, then perhaps you might want to just wait it out for a year and see if it is renewed by the new owner. If it is parked but attracts no traffic then the owner may simply let it lapse again as not being worth it. I have picked up quite a few parked domains that would be useful but not imperative by simply waiting for them to drop again. Sometimes patience pays off.

Onya
Woz