Network Solutions deleting domains?

Domain suddenly slated for deletion - two years before expiring

[ariet]

I just picked up a new client, but to my astonishment their domain is now listed as "pending delete" and "hold" - even though their domain registration does not expire until 12/04.

The registrar is Network Solutions. However, the agent I spoke to could not figure out why this domain is slated for deletion (DNS entry has already been deleted).

To complicate matters, my client was late on a payment for their web site hosting, so their hosting account was closed yesterday as well. However, the hosting company is a third party (not Network Solutions) - although they do act as an agent for NS and seem to be a wholeseller.

Does anyone have an idea what is going on?

Thanks,

Arie

[lazerzubb]

[webmasterworld.com...]

[ariet]

That gives some more insight into the status:

PENDINGDELETE: The registry sets this status after a domain has been set in REDEMPTIONPERIOD status and the domain has not been restored by the registrar. The domain will not be included in the zone. Once in this status all registrar requests to modify or otherwise update the domain will be rejected. The domain will be purged from the registry database after being in this status for 5 calendar days.

However, it does not explain why a domain is deleted before its expiration date.

According to NS, the .org domains were just moved to a new database. However, the agent did not know if that could have anything to do with this issue.

Any idea?

[korkus2000]

Is your clients host admin contact, technical contact, or any other contact in the whois?

[ariet]

There seems to be no information left in the WHOIS database (contact, admin, etc.).

However, the hosting company just admitted that they have told Verisign/NS to delete the domain.

According to them, since they were the reseller/wholeseller of the domain, they have the right to do that.

I disagree, since their Terms of Use state:

12.2. By registering a domain name through the Company, the Customer is establishing a relationship with Verisign separate from the Company and this Agreement.

I guess this is yet another reason not to obtain domain names through the hosting company.

[korkus2000]

Thats what I was thinking. They can get a domain deleted. They probably were every contact.

[ariet]

According to NS, my client was listed as the registrant.

[korkus2000]

Then they should not be able to get it deleted. What is NS saying about it?

[ariet]

NS is trying to figure out what happened and should get back to me shortly. In the meantime, they are restoring the domain.

This whole issue seems fishy to me. A billing dispute cannot be that uncommon, and eliminating a domain is a rather draconian measure - especially in light of the fact that my client purports that the hosting company did not attempt to contact them.

I understand that a hosting company would suspend or even delete a hosting account, but deleting a domain is far beyond what is reasonable - especially since it seems to be a violation of the Terms of Use.

[korkus2000]

I would document this. If it ends up hurting your client there may be grounds for damages. I hope NS gets it back and everything goes well. I would just run, not walk, from the hosting company.

[ariet]

You bet. For obvious reasons, they will not be hosting the site anymore. (Nor will they remain the host of any future clients...)

[ariet]

My client has resolved the billing issue. The hosting company promised them that the site would be up-and-running as soon as they received confirmation of payment.

This is curious, since NS indicated that restoring the domain (which no longer has a DNS-entry) involves the same process as registering a new domain - which means the usual turnaround of 24-48 hours.

Unless there is something I am not aware of, I am puzzled as to how the hosting company can promise immediate results.

[rogerd]

I am puzzled as to how the hosting company can promise immediate results

Perhaps they deleted the entry in their own nameserver, and think if they fix that everything will work. Of course, if NS really deleted the nameserver listing in their database, and that was transmitted globally, then it will indeed take longer than "immediately" to fix.