Registering a domain that's just expired?

In the past I have gone to GoDaddy.com, selected the name and have that registrar bid on it for me. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.

Remember there may be others looking at acquiring that domain and they are also bidding on it.

The owner also gets 14 days after expiry, have a look at godaddy for Auctions you can search the name see if it shows up.

Generally Registrars have the service to provide back ordering such expiring domains
Have a look

Thanks for the replies everyone, I'll try all of the suggestions and fingers crossed I'll be able to register it!

try namejet.com I have had good success with them!

The domain name expiration process is defined by a set number of domain states. These states are concrete and are conformed to by every registrar, however the duration of each state might vary from one registrar to another.

Active status is the general status of a working / live domain name. Domains in the active status can be renewed or transferred at any time.

On-hold status is the status of a domain immediately after the expiration date. A domain in the on-hold status will cease functioning, and the site that uses this domain will appear to be down.

During the on-hold status, the domain can still be renewed at normal renewal rates by the owner. The on-hold status duration varies between registrars.

Redemption Period status is a recent addition by ICANN providing the original owner with a second chance at renewing their domain.

The redemption period lasts for 30 days at all registrars and renewal costs are larger then a general renewal rate. To renew a domain in the redemption period, the owner must pay fees extending up to and over $150, depending on the registrar.

Pending Delete status is the final status prior to release of a domain name. This status follows the redemption period and lasts up to 5 days.

There is no way for the original owner to renew their domain at this time, apart from waiting for the domain to be released and then attempting to re-register it.

To backorder a domain name you can use a number of services: NameJet, Pool, SnapNames (all 3 are quite successful), Godaddy (less successul) and most services charge a fee only upon successful backorder (except Godaddy who charge in advance).

John

I recommend that you "back order" the domain name through Godaddy:

Monitor the status of any domain name with Domain Alert Pro.

Essentially that means that you pay Godaddy for the domain in advance and they put in an automatic request for the domain the moment it becomes available. And if the domain doesn't become available they hold the money for you to use it for another back-order.

I did it and it was easy.

Thanks for that everyone. I'll take a look into backordering the domain and hopefully I'll have some joy.

I have direct experience with this. One of my domains expired with NameCheap. I was unaware, but discovered this about 30 days after the expiration.

Namecheap put up a "portal" website on my domain and was harvesting the traffic. I sent them an email complaining about this and also complaining that i should have been able to log in and renew according to Icann rules.

Copied below was the response from Namecheap (I did get the domain back).
Hello,

Your domain was not sold to anyone. It is now in a redemption period. In order to re-instate the domain in this phase, there is a USD200.00 fee plus USD9.69 to renew. If you wish to take this domain out of redemption and if you are the original registrant of this domain, please prefund your account with this amount and advise us of doing so - we'll then manually process this order for you.

FYI

The owner of a domain has a non-guaranteed grace period of approximately 27 days after the expiration date to renew the domain at the regular domain rate. If the domain is not renewed, the domain will be deleted from our database and it is transferred to a "redemption period" at the Registry. If the domain is not re-instated in this phase, then the domain is released to the public by the Registry and becomes available approximately 80-85 days after the expiration date or is auctioned off by the Registrar and becomes property of the different party.

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Arunas
NameCheap.com