(DELETE)

[Steven Wagenheim]

This is a lesson to everybody that even when you outsource, have a
backup plan or prepare for the worst.

I have a guy who registered and hosted a domain for me a few years back.
He is doing this for free for me as part of a program I am in. Very generous
if you ask me.

Here's the problem though.

I think something has happened to him and my domain is coming up for
renewal on December 24.

I emailed him to one address on Nov 28 and then to the address actually
listed with the domain registration on the 6th of December. I have still
not heard back from him.

I do not want to lose this domain, but if I'm going to, I at least want to
sell it and salvage something from this impending nightmare.

Problem is, technically, HE owns it. It's registered under his name, he's
paying for it, I just have a login and password to upload my files and
maintain the site.

What do I do? Is there an authority I can contact that can handle this?

Again, I can't even prove the domain is mine other than if I give them my
login credentials and show them I have access to it.

Please help. I have put several years of work into this domain including
over 100 articles, a products page, etc. The domain could easily sell for
a few thousand on sitepoint with no problem.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks.

** edit ** Never mind. I finally heard back from the guy. Geesh, he has
to wait until I make a bloody fool of myself in a public forum?

Duh!

[newton]

Hi Steven

The first thing I would do is back order the domain with a service such as snapnames. Then if it does expire (maybe it is set to auto renew?) you have a good chance of legally registering it.

The biggest problem you have like you say, is "proving" the domain name is yours as it has never been in your name. I don't think even having access to the hosting account would be sufficient in proving the domain name is yours, sadly.

Is there a phone number under the whois info? Maybe try phoning him?

All the best

Tony

[Monetize]

Steve, I can certainly relate to your frustration as I was
embroiled in the Registerfly mess a couple of years back.
I would recommend that you contact the registrar to see
if you can remit payment to keep the domain active. Once
this has been done you can work the issue of transferring
the domain name as well as hosting - you might need to
contact ICANN on how this can be accomplished.

If all else fails, you should copy all of your content and
setup another similar domain.

[derekwong28]

Steven, you must find out who the registrar is and write to them immediatley for suggestions. If your details is on the WHOIS information, then you will have a stronger case. Perhaps you can just offer to pay the renewal fee first and then sort out the ownership later.

The registrar may have a partnership with a particular drop-catcher or domain auction service. For example, Godaddy domains will be auctioned off at TDNAM. There are lots of domain sharks out there who specialize in grabbing domains that have been left to expire by mistake by their owners and then reselling back to the owner for thousands of dollars.

I would not recommend that you make a backorder at this stage because it could be 90 days or more before the domain is due to drop. Just backordering may trigger interest by other domainers and draw them in. In this case, you may end up paying thousands of dollars for your own domain.


Derek

[AaronJones]

Check the WHOIS.(If you have not already)

If that guy registered that domain then he has to keep his contact info up to date.

Also check his other domains if you know them for alternate contact info.

Someone mentioned back ordering the domain just in case, also if you really need to get ahold of him send him a penny or some small amount to his paypal, with a message to him.

Good luck.

Aaron

[newton]

Hi Steven

Glad you got it sorted!

Tony

[RevenueRabbi]

Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim

** edit ** Never mind. I finally heard back from the guy. Geesh, he has
to wait until I make a bloody fool of myself in a public forum?

Duh!

Ain't it always like that in life?

[bobsstuff]

WOW! Steven,
Glad you got that sorted out.

I guess there is a lesson for all of this in your experience. "If it does not have your name on it, you do not own it and could lose it". i.e. Accounts hosted by others. Free blogs at blogger, free wordpress and other free hosts.

[Jim M]

As someone who has built many websites for small business owners I have always made a point of registering the domain in the owners name.

I had a client one time who came to me after being with another web designer, the other web designer refused to release the domain, in fact they actually registered every other version they could so my client couldn't get them!

The lesson here is - make sure it's in your name.

I would go further in that you really should do it yourself and have total control over it, what happens if the one man business at the other end falls off the planet one day!

[RevenueRabbi]

Steven- what a catchy name for the thread- no wonder it's getting lots of views!

(plus the fact its a thread by Steven Wagenheim helps too.. )