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Domain name help needed

by Vixb
2 replies
Not sure if anyone can help, but any advice would be appreciated . . .

I have a client who set up her website a couple of years ago. She used a freelancer to create the site and he also bought and registered her domain name and hosting etc.

Now, not long after this was done, sadly, he was killed in an accident. About 3 months ago, we were hired to modernise the web site etc. We are still in the planning stages of this, and yesterday we had a frantic email explaining that she couldn't access her site anymore.

It turns out that the domain name has expired. The previous developer had all his details and emails as a contact, as well as all the usernames and passwords to any control panels, so all expiry warnings were being sent to his, presumably, unchecked and unused inbox.

It gets trickier.

Not only was he the developer, he also set up a domain and hosting reselling company, through which he registered the name. It looks like this companies own web sites domain name expired too, as it is no longer there, so even if we had the control panel access details, there is no control panel to access . . .

Anybody got any ideas on where we can secure this domain name? Or has it floated off into cyberspace never to be seen again?!
#domain #needed
  • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
    If you can figure out who the original hosting was you might have a shot at sending them a letter explaining the situation - and you could offer to purchase your own package through them and see if they are able to transfer the files.

    What a sad story and a nightmare.

    Is the cache for the site still floating around?

    Also, you can put a back order on a domain and depending on how many years he renewed for it will expire. You may have to get the dot net version to hold it in the meanwhile or something.

    Who has access to his stuff? Did he have a wife? Can they get the emails?
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    "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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    • Profile picture of the author davezan
      Originally Posted by avenuegirl View Post

      you can put a back order on a domain
      To the OP: this option avenuegirl said is likely the only way for your client to
      possibly get the domain name, short of anyone from the deceased freelancer
      having access to his/her account/s to renew it somehow. Go check with the
      domain's sponsoring registrar what they'll do with expired domain names, and
      I sincerely doubt they'd let your client renew it if it's especially in the name
      of the freelancer.
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      David

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