How can I change to company Y for domain registration and hosting when I can't contact unreliable original company X?

October 16, 2009 9:00 AM

How can I change to company Y for domain registration and hosting when I can't contact unreliable original company X to do the change? In the UK.

My friend has had domain hosting for a long time from this sketchy guy. He's never available to contact. I've been emailing him and phoning him for 2 weeks.

I am listed as the registrant and administrative contact for the domain names, but all the contact details are the dodgy hosting company.

Seems like he keeps his customers by just making it so bloody hard to switch to another company.

I've spoken to someone from godaddy.com about the process of switching both the domain name registration and the hosting to them. I'm not attached to using them but they seem cheap and ok for my friend.

Anyway they said I need to ask dodgy domain host guy to 1) unlock the domain 2) Change the administrative email to my address.

It seems fairly likely that this guy will stall and be uncooperative when I do finally get in touch so I'm not sure how to handle it. I'm thinking of writing a letter recorded delivery asking for the changes to be made. If I do this what articles of consumer law can I quote to back up our right to have him make the changes?

Is there another way of switching the domain registration and hosting without having to get the previous comanies approval?

posted by Not Supplied to technology (9 comments total)

Seems like he keeps his customers by just making it so bloody hard to switch to another company.

Seems like? Yeah, pretty much. In fact, many supposedly non-sketchy registrars do the same thing.

This is not an uncommon situation, but unfortunately there's no special exemption from the unlocking business for when a sketchy guy turns out to be sketchy.

We'd need to know more about the situation, but it's probable that Sketchy Guy is reselling a white-labeled domain from an ICANN-registered registrar (I'm not sure how else he'd be doing it.)

The WhoIs record for the domain name will tell you who the registrar is. You may want to get a lawyer to send a certified letter to the registrar. Otherwise, it may be small claims court for your friend.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:10 AM on October 16

Also, 3) I need to get an authorisation code from company x
posted by Not Supplied at 9:11 AM on October 16

Right, that is what the letter would be requesting. (Demanding.)
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:28 AM on October 16

If it helps I am the 'Registrant Contact'.

About a year ago my friend asked for it all to be changed into my name...and that's what we got out of it.

"Registration Service Provided By:Company X" though.

Does that mean I'm the registrar or him?
posted by Not Supplied at 9:35 AM on October 16

Thanks BTW
posted by Not Supplied at 9:36 AM on October 16

Does that mean I'm the registrar or him?
Neither - you're the registrant, he's probably reselling the services of GoDaddy, 1and1, Hostgator or some other domain registrar.

Anyway, I memailed you.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 9:43 AM on October 16

Get in touch with Nominet (if it's a .uk domain). They'll sort you out.
posted by derbs at 9:57 AM on October 16

Seems like he keeps his customers by just making it so bloody hard to switch to another company.

This is hardly limited to small/shady types. Try moving a domain away from GoDaddy sometime. They're one of the largest, and probably the nastiest.

For any top level domain, including .coms and .co.uks, you always have a higher-level avenue of appeal, though the process can be long and annoying. You're probably best picking a large registrar to move your domain to, ask them for help, and let them work out the hassle for you.

I agree that pain-free help from Nominet is a safe bet.
posted by rokusan at 3:58 PM on October 16

Honestly, if it's a .co.uk then just go to nominet. £10 and 1 day later you'll have your domain back.
posted by derbs at 3:20 AM on October 17