How can I get my domain name back?

October 30, 2007 10:53 AM

I was using a combined domain and hosting deal, but the company went under and the domain was registered in their name, how do I get it back?

I registered a domain name - matthewpower.com - because that's my name. I was using it merely as an online depository of all my misc files that I needed to link to at work or to show people etc. The hosting was cheap, really cheap - but as such the company (known only to me as Darkenhosting) has gone under and the owner is not replying to correspondence. I'm unsure of what to do.

posted by stackhaus23 to computers & internet (6 comments total)

If the company truly controlled the domain you are probably screwed. I hope you had a local backup of the files.

Their domain expired on 10/17 and appears to now resolve to the generic search page run by whoever they bought domains from.

Do you know what your IP address was? If the server is still connected to the Internet you may be able to get to it via IP address and recover your data.
posted by COD at 11:10 AM on October 30, 2007

I'm still showing that the domain is active. Maybe you can contact the registrar "Blue Razor Domains" and explain the situation:

Registrant:
darkenhosting
flat 2, 37 springfield road
Leicester, Leics LE2 3BB
United Kingdom

Registered through: Blue Razor Domains, Inc.
Domain Name: MATTHEWPOWER.COM
Created on: 27-Feb-06
Expires on: 27-Feb-08
Last Updated on: 25-Feb-07

Administrative Contact:
thrussell, d [e-mail]
darkenhosting
flat 2, 37 springfield road
Leicester, Leics LE2 3BB
United Kingdom
07742394232 Fax --

Technical Contact:
thrussell, d [e-mail]
darkenhosting
flat 2, 37 springfield road
Leicester, Leics LE2 3BB
United Kingdom
07742394232 Fax --

Domain servers in listed order:
NS1.DARKENHOSTING.ORG
NS2.DARKENHOSTING.ORG
posted by dcjd at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2007

Your domain's registrar is Blue Razor. Their site says "24/7 Domain Help: [phone]." I'm not even going to take you to task for having someone else register your domain name, because I think you see why that's not optimal.
posted by sageleaf at 11:14 AM on October 30, 2007

That sucks, looks like darkenhosting was registering everything in their own name (a sleazy practice). The registrar they were using is called BlueRazor, which looks like it may be some sort of private label registrar that uses GoDaddy as a service provider. You could try contacting BlueRazor as a starting point, though it might be a tough slog.
posted by Good Brain at 11:22 AM on October 30, 2007

I had this happen to me once. I kept emailing the defunct host and requesting them to transfer the name to me. They never answered my emails, but eventually I got an email from the registrar saying that the transfer had occurred. The registrar themselves would not help me before that, but you might have better luck.
posted by happyturtle at 2:36 PM on October 30, 2007

Because you're not listed as the domain's registrant (legal owner), this may be complicated. You need to start by filling out this form and submit it with a very complete explanation of the issue. You may need to provide an ID showing you to be Matthew Power, and perhaps some documentation showing your connection to the (now defunct) registrant.

Good luck.
posted by phredgreen at 12:48 AM on October 31, 2007