Domain Name Impending Doom

August 24, 2015 12:58 PM

A small organization registered a domain name several years ago, through Yahoo. They'd like to transfer it to a new registrar. However, the domain name was registered by someone who is no longer with the organization. That former employee registered using an email address which is no longer active, so no one (including former employee) can access the domain account or the email associated with it. Complicating things, the domain name will soon expire. How can the organization hold onto it?
posted by oulipian to Computers & Internet (4 answers total)

Is the dead email address on a mail server you all control? If so, go ahead and remake the email account in order to receive the emails from the registrar. Alternately, you could just make a catch-all.
posted by Mo Nickels at 2:35 PM on August 24, 2015

Yes, my instinct is to re-create the email address.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:51 PM on August 24, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks! Unfortunately it's a totally unrelated email address so we can't do anything about that part. But will try contacting the registrar.
posted by oulipian at 4:49 AM on August 25, 2015

Your instincts are right that you want to get this taken care of before the domain expires. There is a pseudo-legal process for retrieving a domain when it is lost to a "squatter", but it's unpleasant and you could lose if the other party has a legitimate use for the name.

Are none of the phone numbers available, either? But yes, the registrar is the one who's going to be able to help. They all have different procedures.

Also consider putting in your own request to register the domain. You might be able to snag it as it expires. Many registrars will allow a prospective registration where you pay in advance and they try to register at the moment of expiration.
posted by wnissen at 10:19 AM on August 25, 2015