Problems renewing a domain name

[Sam Hobbs]

I unintentionally let a domain name expire. It expired October 15. When I tried to renew it, the registrar said it was not in their system anymore. The whois still shows me as the owner, so I cannot register it as new. Since I cannot use the registrar to renew it, I cannot do anything.

I created a help request for the registrar on November 20. That is much less than 60 days after expiration. I finally got a response from them today and they say it has been expired for more than 60 days. They also say that it is in a redemption status and will cost $160 to get out of redemption. I don't see that in the whois.

The registrar is a reseller of enom so I sent them a message but I have not heard from them.

Who is it that is (or will) charge $160 for the domain name? Will the registrar make money from it? What can I do to complain about them not allowing me to renew the domain name?

I want to do everything reasonable about this, so that they can't say I did not try.

[alemcherry]

probably, they are right. Here is somethign useful:
http://www.netmechanic.com/news/vol6/promo_no17.htm

I am not sure if the redumtion period kicks in within 60 days. I recommed you to pay the money and get your domain back, before it goes to "pending delete" stage. You may complain to bbb for a reimbursement, if you feel it was their mistake and the dates you have are correct. Make sure that you have the docs to support your argument.

Some useful info is here:
http://reports.internic.net/cgi/regi...lem-report.cgi

[Sam Hobbs]

You don't understand. I cannot do that. I cannot renew it for any amount of money. They refuse to fix the problem. If they are going to cause me to pay $160 and if they get a commision from that, then they obviously don't want to fix the problem.

Do you truly believe that that is reasonable? I sure don't. It's amazing to me that they can get away with this.

You probably have thousands of dollars in the bank, but I sure don't. I assume it is easy for you to spend $160, but it is not easy for me.

[Sam Hobbs]

Note that that NetMechanic article is more than three years old. It describes manual processes and such. Things have changed a lot in the past three years and most everything done with domain name registrations are automated, which that article does not mention since it is so old.

[Sam Hobbs]

The InterNIC Registrar Problem Reports is the type of thing I was looking for. I probably will submit the form, but since it is not likely to have an affect on my situation, I will probably wait until the process has reached a significant development.

[PrimeHost]

I unintentionally let a domain name expire. It expired October 15. When I tried to renew it, the registrar said it was not in their system anymore. The whois still shows me as the owner, so I cannot register it as new. Since I cannot use the registrar to renew it, I cannot do anything.

I created a help request for the registrar on November 20. That is much less than 60 days after expiration. I finally got a response from them today and they say it has been expired for more than 60 days. They also say that it is in a redemption status and will cost $160 to get out of redemption. I don't see that in the whois.

The registrar is a reseller of enom so I sent them a message but I have not heard from them.

Who is it that is (or will) charge $160 for the domain name? Will the registrar make money from it? What can I do to complain about them not allowing me to renew the domain name?

I want to do everything reasonable about this, so that they can't say I did not try.

Hello Sam, it is really unfortunate this has happened. I think there really isn't much you can do to get the domain back other than paying the $160 dollars. The other option would be to hope the domain drops and becomes available for you to register again. You take your chances.

I believe enom would get the $160 dollars since they are the registrar.

I always advise our clients to renew their domain well in advance to avoid this type of situation from happening. As for myself and my personal domains, I renew them in advance unless I really don't value the domain, then I'll wait to the last day.

[ASP-Hosting.ca]

You don't understand. I cannot do that. I cannot renew it for any amount of money. They refuse to fix the problem. If they are going to cause me to pay $160 and if they get a commision from that, then they obviously don't want to fix the problem.

Do you truly believe that that is reasonable? I sure don't. It's amazing to me that they can get away with this.

You probably have thousands of dollars in the bank, but I sure don't. I assume it is easy for you to spend $160, but it is not easy for me.

The question is - Is this domain/website worth more than $160 to you? If it's not and you can't get it without the $160 fee, just let it drop. If it is, then you don't have much choice, but pay the fee.

[InfoRelay-Greg]

The question is - Is this domain/website worth more than $160 to you? If it's not and you can't get it without the $160 fee, just let it drop. If it is, then you don't have much choice, but pay the fee.

That's correct. That's what i would do. the thing is if you really need it and if you think that this website really cost effective more then 160USD then go for it. Otherwise you simply lose in that's story.

That's my opinion.

[Ahmad]

I finally got a response from them today and they say it has been expired for more than 60 days.

It was 35 days after the domain expiry on November 20, their actions are absolutely correct, because if the domain has just expired you have the initial period, which is called expiration period and which lasts usually for 29 days, and redemption period, lasting for 30-35 days. There is no additional fee to get a domain name out of the expiration period, but if it's redemption period your registrar charges you a certain sum plus renewal fee.
So, your reseller's action look rather legitimate.

[Sam Hobbs]

I think there really isn't much you can do to get the domain back other than paying the $160 dollars.

I think you did not read my question. I was totally unable to do that.

I always advise our clients to renew their domain well in advance to avoid this type of situation from happening.

Yes, of course. I really get frustrated by things like this because of problems such as this. I definitely realize that I was the initial cause but there is too much greed associated with domain names. It is a hastle; I should not have let it expire, but it is hastles such as this one that makes me procrastinate.
However, I know I should renew on time!

the thing is if you really need it and if you think that this website really cost effective more then 160USD then go for it.

I think you did not read my question. I can't! The issue is that the (reselling) registrar does not allow me (due to a problem) to renew at any price and they were quite unresponsive to answering my questions.

So, your reseller's action look rather legitimate.

I think you did not read my question. I was totally unable to do that.

[Alcatrazz]

How was the whole issue resolved?

[Sam Hobbs]

It is not resolved. The domain name still shows as belonging to me so I cannot register it as new. GoToNames (the registrar) lists the domain name in my list of names for my account but it just says "No longer in our system" without the ability to do anything with it. I was going to contact them but I decided to wait until after Christmas. So I will now go to the ticket and re-open it, or contact them somehow.

[Sam Hobbs]

GoToNames (the registrar) says that there is nothing they can do; that I must wait 3-6 months for enom to release the domain name.

[aloha2]

The InterNIC Registrar Problem Reports is the type of thing I was looking for. I probably will submit the form, but since it is not likely to have an affect on my situation, I will probably wait until the process has reached a significant development.

Thanks

[radnam]

Hey Sam I have worked for a hosting company which had a reseller account with enom and it is true that your domain will not be in their account after 30 days of expiring. And ENOM does charge $160 so its not the hosting companies fault or your its enoms fault. If you want you can try to contact ICANN who have the right for domain registration of all the domains in the world. So try to contact them may be they will help you.

This is your last resort.

Best Of luck