Problem with sold .co.uk transfer (Afternic)

[DomainGist]

So, I sold a .co.uk domain on afternic that I'd listed just a few days ago (more on this awesome hand reg to $860 in a week sale if goes well and I can sort out this transfer).

I get this email from afternic:

The problem is that this isn't how .co.uk domains are transferred, they get changed by nominet tag and don't use authorisation codes. The domain is at namecheap and here are my transfer options:

An 'IPS tag' is a nominet tag, I know that Godaddy has one. But I can't find anything on the afternic website about uk domain transfers, which is a bit odd as there are thousands upon thousands of them listed.

So what on earth do I do now? I've pinged a message the TA agent, although I don't seem to find where that message goes which I find odd as I'd have thought there would be a dialogue or 'sent messages' function of some sort. If I do get a reply... how can I be confident that he understands UK domains?

Even if they provide me with their IPS tag I'm still unable to enter an authorisation code, which is what they want here:

Finding this really rather frustrating as this buyer could have bought from my Dan.com lander as I wouldn't have listed on Afternic if I knew Afternic was this complicated for UK domains, Dan has a really smooth process.

Has anybody completed a .co.uk sale on Afternic, and if so how did that get resolved?

And is there an afternic representative on this forum that may be able to assist or direct me to some useful documentation? And if so, can you please @ them for me?

Thanks

 

[Jurgen Wolf]

@Joe Styler

 

[BaileyUK]

Yes it is all done centrally via Nominet.uk. Asking for transfer codes is redundant with UK's - Just let afternic know they've actioned the wrong transfer process. The normal request is the selling agent asks you to notify them when you have completed the Nominet process, then they verify before releasing payment. Nominet will also notify you when transfer is completed so that's what I copy to the sales agent. US registers don't like it because it requires manual intervention

https://www.nominet.uk/transferring-your-domain-name/

Complete our simple Registrant Transfer process to transfer your domain name to another person. Before you begin, make sure you have the email address of the new registrant to hand.
First, sign into your Online Services account. Then follow these simple steps:

1. Choose the domain name(s) you’d like to transfer
2. Select ‘Transfer Domains(s) and read the information carefully
3. Enter the email address of the person you’re transferring it to
4. Choose who will pay for the transfer
5. Tick the declaration confirming that you are the current registrant, or that the current registrant has authorised you to transfer the domain name

We’ll send an email to the new address you supplied, asking the new registrant to provide us with their details and accept the transfer. They’ll then be able to ask to move to a new registrar at no extra charge.

The fee for transferring a domain name is £10 plus VAT, which can be paid by either the current or new registrant during the transfer process.

Added my comments

It's easy to create your Nominet account. (Yep another one for your password book) Nominets central database will show all UK domains under your email address

Once the transfer is done the receiving register can then verify and add it to the new owners account - Yes the receiving register must have a Nominet tag.

PS you've identified the domain in the text field

 

[DomainGist]

Hi BaileyUK, I've transferred lots of .co.uk domains by changing the tag on the nominet website itself.

I understand how a UK transfer works (changing IPS tag).

My problem is that this isn't the process described in afternics email, and in order to complete the transfer in my afternic account it requests an authorisation code.

So I'm confused about how to proceed.

My problem isn't with understanding how a .co.uk transfer works (I am British, like you). Its with how on earth this is compatible with afternics systems. I don't seem to be able to find a live chat supoort.

They need to provide me with an IPS tag, and then presumably manually complete it and allow me to bypass that authorisation code field?

Thanks


EDIT: just noticed you said afternic have a UK transfer process. Thanks, will try requesting they change that.

 

[Jurgen Wolf]

Another way: email to service AT afternic.com

 

[Abdullah Abdullah]

Dont email. I say call or ask help from @Joe Styler. Emailing takes more time

 

[D Haynes]

I've been told that the TA emails are rarely replied to and that contacting [email protected] is the email to use for ant queries.

 

[D Haynes]

"If you email TA in most cases they will not see it or reply to you. The right people to ask is [email protected]."


Thats a quote from a conversation with Joe Styler.

 

[DomainGist]

"If you email TA in most cases they will not see it or reply to you. The right people to ask is [email protected]."


Thats a quite from a conversation from Joe Styler.

That is frankly ridiculous.

But thanks!

 

[DomainGist]

This is getting f'in ridiculous now, @Joe Styler what is wrong with your organisation?

I know the buyer is panicking because I've had 5 visits to the Dan lander in the past 24 hours (where I've removed the BIN price awaiting this transfer to be completed).

Message sent to TA agent not responded to, email to [email protected] with Urgent in the subject header not actioned. No live support option provided, the telephone number is not toll free for me.

Does Godaddy want UK business or not? Seem to advertise on our television channels enough. Has always surprised me how the big UK domainers don't seem to list with Afternic to benefit from Godaddy BINs when people search for domains.

Now I know!

 

[Joe Styler]

[email protected] is the right place to contact. They will answer you. You need to move the domain to them and then they have to move it to the buyer that way you get paid when Afternic gets the domain.

 

[BaileyUK]

[email protected] is the right place to contact. They will answer you. You need to move the domain to them and then they have to move it to the buyer that way you get paid when Afternic gets the domain.

In fairness you don't have to transfer to Afternic Providing they will disclose the email address of the receiving buyer.

Nominets (UK transfers) methods are all about having an email trace and history. Whether it is effective and reliant is another question but it was set-up in the early days

 

[DomainGist]

In fairness you don't have to transfer to Afternic Providing they will disclose the email address of the receiving buyer.

Nominets (UK transfers) methods are all about having an email trace and history. If it is effective and reliant is another question but it was set-up in the early days

I got an email back asking me to change IPS tag to GODADDY and then let them know when done.

Still not transferred but I at least now understand that they just initiated the wrong process (thanks).

Fortunately I can change IPS with Namecheap for free without having to login to my Nominet account.

Can't say I've found this experience very enjoyable though, but I guess there could be a Covid-19 impact that I have to be mindful of before judging too harshly (e.g. reduce workforce).

 

[BaileyUK]

All good - Once you get that IPS tag change

Great sale by the way - I'm envious of that one. UK's are still struggling a bit on the whole, only 70 million bodies to work with (and that's including the dot IO Kids)

 

[Joe Styler]

In fairness you don't have to transfer to Afternic Providing they will disclose the email address of the receiving buyer.

Nominets (UK transfers) methods are all about having an email trace and history. Whether it is effective and reliant is another question but it was set-up in the early days

It's not about moving the domain correctly - you are right about that. You need to transfer it to Afternic because technically we buy the domain and then resell it to the domain purchaser. So we need the domain to get to us to be able to make the payment and other things associated with the transaction work correctly.

 

[DomainGist]

It's not about moving the domain correctly - you are right about that. You need to transfer it to Afternic because technically we buy the domain and then resell it to the domain purchaser. So we need the domain to get to us to be able to make the payment and other things associated with the transaction work correctly.

Godaddy now in receipt of my domain (since Friday, email reply from me confirming tag changed and left my Namecheap account) but its still pointing at my Dan sales lander & Afternic 'sold domains' page still showing Auth code required.

This has been a 5+ day process for the buyer and still ongoing.

 

[DomainGist]

Now resolved, confirmation of transfer received.

 

[Joe Styler]

The change is a manual process on our side. At some point in the future we will integrate the companies we bought based in the UK the work has been ongoing and then co.uk domains will be able to be moved more easily. It is a slow process with us currently as you and others have pointed out but the domain will arrive with the buyer and you will get paid.

 

[DomainGist]

The change is a manual process on our side. At some point in the future we will integrate the companies we bought based in the UK the work has been ongoing and then co.uk domains will be able to be moved more easily. It is a slow process with us currently as you and others have pointed out but the domain will arrive with the buyer and you will get paid.

In fairness its not your fault that us British decided to make our domain transfers overly complicated, our drop catching processes are crap too. Would like to see domains go to auction with registrars some day, drop catching in the UK unfairly limited to an elite bunch of people who can write good scripts.

I once quit trading .co.uk domains for this very reason (the awkward transfers), but had a change of heart when realising that most American domainers didn't really understand the uk market so there's just too much opportunity for me to capitalise to ignore them (like flipping an $890 brandable in 21 days!).

Cheers.

 

[ScottMb]

I'm having exactly the same problems as the OP. It's now day 10 of trying to get my domain transferred.

My current progress with this transfer is the IPS tag change. I have managed to change the TAG to Godaddy, but the domain is still in my Nominet account with my details.

I will re-read this thread in the morning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ScottMb]

What an absolute disgrace Afternic are, by far the worst domain company I have ever dealt with. These guys are so bad I'm actually starting to think they are scammers. Almost 3 weeks into this sale and I don't even have a date for being paid.

Dealing with these guys has caused me more stressed than my past 30 buys and sales, and that's not an exaggeration.

 

[Clover]

I didn't know you could transfer out a .co.uk domain while in 60 day icann lock??

Maybe set the domain up to hosting and put your contact info on the index page, maybe with info on what is happening.

Good luck!

 

[Future Sensors]

What an absolute disgrace Afternic are, by far the worst domain company I have ever dealt with. These guys are so bad I'm actually starting to think they are scammers. Almost 3 weeks into this sale and I don't even have a date for being paid.

Dealing with these guys has caused me more stressed than my past 30 buys and sales, and that's not an exaggeration.

In case the domain buyer does not take any action to take over the domain from Afternic Escrow*, it can take a very long time before you get paid. This is where DAN.com does so much better. When you sell a domain at DAN.com and transfer your domain to DAN Escrow, you immediately get your money. DAN then takes care of the transfer to the buyer, but you don't have to worry about that.

*Manual transfer, not Fast transfer scenario

Cc @Joe Styler