Can someone buy out from under you?

[tcarr]

I am one that takes domain registration for granted (though I guess I shouldn't ) so I am not really up to par on how things work still.

I am wondering if someone found out that say, a domain name is expiring, if they can buy it out from under you?

For instance, awhile back, I recieved a notice in US mail from the dreaded "Domain Registries of America" telling me that a domain I don't even own and never owned is about to expire, and the expiration date. I get these notices for the ones I did own and since my web hosting company takes care of all that for me, I never go into their offer (and also because I know they are a known scam).

However, I hope they don't send that notice out with MY domain and experation to someone else and then they pay and renew it ! What would happen if that happened? Would they just not get my domain (hopefully) or would I loose my domain?

 

[ZuraX]

If you renewed it they wouldnt get it. If you let it slip into redemption then expire then yes they would.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

It is remotely possible with .com/.net domains if they are not locked at the registrar, since a registrar transfer could be initiated. You would be emailed with a chance to decline it, but if they email found it's way to a spam filter....

Lock you domains and you should be pretty safe.

 

[tcarr]

Thank you for your replies.

Mark - I have looked up my domain at the registrar that the hosting company uses and it says my domain has "REGISTRAR-LOCK" on it so I guess it means I'm safe. It did have me worried a moment. Also I noticed at the arin whois lookup there's links to "backorder" a domain (ie. buy it when it comes up from renewal) which anyone can get to. But since it's "Locked" then people can't buy it that way, I assume?

I'm glad registrar's have ways to keep domains from being "stolen".

 

[AdoptableDomains]

Thank you for your replies.

Mark - I have looked up my domain at the registrar that the hosting company uses and it says my domain has "REGISTRAR-LOCK" on it so I guess it means I'm safe. It did have me worried a moment. Also I noticed at the arin whois lookup there's links to "backorder" a domain (ie. buy it when it comes up from renewal) which anyone can get to. But since it's "Locked" then people can't buy it that way, I assume?

They can place a backorder that would apply only if YOU let it expire first. You don't normally have to lock org/info/us/biz names since the person attempting a transfer would need the EPP auth code in order to successfully transfer. However, if offered, it's a good second line of defense.

I'm glad registrar's have ways to keep domains from being "stolen".

There are still plenty of ways for someone to steal a name, so be careful. Use strong passwords on your domain accounts, and never give them out. Watch for "phishing" attempts that could try to get your password. Viruses that have keystoke loggers could also give someone your password, so keep good virus protection. Your domains are only as strong as your account access.

Also, keep your contacts up-to-date. More domains are lost to unknown /unremembered expires than theft. Also, make sure you whitelist your registrars if you have local or ISP spam protection so the renewal notices don't end up in the spam filter trash.

 

[tcarr]

Thanks for the good advice. I'll remember that. The nice thing about this web hosting company is that you never get a notice nor have worry about renewals as long as you have an active, paid up account. They always take care of that for me. But it's nice to know the inner workings of domains anyway.

 

[1rrr1]

Thanks for the good advice. I'll remember that. The nice thing about this web hosting company is that you never get a notice nor have worry about renewals as long as you have an active, paid up account. They always take care of that for me. But it's nice to know the inner workings of domains anyway.

yes i agree that is a comvenience if you are with a good hosting company, but i bad company may take your domain and hold it when you want to leave.

 

[tcarr]

Luckily, the hosting company I use isn't like that. If you want to leave and take your domain with you, they let you do that as well. Though I wouldn't want to leave.

 

[AdoptableDomains]

My general advice is:

Never by hosting from a domain registrar.
Never by domains from a web host (or assume they will renew for you).

For both pricing and service reasons.

 

[Rob]

yes i agree that is a comvenience if you are with a good hosting company, but i bad company may take your domain and hold it when you want to leave.

Exactly whats happened to me...

 

[armstrong]

However, I hope they don't send that notice out with MY domain and experation to someone else and then they pay and renew it ! What would happen if that happened? Would they just not get my domain (hopefully) or would I loose my domain?

Netsol allows third parties to renew your domain, so its unlikely but possible that you'll get a free renewal paid for by someone else. :hehe:

Luckily, the hosting company I use isn't like that. If you want to leave and take your domain with you, they let you do that as well. Though I wouldn't want to leave.

Have you personally gone through such as transfer process with them? There are many horror stories about webhosts who stiff their clients when it comes to transfers, either by simply ignoring the transfer request or by charging an exorbitant "processing fee".

 

[RJ]

I'm familiar with the Domain Registry of America's transfer process. They are a eNom reseller who sends out these transfer advertisements that look like renewal bills. When someone actually sends the money to them, they initiate a registrar transfer in their eNom account and it proceeds as normal. The domain owner still receives notification from eNom's transfer system, and hopefully from their current registrar as well.

The only time a transfer would go through without notification is if the email contact is out of date and the domain does not have registrar-lock on at its current registrar.

 

[tcarr]

armstrong - I didn't leave and take a domain with me but I do know someone who did leave the hosting company I use (for whatever reason I guess she thought she wanted a different host), and it went rather smoothly.

FWIW, I have grown to trust the company I use for hosting so I am not too worried about it. But I was just curious in my initial post wondering if someone could back order and then when it comes up for renewal automatically get it. Doesn't seem to be the case since the domain is in fact locked, thankfully.