Registrar Question

[BlackDiamond]

Suppose a registrar has language in their registration agreement that a domain name may be renewed with a "regular" renewal for a certain period of time after its expiration. Is the registrar allowed to make an extension for this period beyond the language of their agreement (say to the maximum allowed number of days)? I know that the period can be shortened given the circumstances, but I'm not sure if it can be lengthened. Can it?

 

[Earthian]

I will provide an explanation with GoDaddy ... the other registrars are similar , maybe a little different durations and/or prices







after the domain expires (as explained on the Domain Registration Agreement Section 1 , Paragragh 3 & 4) you can renew it for 12 days for the regular price



effectively , you can renew it up until the 18th for the same price but you have to click on Renew Domains from the drop down when you hover over Domains in the homepage (the domain cannot be renewed from the Domain Control Panel)




after the 18th and until the 42nd the domain can be renewed for $80 + fees by calling customer service (probably works with a message too) ... this is until the end of the TDNAM auction and FireSale




after that , if the domain was not won at a TDNAM auction/FireSale , the domain can be renewed for $80 + fees until it enters Pending Delete (after that it enters Pending Delete and 5 days later it becomes available and gets dropcatched , tasted or hand-regged)




if the domain was won on TDNAM there might be a chance to dispute it , but I am not sure it would be fruitful since the ability for GoDaddy to transfer the domain to a new registrant after the 42 days is in their Domain Registration Agreement (last sentence of the 3rd Paragraph in Section 1 in the link above) which you accepted when you regged a domain ... but eNom does not consider a transfer of an expired domain to a new registrant as complete and irrevocable until the whole 72 days has passed (12 days Renewal Grace Period + 30 days Registrar Redemption Period + 30 days Registry Redemption Period) ... maybe they do that to cover themselves from legal issues since ... the Registry Redemption Period (42nd to the 72nd) is there for a reason and that is to protect the Registrant







hope this is helpful ...

​

 

[BlackDiamond]

Well, it is helpful in general, but I'm not sure if I was asking was clear.

Using GoDaddy as an example, could GoDaddy selectively decide to let a domain name be renewed at the regular price past the 18 day term? (By the way, the registrar is NOT GoDaddy.)

 

[Earthian]

yes , they can renew it at the regular price ... but usually they won't ...


AFAIK , it is at the registrar's discretion to charge the redemption fee for the Registrar Redemption Period (12th - 42nd) though most registrars will charge it ...


if you are renewing many expired domains together (or you are a very good customer) you can ask for a discount on the aggregated redemption fees , but in most other cases they will not "bulge" ... think about it , it is like an unexpected extra revenue out of nowhere lol


during the Registry Redemption Period (42nd - 72nd) I think there is a charge from the Registry (eg. for .coms from VeriSign) so they will most probably charge the redemption fee (since they would in turn will have to pay the redemption fee to the Registry)

​

 

[Dave_Z]

Suppose a registrar has language in their registration agreement that a domain name may be renewed with a "regular" renewal for a certain period of time after its expiration. Is the registrar allowed to make an extension for this period beyond the language of their agreement (say to the maximum allowed number of days)? I know that the period can be shortened given the circumstances, but I'm not sure if it can be lengthened. Can it?

You mean like the registrar's agreement says it'll allow its registrant to renew
the expired domain name within up to 10 days, then extend it without stating
such? Hmm, seems like you're talking about eNom?

Short answer is yes. Long answer is it depends how their contract is worded,
and what their actions show.

 

[BlackDiamond]

Maybe I should explain the situation more clearly.

There's a domain name at a registrar that expired some time ago and is currently "on hold." Even though the registrant has not renewed it, as per industry practice, the domain name was automatically renewed at the registry level pending the renewal of the actual registrant. The registrar in question has set a period of X number of days in its registration agreement to allow the registrant to renew the domain name more or less normally.

However, it has been several days (almost a week) past the X number of days contained with the agreement and while the domain name should have entered the RedemptionPeriod status (and the resulting, auto-renewal with the registry revoked), it has not. Yet the registrar data itself shows that this domain name has not been renewed.

So that's what I was unsure about. If a renewal was not processed during the set term of X days, why isn't this domain name being put into redemption?

 

[Earthian]

if the status of the domain is "On-Hold" it means it is in the initial 42 days after expiration ...







"Redemption Period" Status refers to Registry Redemption Period (43 - 72) as described above and not Registrar Redemption Period (13 - 42)







the terms Registrar Redemption Period and Registry Redemption Period are usually used to differentiate between the time that the registrar practically has control of the domain (and can auction it off) and the time that the domain has "left the control" of the registrar ... of course during both periods the domain can be renewed (retrieved) provided that the redemption fee is paid ...







so the status should change to Redemption Period not after the first 12 days that are usually called Renewal Grace Period (or the extended 18 days) but after the 42nd ...







if you are thinking about waiting for the domain to drop so you can register it (or re-register it , supposing it was yours previously and you don't want to pay the redemption fee) , then ...

... if the domain has any value (like good keyword(s) , traffic or backlinks) ... it is has a 99% probability that a dropcatcher or taster will get it

... if it does not have obvious value the above probability is again rather high since the grab anything these days

if it worths a lot to you , it worths to pay the redemption fee if you previously owned it and eliminate the risk of losing it

alternatively , a good dropcatching company might be a good idea if you want to raise your chances at acquiring it

​

 

[Name Trader]

Going with this GoDaddy example. The question of whether a registrar will allow renewal at regular price beyond their ToS stated date has already been answered. The answer is yes. GoDaddy's ToS says 12 days, but they allow you another 6 days to renew at regular price.

 

[Dave_Z]

If a renewal was not processed during the set term of X days, why isn't this domain name being put into redemption?

http://icann.org/registrars/eddp.htm

3.7.5 At the conclusion of the registration period, failure by or on behalf of the Registered Name Holder to consent that the registration be renewed within the time specified in a second notice or reminder shall, in the absence of extenuating circumstances, result in cancellation of the registration by the end of the auto-renew grace period (although Registrar may choose to cancel the name earlier).

3.7.5.1 Extenuating circumstances are defined as: UDRP action, valid court order, failure of a Registrar's renewal process (which does not include failure of a registrant to respond), the domain name is used by a nameserver that provides DNS service to third-parties (additional time may be required to migrate the records managed by the nameserver), the registrant is subject to bankruptcy proceedings, payment dispute (where a registrant claims to have paid for a renewal, or a discrepancy in the amount paid), billing dispute (where a registrant disputes the amount on a bill), domain name subject to litigation in a court of competent jurisdiction, or other circumstance as approved specifically by ICANN.

3.7.5.2 Where Registrar chooses, under extenuating circumstances, to renew a domain name without the explicit consent of the registrant, the registrar must maintain a record of the extenuating circumstances associated with renewing that specific domain name for inspection by ICANN consistent with clauses 3.4.2 and 3.4.3 of this registrar accreditation agreement.

In the one you're asking about, only the registrar knows.

 

[BlackDiamond]

As you tried to tell me, it turns out I was the one getting confused. I'm sorry for asking the same questions over and over.

Going with this GoDaddy example. The question of whether a registrar will allow renewal at regular price beyond their ToS stated date has already been answered. The answer is yes. GoDaddy's ToS says 12 days, but they allow you another 6 days to renew at regular price.

Yeah, you're right. I misunderstood what you wrote, because some other registrars I've dealt with do not give any leeway beyond what was stated in their agreements. It turns out that it's not just GoDaddy. I'll just wait until its resolved one way or the other.

the terms Registrar Redemption Period and Registry Redemption Period are usually used to differentiate between the time that the registrar practically has control of the domain (and can auction it off) and the time that the domain has "left the control" of the registrar ... of course during both periods the domain can be renewed (retrieved) provided that the redemption fee is paid ...

if the status of the domain is "On-Hold" it means it is in the initial 42 days after expiration ...


"Redemption Period" Status refers to Registry Redemption Period (43 - 72) as described above and not Registrar Redemption Period (13 - 42)


so the status should change to Redemption Period not after the first 12 days that are usually called Renewal Grace Period (or the extended 18 days) but after the 42nd ...

See, I was getting confused by the terminology. Joker.com and Melborune IT, and other registrars call the latter "Registry Redemption Period" the "Redemption Grace Period," and the former period as far as I had known had no unified name (I just call it a renewal period). Are you saying, though, that there is a redemption fee that has to be paid when a domain name expires and is in that first "Registrar Redemption Period?" I thought the registry just renewed the domain name and waited for the registrars to collect the money (and send the registry their fee) and update the status in the interim, then charged that enormous fee only if the domain name is not renewed and entered the "Registry Redemption Period."

if you are thinking about waiting for the domain to drop so you can register it (or re-register it , supposing it was yours previously and you don't want to pay the redemption fee) , then ...

... if the domain has any value (like good keyword(s) , traffic or backlinks) ... it is has a 99% probability that a dropcatcher or taster will get it

... if it does not have obvious value the above probability is again rather high since the grab anything these days

if it worths a lot to you , it worths to pay the redemption fee if you previously owned it and eliminate the risk of losing it

alternatively , a good dropcatching company might be a good idea if you want to raise your chances at acquiring it

Thanks for the tips. I was planning on backordering it at the usual haunts, of course, and there's nearly no chance that I'll get it (especially since a savvy reader could figure it the domain name out easily from this thread). But I didn't want to sign up to backorder the domain name if it was renewed at the last minute. While the owner could still get the domain name out of redemption, as mentioned it would cost a LOT of money in proportion to what the domain name is worth (depending on the registrar), more so than backordering it and chancing an auction.

In the one you're asking about, only the registrar knows.

Indeed, so I'm going to have to wait for now. Thank you, everyone, for all of your help.

 

[Earthian]

Are you saying, though, that there is a redemption fee that has to be paid when a domain name expires and is in that first "Registrar Redemption Period?" I thought the registry just renewed the domain name and waited for the registrars to collect the money (and send the registry their fee) and update the status in the interim, then charged that enormous fee only if the domain name is not renewed and entered the "Registry Redemption Period."

the domain can be renewed at the regular price only in the first period (1-12/18 days ... actual number depends on registrar)

in the second (18-42 days) and third period (43-72 days) the registrant must pay a redemption fee (together with the regular fee) to get it ... the redemption fee is about ten times the regular fee (eg. at GoDaddy it is $80)

I was planning on backordering it

in most dropcatchers , you pay only if they grab it ... so unless it doesn't worth the hassle (sign-ups , reading the ToS , etc) , it is a good idea to put some backorders in the big dropcatchers ...

bear in mind that if it is still in Registrar Redemption Period you might be able to get it before it drops if it is in one of the following registrars ... (also it might be snapped before it drops if it gets backordered there by someone else and not reach Pending Delete)

GoDaddy >>> TDNAM (you said no , but I am mentioning it for newer members too)
NetworkSolutions + eNom >>> NameJet
I think Moniker and some more registrars >>> SnapNames
MelbourneIT >>> Afternic








lastly , even though there are quite some cases that people pay the redemption fee ... in general , domainers try to renew before it goes to Registrar Redemption ... if it goes to Registrar Redemption (and especially the Registry Redemption) it will probably get deleted or auctioned off beforehand as mentioned above

​

 

[webnic]

Basically, different Registrars have difference practices. Therefore it is best to clarify with your registrar on terms and condition that is practice internally to avoid confusion.