Transfering over 2'000 domains - Any advice to get bulk auth keys ?

[DomainEmpire.com]

We need to transfer away from Dotster over 2'000 domains but they're making our life hard because it's quite impossible retrieving their auth keys in bulk through their interface, we tried in small bundles of 10 names per query but we continue to get failure notices or not working auth codes.

Is there an Icann rule which can force them to retrieve all keys on our behalf ? What's the best way to transfer away our full domain portfolio from there ? We're ready to hire a lawyer if necessary but we need to know our rights first.

We're totally unhappy with Dotster/Domain.com lately: we tried to renew small bundles of domains directly there, some renewals failed and we're fighting hard to get such orders refunded, every time we open a support ticket, they don't understand our requests and they reply quickly with an off topic discussion and so on ... It's really time to leave them now.

In January they'll upgrade our main account to their new platform (already tested from a secondary account, even more disadvantages and no option to try retrieving auth codes in bulk).

Any advice to come easily out from this frustrating situation ?

Thanks

 

[NetOctave]

We're ready to hire a lawyer if necessary but we need to know our rights first.

By the time a lawyer studies all the law points and your case is settled, your domains would either have expired or you would have paid the renewals to dotster

It will be cheaper to outsource the whole activity to some one else. Its a monotonous work, but some body could do all the work for you by making a list of domain name and the authorization code. Later you can use this list to transfer it out ...

1. Clicking the authorize link on dotster.
2. Waiting for the authorization email
3. Getting the code and paste it in a sheet
4. Unlock the domain from dotster

2000 names would take a long long time assuming less than 5 minutes to complete all the above.

But still could be cheaper than a lawyer

EDIT - Forgot to mention that it will take around 5 days for the transfer to complete. So you have to again click the links to accept the transfer..

 

[verbster]

Have you spoken with them? What did they say?

Obviously, they don't want to lose 2000 domain renewals, but bad publicity will hurt them just as much. Posting here will get back to them, so give it a day or two and call them.

 

[Kate]

Is there an Icann rule which can force them to retrieve all keys on our behalf ?

AFAIK no. "The registrar must provide you with the Auth-Info code within 5 calendar days of your request."
http://www.icann.org/en/resources/registrars/transfers/name-holder-faqs

You can retrieve the auth code yourself, online. But typically, you have to retrieve them one by one.
Many registrars support bulk transfers IN, but they don't want to make it too easy for you to leave

I don't know how many domains you've got, but perhaps you would benefit from running your own registrar.
There is also the possibility of leasing a registrar (check out myrebel for an example).


Now, if I were you, I would make a script using cURL/PHP to automate the job. If you need to submit only one request per domain because bulk requests fail, no problem.
Let the script do the job for you.

 

[trendicator]

wow, you're on a hard case here, but you could try to seek help from your next registrar, and they may help you out for your business

 

[Ted.T]

I can help you transfer them one by one
Sure, for a "small" amount of money

 

[Sam]

Yep, outsource it to a junior family member who needs some Xmas cash. Give em $50 at the end of the job .

 

[tansks]

You may contact logicboxes to become you own icann accredited registrar

 

[FPForum]

As others have said..with the time the lawyer is going to take - you better have a few months left before they expire at least.

Your best options are..
A) Have someone else go in and do them one-by-one
B) Contact the registrar you are looking to move to and explain it to them..For the amount of domains you are transferring they very well may be happy to help for the amount of cash they will be making off it.

 

[alien51]

Yep, outsource it to a junior family member who needs some Xmas cash. Give em $50 at the end of the job

Yes, i can't imagine handing the keys of my domains to a complete stranger. I'd rather ask my mother-in-law to do it for me.

 

[lincolndsp]

^^ lol. but true

 

[bulga]

For that amount of domains, it makes a lot more sense to use scripts.
If you can't do the scripts, try to find/outsource someone who will do it - that should be cheap < $15.

My suggestion:

1) Create a list of your domains;

2) Get Firebug (a Firefox plugin), and use it to automate the request of AUTH keys. You can use Firebug's command line to insert a small piece of JavaScript that will call directly the site's code for each domain in your list.

3) Get another script to parse your emails locally (can be anything).

Before doing all that for the whole list of domains, try it in a small list of 2 or 3 domains.

Good luck!

 

[utomo]

how about just giving the account to the buyer.
if that is the only domain left at the account

 

[nielsencl]

Godaddy allows you to get the auth via email, but you can also easily download the entire list of your domains WITH auth codes. Most other registrars also make this easier that what you are describing at Dotster (Tried 'em; didn't keep using them.).

I would ask them for help with this process and refer them to this thread. Many of us will subscribe and follow what happens with much interest.

Dotster (and other registrars if there are any left that are still this clueless) needs to understand that being difficult with a customer will have the exact opposite effect not only with that customer, but all the others that hear the story.