domain name stolen by hosting provider?

janicejan · #1 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005, 01:10 AM

Hi all,

Ten month ago I sign-up one year hosting on DTS-NET.com, they give me free domain name, so I choose acepeople.com, later I found that the server was very unreliable, several times I expereince all files lost in the server, when I move to new hosting I realize that administrator and technical contact was not me, so I request to transfer the domain name to my domain controller, but no help, I realize they use yahoo and excite free email for contact.

Is there anything I can do to get back my domain name, acepeople.com?

Jan

cyanide · #2 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005, 01:27 AM

Well, unfortunately you've made a mistake that alot of people have done.
Never, ever sign a long, 1-year contract or fall for the free domain ploy.
Although, some companies legitimately offer a free domain, there is usually a catch. And you would never know which one to trust.
They give the free domain, because you've paid for the year, but most likely in their terms, they actually own the domain for that year.

I've had to help numerous clients of mine get their domain back. You can start by contacting the actual registrar .

TechEvangelist · #3 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005, 11:47 AM

It may be tough to retrieve your domain name if they do not want to cooperate. Although it was free to you, if they paid the registration fee it legally belongs to them. Honest hosting companies will transfer the name to you for free or for a small fee. Ask them about that.

janicejan · #4 (**permalink**) 05-16-2005, 11:50 AM

Thanks for your comment, I will never made the same mistake again. I will try to contact the registrar and not the current registrant.

Jan

wipeout · #5 (**permalink**) 05-25-2005, 09:29 PM

Hi,

I am having the exact same situation. My web host provider WEBHOSTFREAKS.com continued to give me bad service and support.

So I asked what there policy was on a refund and he canceled my account and delted all my files. (good thing I backed up the night before) Anyways now I cant get my domain name back because it's registered under there name.

He said he would sell it to me even though I have paid for the domain name myself.

If you ask me this is plain theft and trickery, lying, backstabbing etc.

I can always just get another domain name but I would rather get my old one back any thing that I can do. I have already tried speaking with eric rosebrock at webhostfreaks.com about this but he acts like a child.

TechEvangelist · #6 (**permalink**) 05-26-2005, 08:40 AM

This should be a lesson learned to anyone who is considering a hosting arrangement where the hosting company registers the domain. NEVER allow a hosting company to register a domain name for you. Do it yourself. Once you know the domsin name you want, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to register the domain yourself at a top registrar such as GoDaddy, under an account you create, where hosting companies have no control over it and cannot steal it from you.

wipeout · #7 (**permalink**) 05-28-2005, 06:46 PM

Now my domain name points to some gay directory. these guys are doing this on purpose.

cspelts · #8 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 04:33 AM

wipeout, how valuable is this domain to you? If you've only had it a few months it might be easier to start over.

If it's *just* a gay directory it's not a huge deal - but if it's pointing at porn, I'm not sure you want it back! I've heard it can be difficult to get the search engines to index and rank a domain that has been associated with porn in the past.

wipeout · #9 (**permalink**) 05-29-2005, 06:39 PM

Hi,

its pointing to straight out porn. And pornographic link website. I have had the domain name for one year. And I was finaly starting to get some good link back. I am trying to negotiate with the web host provider to give it back to me but he is taking his time.

I am not going to pay for it. This domain name was stolen from me and I will not give them the satisfatcion. I would rather agrevate them until they give it back to me.

And I also dont have a problem with posting and reporting to web hosting review sites about there service and what they have done if I dont get it back.

ADAM Web Design · #10 (**permalink**) 05-30-2005, 11:52 AM

This doesn't always work, but it may help:

Take a piece of photo ID (driver's licence, etc.) and copy it.
If you don't have any letterhead containing your domain or company name (if your company name is similar to your domain name), create some.
Create a letter on the company letterhead in step 2 indicating the situation.
Contact the registrar and fax them the letter.
Follow up with an email to the registrar, carbon-copying the host company, asking if they received the fax.

Again, it doesn't always work, but it's worth a shot.

wipeout · #11 (**permalink**) 05-30-2005, 12:32 PM

Thanks, I will try that and let you know what happens. I'm starting to think of creating a webpage to help people in these kind of situations. I have picked up alot of helpful information that people in these situations could use.

wrmineo · #12 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 01:20 AM

Sadly, cspelts makes a good point that you've unfortunately confirmed - this is not likely a domain you want back at this point considering what's been done to/with it.

Let us know how it turns out; new domain name, obtaining the old (if for the principle of the matter if nothing else), starting a "support group" to help and/or alert others (using the old domain name maybe ...)

Good luck - stay focused!
w®m

krooga · #13 (**permalink**) 06-06-2005, 09:51 PM

Hey Jan,
I have come up accross the same situation as you except that it wasnt a hosting company that hijacked my domain but a registrar. I finally got it back after the help of the ICANN, unfortunately in your case unless the hosting company is a registrar I doubt the ICANN can be of help. Anyway good luck and keep us posted,

Sam

wipeout · #14 (**permalink**) 06-22-2005, 08:15 PM

Hi,

Well I just gave up on getting my domain name back. Since google and all the other search engines already index it as a porn page.

It wont take me as long to get my domain name back up there since I already have the experience.

My new domain name is now www.datingsas.com

I would think it would be better since dating is the first word anyways.

clicksoft · #15 (**permalink**) 07-07-2005, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TechEvangelist

This should be a lesson learned to anyone who is considering a hosting arrangement where the hosting company registers the domain. NEVER allow a hosting company to register a domain name for you. Do it yourself. Once you know the domsin name you want, it takes about 5 to 10 minutes to register the domain yourself at a top registrar such as GoDaddy, under an account you create, where hosting companies have no control over it and cannot steal it from you.

I don't totally agree with this. As an Application Service Provider, we offer a free domain as long as they host with us. If they host somewhere else, they can take the domain with them. Just make sure the hosting company makes it clear that they will make the domain available for them if they decide to change hosting providers. I find that it's more convenient,if a GOOD hosting company takes care of everything for you. I have seen more cases of domains expiring on people because they didn't keep their contact information current. They completely forget about it until it is too late. It is our policy to make the owner contact and administrative contact the ACTUAL owner of the domain name (per ICANN regulations), yet we pay for the domain ourselves automatically. As long as its stated clearly in the agreement, there shouldn't be any problem..