Acquiring a Domain Name as soon as it has Expired

**dharrison** · #1 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 02:35 PM

Hi

One of my friends bought a domain name for her business a while ago and ended up paying a shed load of money for a puny website that she hadn't even asked for. She now has a separate website under a different name.

The yearly contract that she signed on purchasing the original domain name is nearly up and she doesn't want to sign up for another year.

However, they would like to still have that name and set up a redirect on the name to point to their current website (which is not a problem). They just don't want to do anything via this company that ripped them off to start with. And they certainly don't particularly want to show any interest to where the name going, just in case the company try to sting her again.

My question is this: Is there a way or a resource online that can inform you when a domain name is due to expire or is no longer in use? And if so could you let me know it? Or do you have to wait until it is released back into the pool for anyone to acquire it?

Any help, as always will be gratefully received.

Many thanks and best regards,

vwebworld · #2 (**permalink**) 01-10-2006, 09:17 PM

IF she is the admin contact... she can tranfer that
domain name and not have to wait until it expires.

Transfer for 8.75
vwebworld domains

If you go to the above site you can also look up a
domain name... registration info, contact, dates..etc.

There are services that will monitor domains... but to
cost something.

~Roland

**dharrison** · #3 (**permalink**) 01-11-2006, 02:40 AM

Thanks for that Roland.

She is the admin contact and I have asked her, so I'll see. The only problem is that the domain name company have been quite cunning by adding her email address to their domain (example: jade smith, email jade@domainco.com) and her contact numbers are that of the domain company.

You see, she signed up to a company in UK that seem really bent. They approach companies saying that they can recommend this or that name for their firm, gets them to sign a contract and then builds a web page around that domain name and puts in a photo that is sort of related to that business.

I wish I could tell you all who that company is to make you all aware, but I've attacked them on my blog many a time. I've had 3 customers on my books that have been swindled by this lot and how they are still going on (not necessarily strong) is completely beyond me.

But I digress.

Roland, If say we used vwebworld's backorder service, does the backorder price includes the reservation of the domain name, or is the $18.95 solely for them notifying us when it is available? Also what happens if you cannot get the said domain name for us? Like what do we pay then? Please advise.

Forgive the daft questions but I do like to be aware of everything.

Best regards,

vwebworld · #4 (**permalink**) 01-11-2006, 11:52 PM

Yes the backorder includes the registration of the domain.
If you don't get the name, you don't lose money: You can re-assign your backorder fee to another name until you capture one.

BUT.. if she has access to the domain registration
she can change her contact email AND transfer the domain.

~Roland

Bidera · #5 (**permalink**) 01-12-2006, 11:46 AM

That hosting company sounds rather evil.

At least you can rest assured that they are not alone in this practice.

There was an unnamed hosting company with whom I had the displeasure to deal with a few years ago, they were a major pain to transfer out of.

Basically, they put a lock on the domain, when we tried to move it.

Burf.com · #6 (**permalink**) 01-12-2006, 12:01 PM

I do all my domain stuff thorugh 123reg.co.uk as they are quite big (being pipex) and if I remember .co.uk etc were free transfer and .com are pretty cheap.

They do sound very evil!

**dharrison** · #7 (**permalink**) 01-12-2006, 01:02 PM

I wish I could tell you all the name of the offending company, so you are all aware!! But I don't want the little lucifers to sue me, cos I've got kids to support.

They are evil. I've attacked them in my blog a number of times. I have 3 customers on my books now that have been stung by the said company.

I will ask my friend ref login details but this company's contract is so scrappy looking its hardly legible.

Thanx for your help all of you. :)

Burf.com · #8 (**permalink**) 01-12-2006, 01:38 PM

cant you pm people it? I am quite curious now

ryanforbes · #9 (**permalink**) 03-13-2006, 10:05 AM

I buy all mine through openmind domains see www.openmindmedia.co.uk they also do a backorder service for when domain names expire. Or try www.snapnames.com i just won a couple of good ones over the weekend that expired.

autopilot · #10 (**permalink**) 03-24-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dharrison

Hi

One of my friends bought a domain name for her business a while ago and ended up paying a shed load of money for a puny website that she hadn't even asked for. She now has a separate website under a different name.

The yearly contract that she signed on purchasing the original domain name is nearly up and she doesn't want to sign up for another year.

However, they would like to still have that name and set up a redirect on the name to point to their current website (which is not a problem). They just don't want to do anything via this company that ripped them off to start with. And they certainly don't particularly want to show any interest to where the name going, just in case the company try to sting her again.

My question is this: Is there a way or a resource online that can inform you when a domain name is due to expire or is no longer in use? And if so could you let me know it? Or do you have to wait until it is released back into the pool for anyone to acquire it?

Any help, as always will be gratefully received.

Many thanks and best regards,

Yes, there are some recouces for expired domains. Your friend even shouldn't pay for an expired domain name because a large number of valuable expired and deleted domains available for free, you even do not have to bid for them. For example I can recommand www.domainannounce.com.

This source for example gives very detailed information about the technical worth of an expired domain and many domains are to register right away without paying anything to the pre-owner or the former registry company. They check Page Rank and Backlinks and if a domain is more likley for search engines whis is very important if you sell good through a website.

Most expired and deleted domainnames still contain webtraffic which is alway welcome in a commercial website.

**dharrison** · #11 (**permalink**) 03-25-2006, 04:34 PM

Hi

Thanks for your advice ryanforbes and autopilot, but my customer got the domain name transferred across about a month ago.

You are right, my friend shouldn't have to pay for an expired domain name, but the hosting company they were dealing with was a bit of a farce. Put it this way there is currently a petition on Petitions Online against the said company.

I can Pm you the link if you like, because it makes for very interesting reading. :)