Expired Domain Names

Minh asked:


Our domain name is about to expire at Meccahosting, We’ve been trying to extend it for over month, but they are reluctant to do it or not willing to release our domain name. We’re afraid to loose our domain name. We the owner of the domain name and we have to right to extend. What can we do legally besides from reporting to BBB. (better business bureau)

eric asked:


I want to go with a different web host and have canceled my website through vistaprint. It says it is pending cancellation for another two weeks, so I can’t register my name with my new site until it expires. (I assume it will be available then?) If I go ahead and register my site as xxxxx.net instead of xxxxx.com, can I later purchase and add .com as well so they both are directed to my site? Will vistaprint “release” my domain name once my site is officially canceled?

B asked:


I would like to buy a certain website to use for my business. It is currently set to expire later this month. The current owner is a small non computer industry related company located on the pacific coast. The domain name is actually being used to host a website for an entirely different small business located in a state rather far away. That business is a local area business, and not a company that operates nationally or internationally. If for some reason the owner does not “auto renew” and the domain expires and I am able to purchase it through some company like Go Daddy, will I be able to use it myself, especially if the current user is not the same company that previously owned it? If they had a lease agreement with the original domain owner, would I be bound by that or could I immediately “repossess” the domain? Assuming I buy the domain name, and the current user is unaware of that, and their site still continues to be functional under whatever current hosting arrangement they have, would it be possible for me to take possession and have my own site put up and the domain transferred without going through any formal notification or legal process, and wait for them to contact me after the fact?

Is there an industry standard “grace period” in which a former owner can automatically reclaim an expired domain name, or would ICANN force me to give it back to them even if I have a legitimate business use for the name myself? In this case, the current USER may NOT be the same entity as the former OWNER, so would the former OWNER be the only one with standing who could bring such a claim?

Jay asked:


I looked up operationivy.com on the Web Archive, but it won’t let me download any tracks from their bootlegs; it says that the page isn’t archived. Anyway, I was wondering if there was another way, besides torrents, to download Operation Ivy’s bootlegs and unreleased songs? On a side note, why hasn’t the site been updated in, like, two years? It used to say there would be a new design in ’09, but now it redirects to a different page saying the domain name’s expired. :\

Wayne Johnson asked:


I whoised a domain name I am interested in acquiring and it has expired. It is registered at enom however and says it is under “reactivation period”. What does this mean? Will this domain expire or not?

Thanks!

hi asked:


Status: PENDING DELETE RESTORABLE
This is the status for a domain name that I like (not a TLD). However, the last updated date is a few days after the expiration date (Feb 2011). Will this domain expire, or has the owner already renewed it?

nekodrugi99 asked:


(sure, if this owner does not renew it)

bugz asked:


My friend thought he was doing me a favor, but I haven’t been able to find him since my domain name expired. I don’t want to have to bid on it in an auction, I just want to renew the domain name associated with my business over 12 years ago.

Maxeen007 asked:


Need help about domain redemption?
I’m having the most horrible time redeeming my domain name. I was never notified that the domain was expiring for one. Next, I have to pay 100- to redeem. Next, they are requiring I that the information in my Google App’s acct and my GoDaddy account are exactly the same. I did not sign up for a GoDaddy account until a year after I purchased the domain so I don’t remember anything, I moved, etc.

I had to contact domains by proxy to get my google apps acct information so I can match it. Then, they are asking me for my domain’s business license. I don’t have one – I never was asked to provide one when I bought the domain. It’s never been owned by anyone but me.

What can I do? I’ve lost a week of work because of this. I cannot get my contacts, emails, documents that are in that email acct. My clients are getting upset.

I’m at a loss….this has been going on for a week. One person even told me today that if I cannot get this information (the business license) I won’t get my domain back which means I won’t get my emails and documents and contacts back.

Let me clarify about the business license: I am a consultant, I do 1099 work, but I got the domain to correspond with everyone instead of having a personal email. But I put my consulting name as the business name. I don’t know about all of this. I was never asked to provide any business license when they sold it to me – why would I have to show one to get my domain back? Isn’t my Drivers License sufficient…what if they won’t give it back to me? Do they then take all of my contacts, documents and correspondence?

I feel like suing them over this…I’ve lost a week of work, my clients are upset, I can’t access documents, etc.
I have been on the phone with everyone for a week now. It all has to be done over email.

royal asked:


I am physically exhausted. I have spent 5 hours trying to find a solution to a simple problem. A domain name I hold is due to expire in 2 days. A card I was using to make payment has expired so I tried to enter a new one. I used my correct google email and clicked on all highlighted areas, but I cannot access checkout, just gives a blank page with no updated information that I supplied. On other attempts because I have not got a zip code as I am based in London, it wont go further. I have tried high and low but cannot access a telephone number for them and their forums do not have my problem. I am worried my domain is going to expire, what can I do and who can I ring as their emails are No reply ones