My domain's current contract with Hostrocket is going to expire soon and I'm planning on switching to another host. I felt like I was paying far too much than what I was actually getting from them. Can anyone tell me how I should go about doing that? Also, can I get a few recommendations of what host I should go with or any good host comparison sites?

- Not too much space... 60mb would be great, although I'd be content with about 40 or so.
- MySQL, php, ssi, etc. for free or low prices.
- Good support, reliable
- Inexpensive!!! (around $10 a month or so)
- Few down times...
- A hefty amount of subdomains and email fowarding. I don't care about having pop3 or not.
- I don't think my site's going to generate that much traffic (it's just a small personal domain), so bandwith isn't much of an issue.

Thanks for any help. :) Sorry if I sound like I'm mooching or anything...

Is the domain name registered to you or HostRocket?

If it is registered to you then it should be easy.
If it is registered to HostRocket, you should be nice to them until you get your domain name back.

:D

as I know, HR doesn't support for domain registration . So I suppose it's his domain . Ok, if you have your domain going to expire, then go to stargateinc.com and register 1 account there . Then ask them for transfering your domain to them (only $9/year, cheap huh?) . Once your domain is transferred, then you can set up nameserver, dns ... everything else related to domain .
Go to aletia.com and sign up 1 account (10/month you get 200mb webspace with 10gig bandwidth) . Right now, I have everything that they offer with that plan . The support is fast . Just try to email them one , you will know (don't need to be their custommer to get fast response ) . At the weekend (as I experienced) , you can get response within 5 mins .

I did register my domain name using Hostrocket... is that what you mean? As I see it, I'd have to re-register my domain name with one site, then find another site for hosting?

Whois Results for wish-cafe.net
hostrocket.com
23 maple ridge
ballston lake, ny 12019
US

Domain Name: wish-cafe.net
Administrative Contact:
brendan brader webmaster@hostrocket.com
hostrocket.com
23 maple ridge
ballston lake, ny 12019
US
Phone- 5185054386
Fax-
Technical Contact:
brendan brader webmaster@hostrocket.com
hostrocket.com
23 maple ridge
ballston lake, ny 12019
US
Phone- 5185054386
Fax-

Record updated on 2001-03-26 02:13:54.
Record created on 2001-03-26.
Record expires on 2002-03-26.
Database last updated on 2001-11-14 13:12:05 EST.

Domain servers in listed order:

NS3.HRWEBSERVICES.NET 216.74.120.200
NS4.HRWEBSERVICES.NET 216.74.120.201

----------
I'd send a Support ticket to get this changed to your name before you move from HostRocket.

Thanks for the help.

Sorry if I sound ignorant or anything, but whatever exactly should I do here? Does this mean I don't technically own the domain name? Should there be no Hostrocket references on the whois information?

Yeah,
When you paid for that domain, although you registered with hostrocket, you still own it . They shouldn't be in your whois . Email them talking about it . Besides, go to stargateinc.com and make a transfer . Maybe stargateinc.com will do it for you .

Damn, I feel unsafe with registering domain at a host provider .

Originally posted by WebUser
Yeah,
When you paid for that domain, although you registered with hostrocket, you still own it . They shouldn't be in your whois . Email them talking about it . Besides, go to stargateinc.com and make a transfer . Maybe stargateinc.com will do it for you .

Damn, I feel unsafe with registering domain at a host provider .

To what I know, the information under Registrant contact is the owner of the domain.

I know that the domain name is under bulkregister.com... Check here for the whois record (http://www.nsiregistry.com/cgi-bin/whois?whois_nic=wish-cafe.net&type=domain)

I have a customer also have a few domains under her ex-host (registered her domains using bulkregister.com) and the domain DNS updates from her ex-host is very SLOW.

Hope this helps ;)

Regards,
Choon

Thanks, I sent in a ticket. Let's hope this gets cleared up quickly.

"Besides, go to stargateinc.com and make a transfer . Maybe stargateinc.com will do it for you . "

What do you mean? Will they change it so that my name shows instead? "Transferring" means re-registering the domain, right?

HostRocket has to release the name to you.
It appears that, technically, they own it.
Hope they treat you right.
The registrar isn't going to be able to take your word for it that it's yours. HostRocket has to do that.

Originally posted by Juri
Thanks, I sent in a ticket. Let's hope this gets cleared up quickly.

What you ask in your ticket? Domain Registrant contact information?

"Besides, go to stargateinc.com and make a transfer . Maybe stargateinc.com will do it for you . "

That's provided you own that domain. To my understanding, the person contact & name in the domain Registrant contact will be the owner of that domain. Probably you have to ask your host to update it so that you *ready* own your domain.

What do you mean? Will they change it so that my name shows instead? "Transferring" means re-registering the domain, right?

What he means... you will transfer your domain to another registrar and also renew your domain for another year.

Choon

I told them that since I own the domain, their information isn't supposed to show up in the whois. I asked them to change it.

Thanks for clearing that up, choon. I guess it's pretty obvious that I'm new to domains, eh? Hostrocket's support has been pretty decent to me in the past, I'm fairly sure they'll take care of this soon.

Originally posted by SoftWareRevue
HostRocket has to release the name to you.
It appears that, technically, they own it.
Hope they treat you right.
The registrar isn't going to be able to take your word for it that it's yours. HostRocket has to do that.

I hope HR will release/transfer the domain name, you probably can ask your new Host to assist you by communicating with HR

I hope they don't drag their feet on the matter, try to work out with them in an amicable manner as officially they own your domain as the records says, so disputing it will be very difficult unless you kept records of email correspondence to support your claims. If you have record, send an email/fax to the domain registrar explaining the sitituation(your ignorance on registration of domain name and relied on your Host HR at that time to do the registration for you) and also sent a copy to HR.... BUT only do it if they refuse to transfer it back to you. I had a problem once and it was with NSI and I got back the domain name for my client.

Originally posted by cactus
so disputing it will be very difficult unless you kept records of email correspondence to support your claims. If you have record, send an email/fax to the domain registrar explaining the sitituation(your ignorance on registration of domain name and relied on your Host HR at that time to do the registration for you) and also sent a copy to HR.... BUT only do it if they refuse to transfer it back to you. I had a problem once and it was with NSI and I got back the domain name for my client.

If I'd known, I would've saved those emails... :o Something tells me that things are going to get rather difficult...

Originally posted by Juri


If I'd known, I would've saved those emails... :o Something tells me that things are going to get rather difficult...

Hopefully your host won't *act* differently when they know that you are changing host :(

Choon

If you paid a company to register a domain for you, they are bound by the terms of their registrar's agreement to make necessary alterations to that domain for you if only they are able to access the controls for it. Not honoring that agreement can get hosts in very, very hot water and can result in some cases of the registrar telling the host to take a hike. If you find that your host (and this is in general, mind you, not directed at HR) will not make the appropriate modifications that you request, go to the registrar and complain. Loudly. In most cases, hosts are good enough to manage the things they say they will. In some cases, they aren't, and even if you don't manage to get your domain out of their greasy little hands, you can often make sure their registrar lays down the boom on them.

Hi,

Sorry for digging up an old topic, but this issue STILL hasn't been resolved and my domain name's going to expire in a few weeks. I've sent in a few TT's to HostRocket and they agreed to change the whois info for me. I asked them there was some way I could show I had ownership of the domain without having to reveal too much personal information such as my address and such. I never got a reply, so I decided to pose this question to this board.

It's been nearly impossible to communicate with HR and I'm worried if I don't get this resolved soon, I can't renew my domain because I apparently don't own it even though I paid for it.

Juri,

Even if the domain expires, you normally still have a few weeks to months to renew it before it is deleted and free for anybody to register.

Send them a written request, fax and/or letter, so you have something in writing. Also consider registering a new domain similar to your current one, so you can get your new site going. Once this issue is resolved you "point" your current domain to your new domain.

Success!!

Originally posted by Juri
I asked them there was some way I could show I had ownership of the domain without having to reveal too much personal information such as my address and such. I never got a reply, so I decided to pose this question to this board.

HostRocket aren't especially well-known for providing fast support. :D

Back to your question, unfortunately you are legally required to use your real name and address when registering your domain name. However, I've never heard of anyone getting cough for supplying a false address.

I'd still send another support ticket to HostRocket and tell them to change to contacts on the domain.