I have a friend that's been with f2s and as everyone knows they've recently decided to cut the free service. That's fine and understandable - we all knew it was coming.

The problem he's running into is this. He's considering the paid service. They've been a good host and all, and if he's actually going to put money into a website, he wants to have his own domain name. We're both semi-knowledgeable about such things and we're both uncomfortable with this policy of requiring domain names transferred to f2s for several reasons.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if he were to do this, would he not risk not being able to take the name with him if he leaves, or perhaps having f2s hold his domain hostage until imagined fees are paid?

He had an email conversation with them in which they said he HAD to transfer (which had earlier clarified to mean accessing rights) his domain "as there are simply too many mistakes/technical support difficulties."

Perhaps we'd be more comfortable if someone could explain to us what kind of difficulties there could be when the user has already pointed out he knows how to point his domain at a DNS.

how much do they charge? you can get several alternatives here that do't require a domain right transfer.

f2s seems a good company and it should be OK to do it. I think you need to ask for at least something in writing indicating that the transfer is simply a method for them to manage the dns, doesn't mean they own the domains.

After I wrote it, I felt it's weird. Why other hosts don't request this? :rolleyes:

. I think you need to ask for at least something in writing indicating that the transfer is simply a method for them to manage the dns, doesn't mean they own the domains.

I seem to remember another host (infamous on this board) that would seize domains. I guess stories like those are what has us spooked. Yeah, we could get something in writing, but where do we go with it? Yeah, they won't own it, but if they decide to remove all his email addresses from the whois information, he'll have absolutely no control over it.

MIND YOU - We're not saying they have done anything like this or that we have any indication they would... we're just looking for opinions. Are we freaked out over nothing?

Originally posted by Mage
He had an email conversation with them in which they said he HAD to transfer (which had earlier clarified to mean accessing rights) his domain "as there are simply too many mistakes/technical support difficulties."

Perhaps we'd be more comfortable if someone could explain to us what kind of difficulties there could be when the user has already pointed out he knows how to point his domain at a DNS.
To me, I'd think you'd generate at least as many, if not more, support difficulties in transferring a domain, than just entering nameservers. If this is the case, then I'd personally look elsewhere.