I have recently started business as a reseller targeting UK webmasters. I am getting frustrated because my clients' old hosts seem very slow and reluctant to update the DNS info. for my clients' domains when they try to move on.

With .com domains this is not a problem as I can suggest they transfer their domain to another registrar (eg Weblaunching). My client simply fills out a form at the new registrar and the transfer goes through (unless the old host/registrar blatantly refuses the transfer which is unlikely).

Transfering UK domains doesn't seem to be this easy.
The standard procedure seems to be for the client to contact the *old* registrar and ask them to change the IPS
TAG to that of the new registrar. So they are again reliant on the cooperation of the old registrar, who may be in no hurry to help.

Can anybody please recommend a reliable registrar who make the transferring in of UK domains as quick and painless as possible (preferably without relying too much on the cooperation of the old registrar)?

Thanks

Simon

http://www.netweaver.com/home/

or

http://www.ghoulnet.com

We've had trouble with this too in the past. If they are really slow at it (I think it is 6 weeks) then you can contact nominet and make a complaint against the Tag holder as they have to co-operate with you.

Hello
Nominet's current position on this is that if the domain owner asks for DNS changes to be made and there is no response after 48 hours then the owner can contact Nominet.

Nominet will then give the registrar member 48 hours to make the changes and if this doesn't happen they will make the update for the owner directly in the database.

It involves a faz request but initail contact with Nominet should be by e-mail.

I have had two clients use this solution in the past 10 days with very helpful service from the people at Nominet and the changes were made as promised.

Be careful not to get the TAG issue mixed up with the DNS.
The TAG relates to the original registrar. Yes, you can move registrar to another Nominet member but that's not usually necessary and its a seperate issue.

Gordon


PS I should have said that one of the *biggest* problems you will come accross is domain "owners" finding that they don't have ownership because the Nominet member they bought the name from has not paid for it yet.
I have seen some registrars take 9 months or more to settle their Nominet invoice so your customers could be in for a nasty shock. Nominet charge 80 pounds to pay the domain up directly. Most registrars are about 10 pounds.

With discount registrars you should stick to the ones that have DNS change form that links straight to the Nominet database. Even better if they provide their own DNS which can be handy in an emergency.


[Edited by GordonH on 12-08-2000 at 05:55 AM]

Thats why i like using netweaver they pay when you pay (=.

Thanks everyone for your very informative replies.

As I am targeting the UK, this was starting to become a real worry for me. Whenever I make a sale I have been almost dreading it being a UK domain transfer!

I now feel a lot happier knowing that I can force through a DNS change in a few days or, if necessary, an IPS TAG change in a few weeks.

Thanks again for your help.

Simon

Sorry, me again :)

One more question - is it possible to tell who the registrar is (ie their web address and e-mail details) from their TAG which comes up in the Whois search?

I know there is a list of registrars at the Nominet site, but I'm not sure how to relate this to the TAGs.

Cheers

Simon

We've had similar problems with clients in South America. Has anyone encountered this and if so any suggestions?

Yannick
http://www.hosting24-7.com
Reseller Plans Starting at $3.95/mo
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One more question - is it possible to tell who the registrar is (ie their web address and e-mail details) from their TAG which comes up in the Whois search?


Go to this page for an alphabetical list of the tags:
http://www.nominet.org.uk/ref/taglist.html

It doesn't list the URL's for these companies but you should be able to find them in a search engine.

Gordon

Thanks Gordon - that's just what I was looking for.