Hi,

I have a domain registered with godaddy which is about to expire tomorrow. I thought since they now allow paypal it wouldn't be a problem to renew it. However, I ran into the problem which others seem to be having. I have funds in my paypal account and it is backed up with my bank, but for some reason I need to setup a credit card as well. I asked their customer service and they confirmed this. Someone posted on here, they received emails the following day on where you can send funds via paypal. Is this true, will I receive an email tomorrow giving me a paypal address I can pay to?

Is there any possible way I can transfer this domain over to namecheap (getting tired of godaddy and their problems)? This domain expires tomorrow, so I'm guessing it wouldn't go through. Could I let it expire, then register the domain with namecheap right after? Does godaddy provide you with any extra time if you don't renew a domain name? Do they hold it for you, or will my domain be available to buy once it expires tomorrow?

Anything you guys can think of to avoid signing up for another year with godaddy through creditcard? Thanks.

Well, it looks like it goes into a redemption period for 30 days. Looks like I'm stuck renewing this domain with godaddy, then transfering it to someone else.

This is a portion of Go Daddy's legal agreements:

If you fail to renew your domain name, you agree that Go Daddy may, at its sole discretion, renew your expired domain name on your behalf. If Go Daddy decides to renew your expired domain name on your behalf you will have a Renewal Grace Period during which you may reimburse Go Daddy for the renewal and keep your domain name. The Renewal Grace Period is currently 30 days but subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this Agreement.

If you do not reimburse Go Daddy for the renewal during the Renewal Grace Period your domain name will be placed on Hold and flagged for deletion after which you will have a 30 day Redemption Grace Period during which you may pay Go Daddy a Redemption fee and redeem your domain name. The Redemption fee is currently $80 USD and is subject to change under the terms of Section 2 of this agreement.

If you do not redeem your domain name prior to the end of the Redemption Grace Period Go Daddy may, at its sole discretion, delete your domain name or transfer it to another registrant on your behalf.

So you still have a grace period of 30 days to renew with them.
But Go Daddy has this rather strict policy to not allow transfers
until 60 days after renewal.

If you have the domain hosted, the files should be safe. I went from Godaddy.com to namecheap in the fall without any problems. Just make sure the domain is unlocked, and you have the correct email address in the whois for the next few days. If you want more detailed instructions, I can give them. :)

I'm not worried about files, since I'm hosted outside of godaddy. I just don't want to run into down time and problems with my domain suspended or in the redemption period. Namecheap says your domain cannot be transferred if it is going to expire within 7 days. Does this include the redemption period? Meaning even though it expires tomorrow, I can start the transfer today, and I shouldn't have any problems?

Ok, I think I found the answer, but maybe you guys can confirm this. So my domain will expire tomorrow, and I'll let this happen. After this, it will be automatically renewed, and godaddy will be billed for this $6.00US. In this grace period of 30days, I'm suppose to refund godaddy and renew my domain. Instead, I'll transfer it to namecheap, since it no longer expires tomorrow, but another year from now. Once I pay namecheap for the transfer, godaddy will be refunded since it is in this grace period, and it will be transferred to namecheap.

Is this what happens? So I should be safe to let it expire, then transfer after its autorenewed?

If you have auto-renew it should be safe to transfer anytime after the auto renew takes place. Keep checking the whois because that's what Name Cheap goes by, as does any registrar.

But you'll have to reimburse Godaddy before you can transfer it. The registration system specifically provides that a registrar can refuse a transfer if the registrant owes the registrar money, and I assume Godaddy would do so.

If you then transfer, the transferee will buy another year of registration, so you'll have two years.

Under the new rules, they have no choice though, correct? I'll request transfer after godaddy automatically renews it, and they have to transfer it over, unless I refuse correct?

So basically, I'll tell namecheap I want to transfer, and they'll send me an email. I'll confirm and then godaddy will be notified. And if I don't repond to them within 5 days saying I don't want to transfer, it will move to namecheap. Isn't this right?

Originally posted by web2813
Is this what happens? So I should be safe to let it expire, then transfer after its autorenewed?
Not really: you might have got some procedural facts mixed up. Do you mean your domain's expiry date is tomorrow? If so, you'll have about 30 days or so before it enters RGP. Okay, to make it simple: you may want to renew it with GoDaddy for another year. Wait for another 60 days and then transfer it away to any registrar you want. You won't get any refund but when you transfer away (and pay at the new, winning registrar), your domain registration will be extended for yet another year. I know that you don't like GoDaddy, but for amateur registrant, I do not recommend doing any risky. Hope this helps.

I think namecheap sends you a link to click to verify that the transfer is legit. You'll also get an email from godaddy.com stating that someone attempted to trasfer your domain and if this was you and you really want to go through with it, etc do nothing, blah, blah, blah. If you've ever changed hosts through them you'll know what I'm talking about.

Hope it works for the best. :)

Just renew the domain already.

I don't think Godaddy's going to leave you listed an admin contact if they renew the domain.

Originally posted by web2813
Under the new rules, they have no choice though, correct? I'll request transfer after godaddy automatically renews it, and they have to transfer it over, unless I refuse correct?


Nope, the new rules list about 8 valid reasons for the old registrar to refuse the transfer. Nonpayment is one of them (actually, it's two of them).

After you approve the transfer with cheapnames, the registry will send a request to godaddy to release the name. godaddy has 5 days to respond with a valid excuse (one of the 8) for not letting it go. What's new is that if godaddy doesn't respond at all, the transfer goes through. What's also new is that "We asked web2813 if it was OK to let it go and he never responded" is no longer a valid excuse.

If the name expires tomorrow you would NEED to renew it with the current registrar and transfer away. make sure you wait 45 days AFTER you renew to transfer it away or you may lose the time you added during the renewal

Originally posted by web2813
Under the new rules, they have no choice though, correct? I'll request transfer after godaddy automatically renews it, and they have to transfer it over, unless I refuse correct?

So basically, I'll tell namecheap I want to transfer, and they'll send me an email. I'll confirm and then godaddy will be notified. And if I don't repond to them within 5 days saying I don't want to transfer, it will move to namecheap. Isn't this right?

You're not expecting Go Daddy to give you a free ride, are you?

Remember, you owe them money. They may renew it, but it's their
money, not yours.

If you don't pay, you've no rights even if it's registered to your
name. Period.

Ditto what SoftWareRevue: just renew with them and get it over
with. You're only causing yourself more trouble.

Just learn your lesson from this: never wait until the last minute to
transfer your name if it's going to expire in a day or 2. It's best to
do so at least a month before expiration.

But hey, it's your call.

Renew the domain name and then transfer it to namecheap after 45 days.

SoftwareRevue is right, if they renew the domain on your behalf then they'll change the contact info as well.