I had a few domain names registered with the crappy and now defunct reserveyourname.com (which was part of the also now crappy defunct DeZines Web Hosting). Because I didn't remember my password information for one, and could not contact the non-existant reseller to get that information, I simply waited for it to expire and planned to register the name again with one of the cheap places recommended on this board. The domain name expired on Dec. 30. However, when I tried to register it this morning, it said it was still owned by someone! I did a whosis and this is the information (domain name removed by me)...
--------------------------------------------------
Whois Server Version 2.0

Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.


Domain Name: <mydomainname>.COM
Registrar: TUCOWS INC.
Whois Server: whois.opensrs.net
Referral URL: http://domainhelp.tucows.com
Name Server: NS.WEB-HOSTING.COM
Name Server: NS1.DEZINES.COM
Name Server: NS2.DEZINES.COM
Status: clientHold
Updated Date: 01-jan-2007
Creation Date: 30-dec-2003
Expiration Date: 30-dec-2007

>>> Last update of whois database: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 15:05:31 EST <<<

NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.
---------------------------------------------

So does this mean that DeZines basically is stealing the domain names of people who can't renew them because they're out of business and can't log in (if they've lost their password info)? Did DeZines themselves register my domain name today? It says it expires at the end of the year now?! Who owns it now?

What does "Status: clientHold" mean?

And is there anything I can do about this?

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

if you want to have the domain, you should contact tucows and ask for assistance.


a domain doesn not become available to the public the day after expiration.

http://www.wsmdomains.com/help/lifecycle.html

if you want to have the domain, you should contact tucows and ask for assistance.


a domain doesn not become available to the public the day after expiration.

http://www.wsmdomains.com/help/lifecycle.html

Thanks for the informative link and the suggestion! :)

I just filled out the email form for Tucows. Hopefully I will hear back soon.

tucows give a long grace period (45 days I think)

I simply waited for it to expire and planned to register the name again with one of the cheap places recommended on this board.
This is a GRAVE mistake. Don't do that, you probably end up losing your domain FOR GOOD. Many have learned this lesson the hard way.

The domain name expired on Dec. 30.
...
Updated Date: 01-jan-2007
Creation Date: 30-dec-2003
Expiration Date: 30-dec-2007

>>> Last update of whois database: Mon, 01 Jan 2007 15:05:31 EST <<<


Congratulations! This domain name has NOT really expired yet. Most registrars have some kind of registrar-level grace period. My advice is to renew it with this crappy reseller first, AND THEN transfer it away later.

My advice is to renew it with this crappy reseller first, AND THEN transfer it away later.

I can't do that. Like I was saying, the crappy reseller is GONE. Their site is gone, their emails get bounced, etc. etc. So I'm waiting to hear from Tucows and hopefully they will be able to help me out.

Anybody have a direct email or phone number to call for Tucows other than their on-line email form?

Thanks!

I still have not received a reply from Tucows... anybody have any other way to contact them? My time is running out... thanks!

I still have not received a reply from Tucows... anybody have any other way to contact them? My time is running out... thanks!

Acording to what you posted the domain doesn't expire till Dec of 2007
like it was renewed.
However the whois for a domain will show that at times even tho it wasn't.

As long as the original Whois had your email addy you'll have no prob, if it
didn't it's up to Tucows..
That's why you should never get a domain through your hosting co..
Tucows # is 1-800-371-6992 in North America.
PS, You have plenty of time, only thing is for about a week or so you can
get it back for the original renewel price.
After that (Time varies on Registra) you'll pay more for it.
:cool:

Acording to what you posted the domain doesn't expire till Dec of 2007 like it was renewed. However the whois for a domain will show that at times even tho it wasn't.

Yeah, I didn't renew it (couldn't, like I mentioned), so I don't know why it says that...?

As long as the original Whois had your email addy you'll have no prob, if it didn't it's up to Tucows..

I have two different emails on the domain. The admin email that shows up in Whois is valid (I've got spam blocker on it, but I'll see if they try to email it), and there's another email address listed as some other contact (doesn't show up in Whois), and that email is valid as well. I stated this in the email I sent Tucows.


That's why you should never get a domain through your hosting co..
Tucows # is 1-800-371-6992 in North America.
PS, You have plenty of time, only thing is for about a week or so you can
get it back for the original renewel price.
After that (Time varies on Registra) you'll pay more for it.
:cool:

How much more? According to this link someone posted, the domain name should be available to renew without any additional cost for 40 days after expiration:

http://www.wsmdomains.com/help/lifecycle.html

...if the price gets jacked up, and at no fault of my own since my reseller disappeared, I'd probably end up just waiting for the 75 days to pass and just buying it again for $8 or whatever at namecheap.com or someplace... Thoughts?

Thanks for the post, the info, and the help! :)

that link was a sample life cycle. your registrar may have a 30 day grace period, maybe less.

about the Dec 2007 question, registrars sometimes temporarily show a one year extension while waiting for the customer to renew.

tucows should be able to help you, maybe by having you open an account somewhere else, and pushing the domain there.



also, don't count on being able to buy it when it drops. many people buy up dropping domains, you may not get it.

Yeah, I didn't renew it (couldn't, like I mentioned), so I don't know why it says that...?



I have two different emails on the domain. The admin email that shows up in Whois is valid (I've got spam blocker on it, but I'll see if they try to email it), and there's another email address listed as some other contact (doesn't show up in Whois), and that email is valid as well. I stated this in the email I sent Tucows.



How much more? According to this link someone posted, the domain name should be available to renew without any additional cost for 40 days after expiration:


http://www.wsmdomains.com/help/lifecycle.html

...if the price gets jacked up, and at no fault of my own since my reseller disappeared, I'd probably end up just waiting for the 75 days to pass and just buying it again for $8 or whatever at namecheap.com or someplace... Thoughts?

Thanks for the post, the info, and the help! :)

One was charging $80.00 after 7 days but most give ya 30 and don't
charge that much.
PM me the Domain Name and the Registra that went down and I'll see
what I can find out..
By the way the email addy is more important than the reg'd owner in your case..
As long as they can email you that's 90% so to speak.
:cool: