Are all free domains a scam?

Hi. I have heard many cases of domain stealing when they are given free. I am currently with Liquidweb and i fear this sitaution, so should i not use their free domains for my bigger projects? Or would they kindly transfer to another host for me?

Usually free domains are attached to a hosting account... so you would get a free domain if you buy your web hosting from them. I don't know of anyone who gives out free domains with no strings attached. It's a marketing strategy... "buy hosting from us and get a free domain"... and I've also seen the reverse... "buy a domain from us and get free hosting". There's noting wrong with these strategies... just make sure you know what you're getting into... make sure you get full control of your domain, and also be aware of any conditions... i.e. if it's a free domain when you buy hosting plan, be sure to know how long you must stay with them for the hosting in order to get full ownership of the domain.





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I think this is okay if you make sure what you're getting into. There are some companies that when they register the free domain, they register their address for at least one of the contacts meaning they can prevent a transfer away and hold the domain hostage.
However, I think most companies are honest and give control over to the user and as long as they are a customer, will continue to pay the registration fees. If however, they discontinue hosting, the domain would still be the customers, but they would then have to pay the registration fees.
That's how an honest host would handle it. Before engaging any hosts services, you should ask them what their policy on free domains is.





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My .02's...
Don't rely on a free domain when you purchase hosting.
Purchase your domain on your own!
Also, good idea not to purchase domain and hosting from the same place.





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As you say, this is for one of your bigger projects. It's probably worth it to invest a few dollars in domain registration at a separate registrar.





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Quote:



Originally Posted by Samuel Seah


Hi. I have heard many cases of domain stealing when they are given free. I am currently with Liquidweb and i fear this sitaution, so should i not use their free domains for my bigger projects?


LiquidWeb offers free domains?
If you do a Whois lookup, whose e-mail address is listed as the admin contact? Is it your e-mail address?
Quote:



Originally Posted by Samuel Seah


Or would they kindly transfer to another host for me?


You can request this yourself, it's called a domain transfer. I would recommend using a trusted and reputable domain registrar such as NameCheap.com.
Here's how to do it:
1) Go to NameCheap.com
2) Click Transfer Your Domain in the top left.
3) The rest should be easy to follow.

If your offered a free domain just make sure you are going to be the registrant contact.
I'm sure with a respectable company like liquidweb you will be. But check to ensure, as there are untrustworthy companies out there that will register your free domain in their name.
As long as your the registrant for the domain you havnt really got much to worry about. You own the domains and should be able to update or transfer them at your will. Even if that means going to the root registrar level.





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That is not scam. That is what you need to be accurate with. Make sure that web hosting account is separate to the domain name account.





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I would just ask the Host, if the domain will be totally in your name.





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Quote:



Originally Posted by Samuel Seah


so should i not use their free domains for my bigger projects?


The short answer is NO! Regardless of which host we are talking about, and whether they would unkindly steal your domain, it's simply not worth the risks. This is especially true when it comes to bigger projects, and a domain is like how much? $10 a year?
Quote:



Originally Posted by powerMonster-Scott


There are some companies that when they register the free domain, they register their address for at least one of the contacts meaning they can prevent a transfer away and hold the domain hostage.


ONLY the Administrative Contact is able to initiate or block a transfer, so when a hosting company populates their contact info for say the Technical Contact, it doesn't make any difference (and they canNOT hold a domain hostage).





__________________Nameslave - Knows a thing or two about domain names

Almost free domains are with hosting, many host are offering domain free with hosting. But once u move the host will be problem, the owner ship will be with them only. Otherwise they will charge you once u decided to move





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That is not necessarily true. It depends on the host. Honest hosts will register the domain in the name of the customer and NOT in their name. Unfortunately, there are some not so honest hosts out there who have given this practice a bad name.





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