Domain transfers out of 1&1 1and1
I'm in the process of moving 12 domains from 1&1 and forgot exactly how I did it before.. The process was easy but there is some confusion due to their packaging system and how it works coupled with their uncomprehensive help/faq.
HOW TO TRANSFER A DOMAIN FROM 1&1 ( 1and1 ) :
- Login to http://admin.1and1.com/ and unlock domain(s) to transfer
- Use the "Info" selection to acquire the Auth Code for each domain to be transferred -- these are needed for confirmations during the remaining process
- Adjust DNS as desired if needed - some say setting the DNS to the 1&1 defaults speeds things up. However it may be 6 or 1/2 dozen as DNS changes at 1&1 are pretty slow to happen.
- Turn off Private WHOIS if enabled (wait for it to propagate)
- Make sure the WHOIS E-Mail addresses are correct
- Initiate the transfer request(s) at gaining registrar
- Confirm e-mail/links as needed to complete transfer(s)
(optional) - I've used 8 & 9 before and it worked fine. It's not real clear how "cancel" may effect a transfer from 1&1. It's possible to initiate & confirm a transfer approval this way apparently - seems to queue/prepare 1&1 for a request from another registrar and perhaps speed the process up. In this case the steps I guess would be 8,9,6,7 or 6,8,9,7 order.. Using this cancel facility seems pretty safe as there are confirmations to protect accidents. One thing I think the cancel website is surly for is to expidite removal of empty "Packages" from your 1&1 control panel that could linger around otherwise.
A few months ago I transferred 30+ domains from 1&1. I had to reinitiate the transfer of a couple that I forgot to wait for the private whois to fully disable. :) I did use the 1&1 cancel site then but forget exactly the order that I used. I am fairly certain that I initiated the transfer request at the gaining registrar before using the 1&1 cancel site.
I didn't have to use any non-internet methods (faxing) to complete the transfers. The fact that I am in the USA, have my visa on file with them and registered the domains at the US branch of 1&1 may have been the lubrication that avoided faxing.
*NOTE* Complications arise if you try and transfer a domain which you have gotten free of charge with hosting services. I have never had that situation to deal with. Hence it is probably best to NOT take advantage of their free domains included with hosting -- at very least you should understand fully how the domain(s) are tied to the hosting, and how to move them away, if it's even possible.
Finally here is a useful link for most accuratly checking your 1&1 whois: http://registrar.schlund.info/
My steps for moving 1and1 domains to Dreamhost
Several months back 1and1 canceled my account with no reason given. The only responses I got from their legal department referred me to a paragraph in the contract that they could terminate service at any time without reason, as long as they gave 30 days notice. None of my domains housed any illegal or adult content - certainly not illegal in the United States, and I was registered through their American presence. As best as I can tell, if 1and1 doesn't like your content, they will boot you.
Here are the steps I used to transfer domains:
- admin.1and1.com: Update Name Servers for domain to point to Dreamhost nameservers.
- admin.1and1.com: Update WHOIS info to contain valid email contact info for domain, if needed.
- admin.1and1.com: Unlock domain.
- CANCEL.1and1.com: select option(s) for domain to "Change Provider" / "ASAP".
- CANCEL.1and1.com: Get auth code for domain transfer (it's the same auth code as from admin.1and1.com).
- CANCEL.1and1.com: Request confirmation email if you used alternate contact info for WHOIS for domain.
- <In my "regular" email account>: Receive 1and1's email and click the link within to confirm your request. *
- panel.dreamhost.com: Perform registration transfer using auth code.
- <In my "WHOIS-listed" email account>: Receive Dreamhost's email and click link to confirm.
- panel.dreamhost.com: Set domain to lock and auto-renew (optional).
* For at least one of my domains, the confirmation email(s) from 1and1 went to the "Messages" mailbox found in admin.1and1.com in addition to/instead of going to my regular email account.
NOTE: If moving multiple domains at once, you may wish to note the "Process Numbers" as soon as they appear in the Status/Undo columns in cancel.1and1.com and relate them to a particular domain cancellation. Otherwise, there's not a good way to tell what cryptic domain cancellation order number in cancel.1and1.com belongs to which domain.
1and1 did an OK job while I was with them. The support is non-existent, but that's OK if you can take care of yourself. What is *not* OK is when they boot you from their servers with little notice without telling you why, and then you're dealing with non-English speaking phone support techs who are reading from a script in their honest-but-feeble attempt to help you while the clock is ticking on your domains. It's worth noting that Dreamhost is based in California, and if your content is legal in California, you can host it with them. Period. BTW, I'm not shilling for Dreamhost's affiliate program. To prove it, I won't include a coupon code. (Actually, I don't have any.) :)
Propagating Public Whois Data?
I am trying to transfer a few domains out of 1&1 but the Whois propagating seems to be taking forever. Can anyone tell me how long this usually takes?