Web Hosting Talk : Web Hosting Main Forums : Domain Names : What happen if a registrar close!

[jdbravo]

Hello,

I want to know what happen if for some reason a registrar close operations, may the the company bankrupt. I don't know. People lose their domains? or people can transfer the domains to another registrar? should pay the transfer rate for the new registrar? or the company should trasfer the domain to another registrar without charge?

Thank you!

[larwilliams]

If a registrar goes under, normally the registry (CIRA in Canada, ICANN in the states, for example) will step in and reassign the domains to one of the main registrars.

[Dan Madiou]

Originally Posted by jdbravo

Hello,

I want to know what happen if for some reason a registrar close operations, may the the company bankrupt. I don't know. People lose their domains? or people can transfer the domains to another registrar? should pay the transfer rate for the new registrar? or the company should trasfer the domain to another registrar without charge?

Thank you!

Read more about registerfly. They were one of the biggest domain name registrar which disappear few ears ago...

[NotanAngel]

it depends on how they close. they can warn clients beforehand and ask to transfer domains out. If they don't warn, then
- if this is a reseller, you go to upper registrar and (if you are listed as registrant), you will easily prove your ownership and get domain back.
- if this is an independent registrar, you go to the registry and prove there that domain is yours.

[warrichpk]

If its happened, then registrar moves all domain to some where else on his own expenses

[Gidux]

If a company is being bought out, they usually won't charge you however if they aren't, they might give you a grace period to get your domain out and make you pay for the transfer fee.

[FreshFroot]

normally the higher ups take control... or another domain company will buy the clients and move them over.

RF was the biggest one.. MANY people lost their domains, and many had to go through ICANN's procedure to get their domain back.

I would contact ICANN if you have no idea where your name went. These guys love to jump in and squash abusers!

[SiberForum]

I suppose you will have at least few months to transfer your domain names.

[Ajith Alfred]

I believe the registrars informs the customers and gives them time to transfer.

[CanSpace]

Yes in an ideal case you would "have at least a few months" or be informed.. but that isn't always the case. The question highly depends on the TLD. With CIRA for example, the domains are simply transferred to another registrar.

[BobyKirov]

If a registrar close the higher register takes control under your domains.

[treynolds]

If your domain name is held by a reseller or a company owned by a larger company you would generally find your domain name fall into the larger companies hands.

Ideally you would be given notice and the opportunity to transfer the domain name but this is not always the case and the domain name may sometimes fall directly with the governing body (Nominet for .uk domain names, ICANN for most TLD's like .com etc.).

Providing you have the domain name registered in your own name there are not really any pitfalls as you would always be able to recover it and transfer to the registrar of your choice.

I guess the vital thing to remember is that if somebody is registering the name in your behalf you MUST make sure the domain name is registered in your own details.

[jdbravo]

Thank you all!