Best way to transfer domain names?

[edro]

I have had my domain with a tiny company (I think it is a single guy out of his garage or something) since like 1998. There is nothing wrong with it, but I am just scared that he will close up some day and I will be screwed. I would rather transfer it to someone like Namecheap, where I have my other domain names.

The last time I tried to transfer it with Namecheap, they send out a notice to the current registrar, but he let it expire and didn't transfer it.

Do I have to notify him and let him know that I want the domain transferred to Namecheap? Can I register it with Namecheap a month ahead of time so I know no one will register it, then let it expire and get it with Namecheap?

If I let it expire, does it automatically go to the registrar that currently has it? (Then he could extort money from me for it?)

Thanks for tips!

 

[RossMAN]

If you do a whois for the domain who is listed as the domain owner?

 

[jjones]

Don't let it expire. You need to do the transfer request again with NameCheap (or whoever else you want to use) and then notify this guy that a transfer request authorization will be coming to him and that he needs to authorize the transfer.

Also, look up the WhoIs on this domain and make sure that the e-mail address for the Admin contact is still a working e-mail address for this guy. If it is no longer working, it could be why he didn't approve the original request because he never received an e-mail.

Edit: Normally you have 72 hours to approve a transfer request. The request for authorization will go to the Admin contact for the domain.

I just recently transfered several domains and the whole process is done in a couple of steps and takes about 2 days to complete. If you wait for the domain to expire, you may regret it. It's a long process taking 45 days or more (usually about 60 days) and you could very well lose the domain.

 

[edro]

Ah, now I remember why I wanted to change it. The guy is a reseller for NAMES4EVER.com, his site is 247surf.net. (LOL)

So the name says it belongs to NAMES4EVER.com, but if I contact them, they say to contact 247surf.com since he is the reseller. It sucks.

The domain is: edro13.com

Anyways... should I just send another change request, and email the guy at 247surf.net and tell him to authorize it?

 

[jjones]

Okay, I just did a WhoIs on your domain and it shows you as the Admin contact with an e-mail address of ed@edro13.com. When you do the transfer request, the authorization should be going to this e-mail address. Is it still a working e-mail address?

Edit: It doesn't look like you need to contact those people at all. When you put in the change request, the authorization should come to you by e-mail to the Admin contact e-mail address, you approve it through a link in the e-mail, and then it's done.

 

[edro]

Originally posted by: jjones
Okay, I just did a WhoIs on your domain and it shows you as the Admin contact with an e-mail address of ed@edro13.com. When you do the transfer request, the authorization should be going to this e-mail address. Is it still a working e-mail address?

Yeah, that is my main email... not the registars.... I wonder if it will just send the request to me? That would be great.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: edro13

Originally posted by: jjones
Okay, I just did a WhoIs on your domain and it shows you as the Admin contact with an e-mail address of ed@edro13.com. When you do the transfer request, the authorization should be going to this e-mail address. Is it still a working e-mail address?

Yeah, that is my main email... not the registars.... I wonder if it will just send the request to me? That would be great.

See my edit. That should take care of it.

 

[jjones]

I just went to the Names4Ever site and found this in their knowledge base:

I want to transfer a domain name from you to someone else. What is the authorization code?

Answer by: Kristen Jourdonais, Aplus.Net Knowledge Base Support

The authorization code for the transfer will be sent to you, via email, to the email address listed as the contact on your account with Aplus.Net/Names4Ever.

If you do not receive this email message containing this authorization code, please contact the registrar you are trying to transfer your domain to so they may re-initiate the transfer. Also make sure that they are contacting Aplus.Net/Names4Ever.

===========================

Normally, only .info and .org domains require an authorization code. Names4Ever may be different but I don't think so. Still, be on the lookout for possibly receiving an e-mail from them about this when you do the transfer request.

 

[edro]

Sweet! They just sent me the email and I confirmed it. I wonder what is different about this time? Oh well... I hope it goes through.