Company will not transfer my domain provider? What if it runs out?

blue_monkey_2

I hope the title is correct. I have my .co.uk domain registered with Netbenefit, it has been with them for around 6 years now. They want £25 a year as it is up for renewal in about 10 days but as all I use this for is forwarding to my .com website I can get it cheaper with 123-reg for £1.99 per year.

So, I've put in for a transfer with 123 and the control panel on 123-reg is saying to contact the domain provider to change the IPS Tag. So I've emailed them as per their instructions on their website, but I am not getting any reply let alone them changing the IPS Tag. I've sent 3 emails and all I get is the auto-response. I know it has not been done because I am hitting retry on 123 and it comes up with the same message.

I am tempted to let it run out and then buy it again from 123-reg but my husband says I cannot buy the domain again for 3 years. Is this right?

Can anyone offer me any suggestions. Thanks.

aerostar

If you have a control panel on your domain, (eg where you put in your redirect to .com etc) look to see if you can change the IPS tag, if not ring NOMINET (.UK registration holders) and ask them for advice.

blue_monkey_2

Thank you. I have looked and it says I have to email - this is where I've got the address from. I've got to get the kids from school shortly so I shall do this in the morning. I've got 10 days.

Can I ask if hubby is correct. I did think it would be easier to let it run out and wait for it to come up on 123-reg and buy it again as there are not that many people that look for it as .co.uk but as by my business name itself - then it comes up as the .com on search engines (I can tell from my stats) but for £2 pa with 123 I thought I might as well keep it.

kwikbreaks

There will be a delay between it expiring and becoming available again but not 3 years. IIRC you will be contacted by Nominet after it expires but they charge an arm and a leg because they don't really want the business.

How much traffic is coming via the redirect? I always believed that there is little to no advantage in having multiple TLDs referring to the same site other than to catch errors if somebody types the url in with the wrong one but of course I may well be wrong on that.

blue_monkey_2

Thanks KB, not much traffic at all. I can see the stats and virtually nothing but my husband said it would be better to have it. For £2 I'd agree but not for £25 -I am trying to cut down on things I do not really need.

isofa

You might have to "unlock" your domain from the host control panel first, see if there is such a feature.

Takes a few days to transfer, but usually done via the IPS tag.

blue_monkey_2

Thanks isofa,

I've looked all over but there is nowhere to do it, I have to go via them via email, which I have done 3 times already. TBH, since my post earlier I am not going to lose too much sleep over it but will give NOMINET a call and see what they advise. I am just annoyed that you cannot contact them.

KingL

blue_monkey wrote: »

but my husband says I cannot buy the domain again for 3 years. Is this right.

The risk is that as soon as it drops, some spam-portal will pick it up and register it so they can nab your traffic. Then you won't get it back until it expires again. Can you call the old registrar? If it's important to you and you're still getting nowhere, I suggest contacting Nominet before it expires....

davb

blue_monkey wrote: »

I am tempted to let it run out and then buy it again from 123-reg but my husband says I cannot buy the domain again for 3 years. Is this right?

Once a .co.uk Domain passes it's expiry date, it is about 3 months before it's available to purchase again.

Contact Nominet as suggested and tell them that Netbenefit are not replying to you.

BTW £25 a year is way too expensive for a .co.uk - they are normally renewed for 2 years for under £7 incl VAT

SomeOne_2

Don't let the domain lapse.

Best thing to do is to contact Nominet and get them to change the IPS tag.
There is a fee of £10 for this, more info:

http://www.nominet.org.uk/registrants/maintain/changeregistrar/faq/#5