A reason not to use UK2 for domains?

chunter

"When a domain reaches 40 days past expiry without being renewed or transferred it is deleted from the system by the registry and placed into the 30-day Redemption Period.

If your domain name is in the redemption period, it cannot be transferred or have the auth-code provided.

It is still possible to recover a domain in the 30 day Redemption period. The registry changes a increased fee for this service. The fee to RSPs is 100-GBP plus the cost of the renewal. For .EU domains the fee is 50-GBP.

If you do not wish to redeem the domain, the only remaining option is to try to re-register when it becomes available. Exactly when a domain is released back to the public is a registry decision however it is generally around 75 days after the expiry date. Please remember that domains are registered on a first come, first served basis and there is no guarantee that they will be able to recover the name."

Anybody else heard of this? You let a domain expire and they put it in cold storage for 3 or 4 months, unless you pay them 100 quid plus.

Truly wonderful people. Beware of UK2.net

Badger_Lady

This doesn't surprise me - UK2 are shockers. I've never deliberately used them, but for my 18th birthday my Dad registered me a domain through them and I didn't feel the need to transfer out for a while.

The clincher for me was the end of catch-all forwarding - an instant transfer to freeparking (where I hold my other domains).

Never let them expire, I guess!

colin79666

um I think you will find its standard to put domains in a holding stage like that

simple solution is to register on time if you want to keep a domain - I recommend 123-reg for domains over uk2 for customer service reasons

Dead_Eye_Jones

uk2 have always been fine. But then I always jsut reregister. Ive always seen them as being cheap knowing that they will make their money elsewhere if you need "special" treatment. Aslong as you do normal stuff then there are no probs.

You get what you pay for I guess. They always seem to be a bit cheaper and offer more (for the most part), but perhaps not so hot on customer services. That said they have always responded to my calls raised just fine. No complaints after 5 years or so now!

I have also used eukhost (they offered mysql5 which i needed for a project) and found them to be great and with similar hosting packages.

If I had a serious commercial project Id prob find a smaller local company that can offer a tailored service. But for throw away quick and cheap stuff - uk2 are great.

Make your choices and go in with ya eyes open !

isofa

I think this may be standard practice, you could check with https://www.nominet.org.uk if it is a .uk domain for the full details of the holding period if it isn't re-registered.

Just put a reminder in your diary if you want the domain back and re-register it the day it's available again through another company.

bingo_bango

This is what Nominet send when your domain is expiring.

Your domain name has not been renewed.

If you would like to renew your domain name please contact your registrar who
can renew it on your behalf. The renewal fee is likely to be much lower. The
details of your registrar are:

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

If you no longer need the domain name, please ignore this notice and any
further reminders and the domain name will be cancelled. Alternatively, if you
wish to cancel the domain name immediately, please visit
www.nominet.org.uk/go/surrender for further information.

We are not able to refund any fees you pay us so we recommend that you discuss
the domain name renewal with your registrar before proceeding.

If we do not receive payment, either from you or your registrar within 30 days of
the expiry date, we will suspend the domain name and then cancel it.

A pro forma invoice is attached below. You can pay us directly but it is likely
to cost considerably more than renewing through your registrar. If you would
like to pay us directly please visit www.nominet.org.uk/go/onlineinvoices

This is not a VAT invoice. If you choose to pay us directly, we will send you
a VAT invoice when we have received your payment.

If you have any questions please contact Registrant Services on
+44 (0) 1865 332244 or by email to [EMAIL="renewals@nominet.org.uk"]renewals@nominet.org.uk[/EMAIL].

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

P R O F O R M A I N V O I C E

========================================================
NOMINET UK
SANDFORD GATE
SANDY LANE WEST
OXFORD OX4 6LB
TEL: +44 (0) 1865 332211
FAX: +44 (0) 1865 332299
URL: http://www.nominet.org.uk
E-MAIL: [EMAIL="billing@nominet.org.uk"]billing@nominet.org.uk[/EMAIL]
VAT No: 663 4990 03
=========================================================
Invoice Number: DIRxxxxxxx
Date: 11 Aug 2007
Account Number: xxxxxxx
Your Ref/PO No:
=========================================================
Name
Address

For the attention of xxxxxxxxxxx
=========================================================
QUANTITY : 1
DETAILS: Domain Name Renewal xxxxxxxxxxx.co.uk
PRICE PER ITEM: 80.00
NET TOTAL: 80.00
VAT%: 17.50
VAT: 14.00
TOTAL: 94.00
=========================================================
Amounts shown are pounds sterling (GBP)
=========================================================
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Payment will renew registration for a further 2 years from 04 Aug 2007
=========================================================
CREDIT TERMS: Payment is due 30 days from issue date of this invoice.
=========================================================
WEB CODE: 01234567

REMITTANCE ADVICE:

If you do not want to pay online you can print a remittance advice to send with
your payment, please click on http://www.nominet.org.uk/go/remittance
=========================================================

Regards,
Registrant Services

---

Nominet
Sandford Gate
Sandy Lane West
Oxford
OX4 6LB

Tel: +44 (0) 1865 332244
Fax: +44 (0) 1865 332288
E-mail: [EMAIL="nominet@nominet.org.uk"]nominet@nominet.org.uk[/EMAIL]
URL: www.nominet.org.uk

---

Just to compare with what your host charges you!

chunter

cheers BingoBango,

"Your domain name has not been renewed. If you would like to renew your domain name please contact your registrar who can renew it on your behalf. The renewal fee is likely to be much lower."

This leads to a very (in my eyes) crucial point.
Is Nominet UK trying to use their "neutral" name to rip people off?

Surely the point of the above statement is to say that
1) Nominet don't really want to be your registrar
2) your registrar is being charged a "nominal" fee for being a registrar and controlling registrations. Your registrar has no right to charge extortionate fees for renewals.

Discussion please.
And people in the know, please explain..

and
I am really not impressed with this "hanging on" to UK domains, does ICann do it with US (.com) registrations.