Registrar registering .uk without permission

[bluerock]

Hi

Ive owned the domain name Hamlin.co.uk and it has been on our TAG BLUEROCK since registration in Sept 2006.
Today Fasthosts.co.uk decided to register Hamlin.uk and send us an invoice for the privilege! We have never given permission for this and want to know if this has happened to anyone else. Surely a registrar cannot just register names in another companies name without prior authorisation.

This really should not happen.

 

[monaghan]

How did they manage to register the .uk? (or do you have another name with the identical contact details held at Fasthosts?)

One for Nominet support I think, this is clearly in breach of the registrar agreement if they've registered in your name without your authorisation.

 

[accelerator]

Was the domain held at Fasthosts at one point by any chance?

Rgds

 

[bluerock]

Its never been anywhere near fasthosts as Ive always had my own tag.
This is really a serious loophole.

 

[jasman]

This sounds like a fraud either by a third party or by an employee at Fasthosts. How could this possibly have happened by some computer error? Surely a human would have needed to instigate this. I'd definitely make a complaint to Nominet and demand an explanation from Fasthosts.

I didn't realise it was possible to register a .uk via a different tag to the .co.uk. What is to stop someone registering a .uk of someone else's .co.uk at a different registrar in their account, then transferring the domain to their own name?

If this sort of thing becomes more commonplace we might see the big registrars creating domains in other people's names, then letting them expire and keeping them for themselves.

 

[bluerock]

It happened about 4.30pm and I emailed Nominet just after 5pm.

Since then
Ive received an automated email from Nominet stating:
"Thank you for applying to register your domain name.
The registrar you have registered this domain through is different to the registrar you have previously used. In order to complete this application we need to confirm that the email address provided is valid."

Fasthosts took payment from someones Paypal acc that I dont know but my biggest issue is that it should not show up on the whois i.e. actually be registered till verification has been completed.
If this is cancelled what could happen to the .uk rights?

 

[bluerock]

I actually thought it was a spam email until I looked at the whois.

 

[retired_member36]

If this is cancelled what could happen to the .uk rights?

In my eyes the domain would be publicly available? but i may be wrong

 

[bluerock]

In my eyes the domain would be publicly available? but i may be wrong

Thats my fear.

 

[Murray]

If this is cancelled what could happen to the .uk rights?

Nominet can reverse things so that it was never registered perhaps

I've seen a domain drop, be freshly registered only to have it reverted back to the old registrant with the previous registration dates.

 

[bluerock]

I wonder if, because fasthosts are an accredited channel partner, when someone applies to register a .uk 2LD and the 3LD with the associated Right is on a different tag, the domain name is registered and displayed as such within the WHOIS but is marked as suspended by nominet until the click is received from the confirmation sent to the email address associated with the 3LD.




(from iPhone)

You might be right but surely it should not get past 1st base and show on a whois. The verification should happen pre registration not post.

 

[bluerock]

The funny thing is the email from Nom states:

"Please click the link below to confirm that this is your email address and that you have applied to register this domain."

It doesn't state to "not confirm" or say yes/no so you have a fear of clicking and it automatically endorses the request.

 

[bluerock]

Refer to 2b on the third page within this document (and also 3c).

Interesting document, cheers.
1st stage: Is applicant the right-holder? If no then "Process ends"
This got to the last stage.

 

[retired_member36]

Thinking about it, since the domain name is legally registered to you or your company there might not be any harm in clicking the link. You'd have gained yourself a domain name gratis! All you need do is tag change it to your own tag for good measure.

But then has gained extra renewal costs that he wouldnt have had for the next 5 years.

 

[diablo]

I notice that the domain name hamlin.uk has now been suspended by Nominet.

(from iPad - K)

The domain name will be registered as long as the name and address match that of the rights holder, but my experience is that Nominet will email the rights owner asking for confirmation of registration if the .uk Registrar differs from the .co.uk Registrar. Until that authorisation is received, the name is put in a suspended state.

 

[BurtyB]

My personal view on this is to be vigilant.

Whilst I was sorting out the data for my .uk registration graphs I spotted a few .co.uk domains that had rights to the .uk initially but the rights had been lost. In one case I believe the .uk had been registered but there had been an issue with the authentication and when the .uk application was denied it was free to register. Where I had contact with the tag holder they was notified and the issue resolved with Nominets assistance I believe.

 

[Retired_member41]

So I could log on to wdm and register .uks for anyone's co.uk

Anyone doing this should have their nominet membership taken away immediately.

 

[bluerock]

Correct. Swings and roundabouts. Maybe by then there'll be some way of getting others to pay renewal bills for us.


(from iPhone)

That would be nice

 

[bluerock]

Interesting reply from fasthosts:
Dear David,

Further to your recent query.

I tried to call blue rock this morning, as that is the only number I have been able to locate. (nobody called)

An account was opened by them (no it wasnt) yesterday and they ordered the domain hamlin.uk (no we did not)

Are you able to liaise with them in regards to the above matter? (I am them!)

Please note the invoice was processed using a paypal agreement attached to the person from blue rock who opened the account.(wrong)


Kind Regards

xxxxxxx
Fasthosts Customer Care

 

[ian]

When the .uk launched, I tried registering a corporate owned domain through Fasthosts and it allowed me to pay and complete the process, but the whois didn't register and naturally the domain wasn't granted.

However, what appears to have happened here is that someone has signed up for a Fasthosts account in your name, with your email address (or changed it afterwards) and then tried registering, therefore the whois applied your details but remained suspended until you confirmed.

Fasthosts are a nightmare, their system is open to go much fraud and their support is terrible.

Maybe this is stunt by someone to have the .uk cancelled, therefore being FTR and allowing them to register and try to sell to you!