Registrars offering pre-orders on .uk

[stellar73]

Just searched for a domain on Daily (one which recently dropped and is not taken in co.uk) and noticed they are now offering the option to pre-order .uk for one year at £6 "guaranteed".

Then looked for the same on 123-Reg and they're doing the same thing (though more expensive and with option for multiple years!)

Bit surprised as wasn't expecting this so soon!

 

[ian]

It was discussed in another thread; they are generally breaching Nominets rules as they are claiming you must pre-order to guarantee a domain, even if you already own the .co.uk and have rights to the .uk when they arrive. I'm hoping someone has reported them for misleading. Nominet seem to take this serious.

 

[stellar73]

Thanks Ian - I must have missed the other thread somehow (Admin: please delete or move this if appropriate)

they are claiming you must pre-order to guarantee a domain, even if you already own the .co.uk

They don't seem to be saying this explicitly though I guess the first part is inferred. The option to "pre-order" .uk only comes up in instances where the co.uk is also unregistered.

On looking at it more closely I've just realised that on both sites (Daily and 123) you can only actually proceed with the "pre-order" .uk purchase if you also simultaneously buy the co.uk at the same time. Certainly quite a sneaky move which will trick lots of people into purchases they don't need to make for another five years.

 

[Skinner]

Nominet won't do jack, if it was just Daily they may hit em, but when it comes to Host Europe nom seem to be teethless. The amount of complaints about 123-reg is astounding and nothing ever happens.

 

[Edwin]

Daily may be half right. If there is currently no domain registered that would have a claim to the .co.uk then whoever registers the .co.uk will be entitled to the .uk.

In other words, if a whois check at Nominet on the .uk shows "Right of Registration: None" then anybody who goes for the .co.uk between now and launch day will get a chance to register the .uk (which will be kept for 5 years)