UK Reg/Fasthosts and 'DomCollect'!

[Alien]

I've noticed recently that when a domain registered via Fasthosts/UK Reg enters a suspended state, the nameservers change to:

ns1.domcollect.com
ns2.domcollect.com

Before it was Sedo parking NS (but DomCollect are in fact Sedo right?!).

Both DomCollect and UK Reg/Fasthosts appear to be in bed together?! ;-)

 

[retired_member6]

Well sedo and domcollect are sister companies so contrary to sedo saying they dont let domcollect taste ukreg domains, it appears they do, scum, theyre both scum.

 

[bb99]

Does it happen when the domain goes suspended, or when it goes over its renewal date?

If it happens when suspended, I'm not sure of the tasting benefit because domains won't resolve when suspended.

 

[rob]

Does it happen when the domain goes suspended, or when it goes over its renewal date?

If it happens when suspended, I'm not sure of the tasting benefit because domains won't resolve when suspended.

...and if it is beforehand surely the registrant isnt getting the full registration term they have paid for?

 

[retired_member6]

renewal date when I used to watch them. I call it theft either way, a customer buys a domain, yet theyre allowed to auction and buy the names how they see fit at the end with .com, not sure what they do with .co.uk, never let the punks near mine.

 

[Alien]

Does it happen when the domain goes suspended, or when it goes over its renewal date?

Mhmmm, it appears to happen 14 days after the renewal is due!

e.g:

Registrar:
Fasthosts Internet Ltd [Tag = FASTHOSTS]
URL: Web and email hosting, domain names and dedicated servers - Fasthosts

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 11-May-2007
Renewal date: 11-May-2009
Last updated: 25-May-2009

Registration status:
Renewal required.

Name servers:
ns1.domcollect.com
ns2.domcollect.com

WHOIS lookup made at 12:51:21 09-Jun-2009

 

[bb99]

Interesting. So, theoretically speaking, the traffic can be 'tasted' prior to suspension and then there could be an attempted dropcatch when it drops.

It's genius!

 

[grantw]

Now that is well dodgy!!!!!!!!!!

Grant

 

[bb99]

It's certainly unusual - I'm not sure if it's dodgy

Let's say you buy a domain name and web hosting for two years. Your hosting agreement lasts for two years exactly. At which point your host turns the hosting off.

Your domain name also lasts for two years but Nominet very kindly give you a grace period after that two years.

Your host is under no obligation to provide DNS/email/web after their contract with you runs out.

So is it wrong, in between expiry and suspension, for the host/registrar to point it to a parking page, a registrar holding page, or something else?

I know the PAB looked at registrar parking pages in September 2008 - whilst this isn't the same thing, it's surely in the same ballpark:

The PAB recommended that Nominet should make registrars aware that they should be following the existing registrar good Practice terms and specifically draw their attention to the risks that a registrant could face if their domain name is associated with a parking page.

Any idea if this is in the T&Cs?

 

[grantw]

Your host is under no obligation to provide DNS/email/web after their contract with you runs out.

Fair point!

GRant

 

[bb99]

Alien, if you visit the domain name you're talking about above, do you get a parking page?

 

[Alien]

Alien, if you visit the domain name you're talking about above, do you get a parking page?

Yep - typical Sedo parking page appears.

 

[monaghan]

Your domain name also lasts for two years but Nominet very kindly give you a grace period after that two years.

Your host is under no obligation to provide DNS/email/web after their contract with you runs out.

So is it wrong, in between expiry and suspension, for the host/registrar to point it to a parking page, a registrar holding page, or something else?

Whilst the host has no obligation to provide service after the contract has expired they surely have no right to redirect and gain financial advantage of residual traffic relating to a domain that they don't own? I'd have thought that making a change to the nameservers without the concent of the domain owner is against the guidelines even if not against the rules?

I would accept that either removing the host's nameservers, detagging or pointing to a simple "pay the bill" / empty page would be acceptable.

Anyone asked Nominet?

 

[Alien]

NB: I've tried to update nameservers via UK Reg on domains like this, it prevents you from changing them back until they are renewed - is this standard practice with all DNR's?

 

[monaghan]

another thought, with all the fuss over the delay-DAC... when combined with the traffic stats from the "gap" period, the large registrars can now use the whois2 for customer domain reg queries, real-time DAC for high value domains and their huge delay-DAC quota to "hoover up" anything that is likely to recover the reg fee in parking revenue.

So much for a level playing field

 

[bb99]

Whilst the host has no obligation to provide service after the contract has expired they surely have no right to redirect and gain financial advantage of residual traffic relating to a domain that they don't own? I'd have thought that making a change to the nameservers without the concent of the domain owner is against the guidelines even if not against the rules?

I think they probably do have a right to do this IF it's in the T&Cs that you agreed to when you signed up. That sounds like what the PAB had in mind when they looked at it.

If it's not, then I'm not sure.

I guess the same caveat applies to this as does dropcatching in general - if you want to use your domain name your way, renew it and pay your bills on time! If not, you face the consequences :???:

 

[monaghan]

Agreed, if you don't take care of the domain, then it is likely to be caught by someone on expiry.

My main point is that by the registrar pointing the domain specifically to their parking system they gain unfair advantage at drop stage as not only do they have the name in their database making it valid to hold the name under the new DAC drop list retention T&C's, BUT they also have accurate usage stats to determine whether to simply leave to expire or attempt to catch and park.

 

[GreyWing]

Well they should at least offer you the ability to change tags during this process as per nom rules.

If they lock your account in suspension and you can't change the nameservers or tag then for me it is wrong.

 

[devolution]

I've had enough of all this crap in the .uk domainspace - I'm going to talk to my lawyers about starting a class action against Nominet...

 

[GreyWing]

I'm sure their is crap going off with regards Nominet, but I don't think this is one mate.

This maybe just some isp's pushing the boundries a little and see what the responses are from their customers.