My client is currently hosted with a local hosting company, who also manages their domain, both of which are due to expire in a month or so.

I am soon to be hosting their website so the hosting isn't really an issue, but I may be taking over the domain too.

I'm wondering, would it be a bit risky to let the domain expire then buy it myself?

I've heard about the sort of folk who sit around in their dark little bedrooms and snap up domains as soon as they become available, only to attempt to sell them back at nigh on extortionate rates.

Would it be better to just advise my client to stick with their current hosting company with regards to their domain name?

Letting it expire and hoping to catch it is a dangerous game. There are too many watchers waiting for expiry dates on hostnames.

Does the client "own" the name or is it registered to the hosting company?

I see! Just what I was afraid of.

It's registered with their hosting company yes. Maybe I should just leave it with them and then get them to point it to my nameservers?

I understand It's registered with the hosting co, but is it registered TO them?

If they "own" the name, then it could spell "problem" and your only option may be changing nameservers with them.

If the client "owns" the name you could get it retagged to bring the nameservers within your control (or the clients).

It's registered to the hosting company yes.
Oh well, it won't mean missing out on too much money!

Thanks

Why do people allows them selves to be duped like that?

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Why do people allows them selves to be duped like that?

lol, and just a piece of advice to everyone... make sure you use your real information when you register domains! If you want to mask your identity, just buy some privacy. Otherwise you risk losing the domain name... it's happened.

Originally Posted by pealo86

I see! Just what I was afraid of.

It's registered with their hosting company yes. Maybe I should just leave it with them and then get them to point it to my nameservers?

You'd better check with the provider first if it's allowed. Better option imho, is transfering it.

PW

If you contact your customer and ask him to sell this domain name for you I suppose that would be the best guarantee that you will not lose the domain name you are intersted in

if your client hasn't given cancellation notice to his current hosting provider perhaps he could contact them, mention that he noticed the domain info isn't in his name, and ask them to change change the registrant info to his name/give him the PW so he can do future updates. At this point he doesn't have anything to lose by asking.

Take it as an initiative and do it. They'll owe you

Originally Posted by marlene11

Take it as an initiative and do it. They'll owe you

Do you think so? But if they say they are not intersted in that domain name anymore what would you do?