Dreamhost and the transfer of the domain names
If you have domain names registered with Dreamhost ( New Dream Network LLC), take care that you can be in the same situation as me, having more domain names with Dreamhost, trying to transfer it to another registrar, and losing the domain names because they do not answer to you.
I was advised by many webmasters to complain to ICANN, but they send you to Internic and here, for the problem identified as “If you have a dispute involving the requested transfer of a domain name from one registrar to another“, they say that:
In November 2004, ICANN announced a transfer policy that applies to all accredited gTLD registrars across the globe.
If you have attempted to transfer a domain name from one registrar to another registrar and the transfer was denied, the “losing” registrar is required to provide the “gaining” registrar with a notice and a specific reason for the denial. You can contact the “gaining” registrar for further assistance.
The problem is that that policy is not applied by the registrars. They ask you for the transfer authorization code and do not comply with the above rule.
So, if you think that when you buy a new domain name it is your, you are in a big error. The registrar can block it at any time and there is no way to ask for your rights. The only possibility for you to keep your domain name is to have enough money for an attorney to get your domain names in instance, or to find a registrar that has nothing against the transfer of your domain names to another registrar. In fact, you are at the mercy of your registrar.
Anyway, I advise everyone based on my own experience that, when you buy a web hosting package, to not work to develop and promote web sites with domain names offered with free registration by the web hosting company, especially if it is Dreamhost, because it is very possible to find out later, when you want to transfer the domain names, that you worked for nothing for those web sites.
February 19th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I agree with you. There are hundreds of hosting companies who give free domain name with hosting plans. If you just check the whois of the free domain name you are offered you will be surprised to see that the domain name is registered in the web hosting company’s name and not YOURS.
This blocks the domain transfer and you loose the domain name. All the benefit is take by the hosting comapany.
So never ever fall prey to free domain name with hosting plans offered by these hosting companies.
I lost my 2 domain names few months back because of this. In legal terms those domains were OWNED by my hosting company and not me.
I recently registered domains and purchase web hosting plans seprately at Domainxi.com. Atleast my domains are safe and away from my hosting though both are purchased from same company
April 1st, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I totally agree with you.
my account is disable in dreamhost, and including my domain lost.
even I tried to contact them for transferring domain issue, while they don’t reply my email at all.