Too much to read note: The short answer is when you don’t pay registrar fees your website goes dark and your email account dies. The name servers are changed to direct to a generic page that offers your visitors a way to find your competitors. It’s often not just a case of paying the fee and the reconnect charge. There’s propagation time and more. The story of my recent experience continues below…
Our primary business website went dark two weeks ago.
My favorite brother owns a BUNCH of domain names — some were purchased decades ago. They weren’t all purchased by the same people so they span multiple accounts. It’s nearly impossible to manage at this point. When the domain renewal fee didn’t process for our main website, it was promptly shut down. No email, no website, a shitshow.
Everything changes over time.
Network Solutions is the registrar, and their domains have been controlled by web.com since 2011. Abdul was quick to take a current CC for payment but what came next was — and still is — a nightmare.
The domain that went dark was purchased by my now deceased sister-in-law using an email account that’s been gone since her death in 2005. I was added as a contact about 25 years ago using my previous married name and an email account through a company also out of business. No one was receiving renewal notices.
To get control of the domain again, I must be able to login to the account.
The password was too short so web.com required me to reset it. But the password reset goes to 2 non-existent email addresses so I contacted support. I was provided an email change request URL, filled out their form, provided a copy of my driver’s license, and two utility bills showing a current address. But my name hasn’t been what’s on file (or what’s on my driver’s license) for 24-years, so then they requested a copy of my marriage certificate.
One week later… TADA! Account change confirmed!
But still no login because it was not changed for the account I specified… but for another account I have with Network Solutions for other clients. Back to support and another 2-3 day wait for a response. Next, I received another account address change confirmed email — but it was for a non-existent account that’s one number off from mine. They screwed up! Back to support and another 2-3 day wait.
Here we are 2 weeks later…
I just received an email (because I’m listed as the technical contact with current info) that they’ve locked the domain for suspicious activity. It was just me trying to log in!
While the domain has been paid for 3-years and the website and email accounts are working, the domain name is still in limbo. It’s currently owned by a deceased person and controlled by a previous me that isn’t around anymore either.
On the brighter side — it’s not supposed to rain today. 🙂
Now you know: A study found that 25% of Labrador retrievers and 66% of flat-coated retrievers possess a genetic mutation that can lead to weight gain. Dogs with the gene face the “double whammy” of constant hunger while burning fewer calories. The Labrador has the highest levels of obesity among dog breeds.