Dreamweaver - (OT) Domain Name Authorization Codes

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(OT) Domain Name Authorization Codes

David Blomstrom

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

To transfer a domain name, you have to obtain an authorization code from
your registrar. What if your registrat refuses to give you the
authorization code? Is there anything you can do short of suing him?

And shouldn't people who pay for domain name management services have
access to ALL their information anyway? What about the bigger companies,
like GoDaddy, Dotster, Enom and NetSol. Do they give their customers
access to their authorization codes up front, or do you have to request
the information from them, too?

Donna Casey

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

David Blomstrom wrote:
> To transfer a domain name, you have to obtain an authorization code from
> your registrar. What if your registrat refuses to give you the
> authorization code? Is there anything you can do short of suing him?
>
> And shouldn't people who pay for domain name management services have
> access to ALL their information anyway? What about the bigger companies,
> like GoDaddy, Dotster, Enom and NetSol. Do they give their customers
> access to their authorization codes up front, or do you have to request
> the information from them, too?

To move the domain registration, you might need to reply to a notice
sent to the email address you gave when you registered the domain.

For example, if you gave the contact email address of bob@yahoo.com for
the domain example.com, and you wanted to transfer the registration of
your domain to dreamhost.com from [wherever], you'd likely need to
request the transfer at dreamhost.com--- then [wherever] would email the
contact address you provided (bob@yahoo.com), and you'd have to reply to
that email or go to a link they provide in it (different companies do
different things) to verify that the request to transfer (made by
dreamhost, for example) was valid.

If your registrar provides authorization codes when you register a
domain, they might require that to move the domain, but you should be
able to request the code FROM the email you gave as your contact when
registering. At worst, you should be able to fax them using your company
letterhead (make one up, if you are not a company) or providing a
drivers license to identify you.

But personally, I've never encountered authorization codes and I've had
a lot of domains registered in different places...

HTH

PeteC

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

David Blomstrom wrote:
> To transfer a domain name, you have to obtain an authorization code
> from your registrar. What if your registrat refuses to give you the
> authorization code? Is there anything you can do short of suing him?

Is this your domain name, or are you working on behalf of a client?

If it's yours, I'd ask why. If they don't give a good answer, put your
request in writing.

If it's a clients domain, they're doing exactly what I'd like them to do if
I was the client. They probably want the client to prove that you have the
authority to move the domain.

Need more information, really, before we can decide who is having the
problem.

Regards,

Pete.
--
Peter Connolly
http://www.acutecomputing.co.uk
Derby
UK
Skype ID: acutecomputing

David Blomstrom

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

PeteC wrote:
> David Blomstrom wrote:
>
>
>
> Is this your domain name, or are you working on behalf of a client?
>
> If it's yours, I'd ask why. If they don't give a good answer, put your
> request in writing.
>
> If it's a clients domain, they're doing exactly what I'd like them to do if
> I was the client. They probably want the client to prove that you have the
> authority to move the domain.
>
> Need more information, really, before we can decide who is having the
> problem.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pete.

I registered several domain names with a local company. I became a
little nervous when I discovered the registrar was just a single
individual, but I never had any major problems - until he went out of
business and transferred all his properties to another local company.

Their service caused me a little concern, so I decided to move a couple
domains to some more established outfits, just to compare them. But both
said I needed an authorization code. So I asked him for an authorization
code, along with another question. He answered the second question, but
ignored my request for an authorization code.

The next day, I e-mailed a request for the authorization codes. He
answered with some mumbo jumbo - but no authorization code. He obviously
doesn't want to lose my business. Ironically, he has lost it with his
attitude.

It's possible that he'll comply with my next request, which will be a
bit more forceful. But I just wanted to know what my options are in case
he absolutely refuses to furnish the authorization codes. It just seems
that I ought to have complete control over my transferring domain names,
rather than being at the mercy of someone who doesn't want to surrender
information I need to transfer them.

Thanks.

Tim G

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

"Donna Casey" <infoREMOVETHIS@n2dreamweaver.com> wrote in message
news:dsln70$5ls$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> David Blomstrom wrote:
>
>
>
>
> To move the domain registration, you might need to reply to a notice sent
> to the email address you gave when you registered the domain.
>
> For example, if you gave the contact email address of bob@yahoo.com for
> the domain example.com, and you wanted to transfer the registration of
> your domain to dreamhost.com from [wherever], you'd likely need to request
> the transfer at dreamhost.com--- then [wherever] would email the contact
> address you provided (bob@yahoo.com), and you'd have to reply to that
> email or go to a link they provide in it (different companies do different
> things) to verify that the request to transfer (made by dreamhost, for
> example) was valid.
>
> If your registrar provides authorization codes when you register a domain,
> they might require that to move the domain, but you should be able to
> request the code FROM the email you gave as your contact when registering.
> At worst, you should be able to fax them using your company letterhead
> (make one up, if you are not a company) or providing a drivers license to
> identify you.
>
> But personally, I've never encountered authorization codes and I've had a
> lot of domains registered in different places...

I think authorization codes have come into place in the past year or two.
And domain locking is also coming into its own. Locks are put in place to
prevent unwanted hijacking. I just transferred a domain from 1and1.com, and
I had to request an unlock. Only when the unlock went through did my
authorization entry at the new registrar "take." So there are potentially
several things involved.

tim

David Blomstrom

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

Donna Casey wrote:
> David Blomstrom wrote:
>
> But personally, I've never encountered authorization codes and I've had
> a lot of domains registered in different places...

Two different registrars required them; I think they were were GoDaddy
and Dotster... or GoDaddy and ENom. I haven't dealt with any of these
companies yet but wanted to check them out.

Small is good, but too small - as in one individual - is not!

Donna Casey

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

David Blomstrom wrote:

> Two different registrars required them; I think they were were GoDaddy
> and Dotster... or GoDaddy and ENom. I haven't dealt with any of these
> companies yet but wanted to check them out.

godaddy? I use them, but cannot say if a code is required to move away
from them as I've yet found a reason to do it. They rock for domain
registration, imo.

Donna Casey

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

Tim G wrote:

> I think authorization codes have come into place in the past year or two.
> And domain locking is also coming into its own. Locks are put in place to
> prevent unwanted hijacking. I just transferred a domain from 1and1.com, and
> I had to request an unlock. Only when the unlock went through did my
> authorization entry at the new registrar "take." So there are potentially
> several things involved.

godaddy lets you unlock your domains through a control panel. and lock
them when done. Sounds like godaddy was a good choice. I know that since
I've had my domains all there, I've had very few issues and management
of them all has been far easier.

Tim G

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

"Donna Casey" <infoREMOVETHIS@n2dreamweaver.com> wrote in message
news:dslp6g$7ov$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> godaddy lets you unlock your domains through a control panel. and lock
> them when done. Sounds like godaddy was a good choice.

I think most of them do. However, e.g. 1and1.com doesn't allow the unlock to
go through until you verify by clicking a link they send you in an email
after you go through the control panel unlock.

tim

David Blomstrom

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

Donna Casey wrote:
> David Blomstrom wrote:
>
>
>
>
> godaddy? I use them, but cannot say if a code is required to move away
> from them as I've yet found a reason to do it. They rock for domain
> registration, imo.
>

Thanks. I'll probably transfer all my general audience domain names to
GoDaddy, then transfer my political sites to a second registrar. I still
have one domain name registered with Network Solutions, too.

PeteC

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

David Blomstrom wrote:
> It's possible that he'll comply with my next request, which will be a
> bit more forceful. But I just wanted to know what my options are in
> case he absolutely refuses to furnish the authorization codes. It
> just seems that I ought to have complete control over my transferring
> domain names, rather than being at the mercy of someone who doesn't
> want to surrender information I need to transfer them.

I think that if he doesn't comply, you can take it up with ICANN / Nominet
etc; whoever controls the domain at the highest level. They can then enforce
a transfer.

Regards,

Pete.
--
Peter Connolly
http://www.acutecomputing.co.uk
Derby
UK
Skype ID: acutecomputing

Alan

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

..org and some other TLD's require auth codes to do a transfer of registrars.

link below explains, and also gives info on where the auth code can be found
in the more common registrars management consoles.
http://www.wdbc.com/domain/transfer-authcode.cfm

If the registrar is a single person shop- they must be using a reselling
account from a real registrar. A complete whois will give the registrar of
record. then you can log into the main site and get details such as the
auth code. (provided you have a username/password for access)

for example, i can use my registrar's website to manage my domains, or i can
log into the tucows srs system they resell for, and do the same management
stuff.
https://manage.opensrs.net/

> David Blomstrom wrote:
>
> I think that if he doesn't comply, you can take it up with ICANN / Nominet
> etc; whoever controls the domain at the highest level. They can then enforce
> a transfer.
>
> Regards,
>
> Pete.

David Blomstrom

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

Matthew

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

Hi Tim:
I have about 50 or so domain names with 1and1. I can log into my
account/control panel (click on domain names) and among the options at the
top is to lock and unlock domains. I've never been sent an email to confirm
after unlocking one within the control panel....
Matthew
"Tim G" <webservicesNOSPAM@pactumgroup.com> wrote in message
news:dslqke$9j7$2@forums.macromedia.com...
>
> "Donna Casey" <infoREMOVETHIS@n2dreamweaver.com> wrote in message
> news:dslp6g$7ov$1@forums.macromedia.com...
>
> I think most of them do. However, e.g. 1and1.com doesn't allow the unlock
> to go through until you verify by clicking a link they send you in an
> email after you go through the control panel unlock.
>
> tim
>

Tim G

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

"Matthew" <spam@wczone.com> wrote in message
news:dsmfvr$4bj$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Hi Tim:
> I have about 50 or so domain names with 1and1. I can log into my
> account/control panel (click on domain names) and among the options at the
> top is to lock and unlock domains. I've never been sent an email to
> confirm after unlocking one within the control panel....

Well, the unlock works in combination with authorization. Try transferring
to another registrar, and you'll see what I mean.

tim

mstaudinger@dotster.com

2006-02-12, 6:43 pm

Alan wrote:
> .org and some other TLD's require auth codes to do a transfer of registrars.
>
> link below explains, and also gives info on where the auth code can be found
> in the more common registrars management consoles.
> http://www.wdbc.com/domain/transfer-authcode.cfm
Exactly. Auth codes don't even exist for .net and .com. info/biz/us/org
do have them, and ccTLDs have various transfer hoops to jump through,
if allowed at all (.uk, for example, charges a hefty $100 or so fee :o
! )
Secondly, I know that with both Dotster and GoDaddy, you just have to
click on a request auth-code link in the control panel that you have
access to, and it will e-mail it to the administrative contact. No
human intervention requried, no begging, etc. Same thing with transfer
locks. Simple and easy to change that status from your end.

Funny you mention resellers; WDBC is a Dotster reseller :p
That page is also a bit out of date; Address creation has the same
procedure as that listed for Dotster. (they're related companies)
[color=darkred]
> If the registrar is a single person shop- they must be using a reselling
> account from a real registrar. A complete whois will give the registrar of
> record. then you can log into the main site and get details such as the
> auth code. (provided you have a username/password for access)
>
> for example, i can use my registrar's website to manage my domains, or i can
> log into the tucows srs system they resell for, and do the same management
> stuff.
> https://manage.opensrs.net/
>

Well, ICANN is a step that can be taken, but that can take months to
get any resolution. If they are a reseller for someone and won't
comply, contact the parent registrar. As long as the WHOIS shows your
information in the admin contact, you're in full control of access to
the authcodes/transfer locks/approving transfers. If that won't work,
contact the gaining registrar on the transfer and have them fight for
you. Not sure all of them will do this, but I know we do.

Disclosure: I'm an abuse/spam admin for Dotster and related companies.