My Web Hosting Company Has Gone AWOL!

Almighty Dollar on 24/11/2015 - 16:49

I hope you can help, as this is getting beyond a joke. Melbourne IT currently holds my domain, but holds it in the name of my web hosting service. The web hosting service and I have agreed to terminate our arrangement and I am moving host to VentraIP. My site has been cloned to VentraIP and all that needs to happen now is to update the nameservers. However, I have not been able to get a response via email or phone from my current web host for more than a month - calls are not answered, emails are unopened. My host lives on the other side of the country, and is a very small outfit but relations have always been good.

I don't know what to do. How can I get my domains (wich are .com domains) back under my control?

Internet

Comments

  • pb924 on 24/11/2015 - 17:10

    Explain the situation to your new hosting service and get them to request the DNS update from MelbourneIT.

    While you're at it find a new registrar for you domain and get them to get your domain away from MelbourneIT and into your name. make sure you search any possible candidates - there's a lot of dodgy outfits out there.

  • scotty on 24/11/2015 - 17:57
    +2

    Melbourne IT currently holds my domain, but holds it in the name of my web hosting service.

    Then unfortunately, you are not the owner of the domain. Use a AusRegistry WHOIS to check whose email address is linked to the domain.

    • If hosting company's — then really bad luck. Not sure explaining the situation to Melbourne IT is going to help. You might need to contact AusRegistrar or auDA with proof that you should be the rightful owner of the domain.

    • If your email address — then you can use Password Recovery to get the transfer password out. You can then use this with VentraIP to transfer the domain out from Melbourne IP.

  • Almighty Dollar on 24/11/2015 - 19:00

    Thanks guys, I think this is going to get tricky.

    Just to make things more complicated, the domains were actually bought through Yahoo as a reseller, adding one more party into the mix.

    Yep, the emails that they are registered with are my hosting companys. Also, they are COM domains so would contacting the Australian Registry be right?

    I have sent an email to VentraIP, let's see what they say.

    • scotty on 24/11/2015 - 21:07

      No. Unfortunately .com does not work with auDA so you will need to retrieve the password from Melbourne IT.

  • poboy on 24/11/2015 - 20:07

    Whenever I help people with websites, I charge more when Melb IT are involved. Nightmare non standard back ends and no online chat support.

    Keep ringing them. They don't respond to emails. Ring and ring. Transfer your domain name away from them as soon as possible as toy are probably paying $150 for something that is $25 everywhere else.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2015 - 21:58

    Melbourne IT…. a company…. Thats a stretch

    VentraIP are awesome.

    • Clear on 25/11/2015 - 10:34

      Can't agree more. Zuver is also good for something smaller or for personal use.

      • [Deactivated] on 25/11/2015 - 12:23

        Which is operated/owned by VentraIP

        • Clear on 25/11/2015 - 13:19

          Which are a Synergy wholesaler and reseller. Zuver is good because of the 90% discount for the first year.

        • [Deactivated] on 25/11/2015 - 13:24

          @Clear:

          All 3 are the same company, a great company (unlike Melbourne IT).

          Don't charge more for Melbourne IT, just refuse to touch them. No amount of money is worth that pain.

        • Clear on 25/11/2015 - 14:11

          @Drew22: A lot of my clients use MelbIT unfortunately. Getting a DNS change is always a nightmare. I'm surprised at how many people think they're so good.

  • Almighty Dollar on 30/12/2015 - 10:06

    Just wanted to update you kind folk - my web host got in contact, many apologies, transferred everything over to me so the situation is resolved and my stress levels have returned to normal.

    Now trying to decide if I ask her for a partial refund of my support fees. Most likely I will wash my hands and walk away, older but wiser. Not a lot of $ in play.

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