Expert: Robert - 7/14/2004

Question
I run a website and owned the domain name.  The domain name recently expired (7/9/04) with the registry company.  I let it expire because I wanted to register it with another company that charges much less.  When I tried to get the name throught the new company (7/14/04), WHOIS says that I still own the name and my "old" registry company is still the registar.

When does a domain name become available for purchase after ownership expires?

Might I need to do something (write the old registar) to make the name available again?

Thank you very much for any suggestions or advice!

Todd

Answer
The bad news is you might be out of luck. Once a domain name expires it can be up for grabs by whoever gets to it once it is released by the current registrar. Some hold it for the standard 62 days but I have seen some hold it as long as 6 months.. it just depends on when they want to let it go. The issue is many Domain Squatters get daily lists of expired domain names and they have software or use a company such as snapback to pre-order the domain as soon as it is ready to sell again.

The is no way to make your current company release it early or anything, you either have to pay them the renewal fee and in some cases I have seen companies charge as much as $150+ to let you renew it after it expires.

I wish I had better news but there is no easy solution for you to gain your domain name without paying your current company. You can switch to a new domain registrar at anytime after 60 days after you buy a domain but you then have to order a transfer within the last 10 days before the expiration.

Robert