How long after grace period is domain name available?

BinkyMelnik · 08-24-2006, 11:23 AM

Folks:

A friend's domain name expired and he didn't know because he killed the email address on that account, so he didn't receive notification. Unable to move the domain to another registrar because the current host (who's also the registrar) neithr answers emails nor the phone, he's had to wait for the 30-day grace period to expire to register it elsewhere. That was last night at midnight. It's still showing as unavailable. Maybe the WHOIS servers aren't up-to-the-minute correct? Exactly how much longer does he hafta bite his nails before he can register his domain name elsewhere and get back to work?

I'd be grateful for a hint, as I'm the one sitting here with all his files (I back up religiously, like a good girl) and can have him back up and running in mere seconds if I can just get the domain name!

BinkyMelnik · 08-24-2006, 02:42 PM

Grrrrrr... Did some poking around, and it seems as if the host in question apparently abandoned their servers and customers! Wowie! I'd be even angrier with this one than I am with the asshat I have if this one were mine!

So I'm looking at the record for this domain, and it says:

Registrar of Record: TUCOWS, INC.
Record last updated on 21-Jul-2005.
Record expires on 23-Jul-2006.
Record created on 23-Jul-2003.

Will it be let go of automatically, or does it require human intervention on the part of the registrar (who, in this case, seems to have bolted for parts unknown)? 'Cause if it's the latter, looks as if my bud can just kiss his domain (and his business cards, and his letterhead and envelopes, and his inbound links, and his t-shirts, and so on and so forth) good-bye.

I sure wish Tucows would be helpful instead of their annoying "Call the registrar." Yeah, right. When they don't exist, then what're you sposta do?

This is one of the most irritating weeks of my life. I've begun hoping the long-overdue fatal heart attack hits fast and ends my misery!

BinkyMelnik · 08-24-2006, 09:33 PM

Folks:

After yet more poking around, I've decided I needn't be cagey, and now feel perfectly comfortable unveiling the name of this hosting compant/registrar who's seemingly abandoned its customers, as it's being reported all over the web: it's infinology.com.

I'm gonna phone Tucows tomorrow. I attempted to email them tonight; after clicking "Submit," the page said, "Thanks! We've forwarded your message to your registrar." Gee, thanks. Those're the people who haven't responded to our emails or answered their phone for two weeks!