Ambrand.com

I’ve previously mentioned the difficulties I encountered when trying to transfer my domains away from Yahoo Domains. In summary they wouldn’t tell me the AUTHorization code. So I couldn’t transfer the .org, .biz and .info domains I had there, and I could transfer the .com because I did have access to the admin-c email.

Fortunately I know about domains and so knew the avenues to explore and eventually extracted the code. However I wonder how many others simply renewed at Yahoo Domains being unable to transfer.

One cannot say for sure whether or not Registrars use the AUTHorzation code as a customer retention technique, even if it is the case the Registrars would never say it publically.

Another technique I have just encountered is an error prone WHOIS server. Every time you transfer a domain the winning registrar does a WHOIS on the losing registrars server in order to find out the losing registrants admin-c email. This is an automated process. I need to transfer a domain from a registrar called NameScout, but their WHOIS won’t talk.

Checking server [whois.crsnic.net]

Checking server [whois.domainsout.ca]

Results:
We are unable to process your request at this time. The whois informationis unavailable for this domain for one of the following reasons:

(1) Too many simulataneous connections from your host;
(2) The domain you requested is not with this Registrar;
(3) You have exceeded your query limit;
(4) Your IP address has been restricted;
(5) Whois data is not available for this domain - check back in 48 hours when our server is updated;
(6) Access has been restricted to ensure operational stability;
(7) A system error has occurred;
(8) The time limit for your request has expired;
(9) The IP address provided is not valid or the host specified by the IP address does not exist;
(10) There is an error in what you have inputed or requested;
(11) An unknown error has occurred;
(12) The domain is not currently registered;
(13) The domain you requested contains invalid characters;
(14) The domain you requested is too long;
(15) The domain you requested begins or ends with a dash;
(16) The domain you requested is a third or fourth level domain;
(17) You did not specify a domain name.

What a poor error message, what is the solution? Well I queried from another IP range just in case mine was dirty, but still got the error. I emailled service@namescout.com, but apart from the autometed rightnow.com reply I heard nothing, interestingly the emil doesn’t appear in the rightnow.com interface when I login, sounds like someone in NameScout pushed it under the carpet, remember the only reason I’d want the WHOIS to be fixed is if I intend transferring away, thus they have no incentive to act. But opinions aside, the net result it I can’t transfer the domain! I won’t use the word ransom because they haven’t asked for a bounty but it stinks.