what are the rights and/or responsibilities of a hosting company

They have: 74 posts

Joined: Sep 2000

what are they?

They have: 36 posts

Joined: Jun 2003

In regards to what exactly?

Sorry to be obvious, but JIC, domain-name registration and web-hosting are separate services of course Wink

I would say that if you have any questions about your host's service, you should review the contracts with the company in questions. That will usually answer your questions (or give you a huge headache).

I also would say that you should make sure that you control all your domains. I would also say (this is all opinion really) that if a web hosting compnay does register a domain for you, that you ensure that your contact information is set as admin and billing contact for that domain. This way you will have the power to move it. Beware of companies that register domain names for you but own them, as they will try to trap you into their service Wink

Best of luck!

They have: 74 posts

Joined: Sep 2000

i dont have any contracts...and the site's TOS only covers my end of the deal. ok now....
what happened was that i had registered a domain and had it hosted elsewhere, and a year later the domain had been cancelled without my notice even though the company had my phone number two email addresses, and my actual address. then when i complained to them about it, all they said was "it expired and we apologize for the inconvenience". i had even checked all over the site and they said nothing of expiration in only a year.

My question is are they obligated at all to let me know of such things?

hehe

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

No, they are not.

You, however, are obligated to research as much as you can before purchasing. Domains are registered for a period of one year.

Most reputable and good domain registrars will notify you if the domain is coming up for renewal, however it's still your responsibility.

They have: 74 posts

Joined: Sep 2000

thanks anyways,

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

I'm sorry you lost your domain. Try godaddy.com -- they send out reminders from 90 days on to renew your domains.

Hosts may also be registrars, but I prefer to keep my registrars separate from my hosting so that if I have a problem with one, it doesn't affect the other.

It'd be devastating to lose both the domain and the content at the same time!

The Webmistress's picture

She has: 5,586 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

I thought domain names were automatically purachased for a period of two years. All the ones I have bought were and the .com & .net ones gave a choice of 2-5 years upon purchase.

Julia - if life was meant to be easy Michael Angelo would have painted the floor....

He has: 1,016 posts

Joined: May 2002

Julia, there are some domain names that you have to register for at least 2 years (i.e. .NU), but .COM/.NET/.ORG require only 1 year. The 2-5 year option you get is only because the registrar you use wants to make more money.

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

Right, you can get deals, but the set required time is one year. GoDaddy will allow you to transfer and then synchronize your domains so you reregister them all simultaneously. All sorts of deals and features like domain management to attract buyers. It's changed a lot since Network Solutions was robbing people at $35 per (only $70 for two years!).

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