[sf-lug] Network Solutions / Web.com & renewing expired domains

[Michael Paoli]

> From: "Rick Moen" <rick at linuxmafia.com>
> Subject: [sf-lug] In conclusion (aka The Sounds of Silence)
> Date: Tue, 7 Jul 2015 19:08:48 -0700

> I was curious whether NetSol permitted third-party renewals.  So I did:
>
> 1.  Load https://www.networksolutions.com/
> 2.  Find 'Renew Services' on navbar.  Select that.  Takes you to
>     https://www.networksolutions.com/manage-it/bulk-renewal.jsp,
>     where you can 'enter your domain name(s) and click 'Get Started'.
>     You'll then see all your domains and their associated services that
>     you can renew.'
> 3.  Enter 'sf-lug.org [newline] sf-lug.com'.  Push the button.
>
> Returns a dialogue:
>
>   sf-lug.org
>   We're sorry, but the domain name you entered is not available for online
>   renewal. Please contact Customer Support for assistance at
>   1-888-642-9675.
>
>   sf-lug.com
>   We're sorry, but the domain name you entered is not available for online
>   renewal. Please contact Customer Support for assistance at
>   1-888-642-9675.
>
> Not surprising, because expired.

Yes, in past, I've done 3rd party renewal of *non-expired* domain(s) with
registrar Network Solutions.  Don't know that their policy is now as it
was, but it was:
They'd allow *anyone* to pay to renew non-expired domain
Once expired, only the customer/registrant could renew
(note that that may or may not be their current policy).

At least twice I renewed balug.org before it expired, when I was not the
registrant (or admin contact, etc.) for the domain (I was not at all
listed on the domain).  Network Solutions was more than happy to take
the money from me.  They were also more than happy to take it from me
again 30 days prior to the next time the domain was about to expire, though
I *never* gave them authorization to charge my card again, or autocharge
it for subsequent renewal, nor did I give them permission to stick my
card (at least at that time) on or associated with any permanent records
of the domain or give the registrant any access to any part of the card
information ... but they did all those things anyway(!).  But ... whatever
I was going to be paying it anyway, but geez ... and then they wouldn't
take my card off the account - they'd only allow the registrant/customer
to do that!  Yes, Network Solutions does quite suck (do the research,
that's an objectively verifiable conclusion), however, for better or
worse (at least in my opinion), how much they suck, and where, and to
what degree, etc., for the most part is relatively predictable ... so
... might be sufficiently tolerable to/for some, and they do have some
positive points / strengths ... though I think many registrars do *much*
better even on those points - at least those having to do with domain
registration and the management of it.  If you want to buy a ham sandwich
with it or something else not directly related to domain registration,
Network Solutions / Web.com have plenty of such they're more than willing
to sell, and of course which they're quite happy to market and advertise
to any and all they can.

Oh, and at least back then when I did it, doing 3rd party renewal
necessitated calling them - there wasn't a way to do that on-line on
their site ... at least back at that time.