[sf-lug] Network Solutions / Web.com & renewing expired domains (Michael Paoli)

[Rick Moen]

Quoting Daniel Gimpelevich (daniel at gimpelevich.san-francisco.ca.us):

> NetSol is only offering to other people an auction service called
> NameJet to bid on the newly expired domains, starting at $69 per
> domain.

[Note:  NameJet is an independent business partner external to NetSol,
BTW -- not a NetSol auction service as such.  SnapNames is the other
major company in that category.]

Daniel, I believe you are overinterpreting.  NetSol would eventually permit
NameJet to auction the expired domains and take a cut of the proceeds,
if the owner doesn't redeem them during the grace period.   This would
result in the auction winner becoming the new Registrant (owner).  But
we're not talking about bidding at auction.

The current Registrant inevitably gets a shot during a 'grace period'
before auction (else, NetSol would get in trouble with ICANN & US
Department of Commerce), and the unresolved question of interest is
whether NetSol accepts payment from third parties _on Jim's behalf_
-- i.e., the payer _not_ seeking to become the replacement Registrant,
but merely offering to pay Jim's renewal invoice.

> Unfortunately, Michael indicated in a previous message that it's
> unlikely another person can do something at this time.

tl;dr:  Telephone, and ask.  It's even toll free.


Michael _speculated_ that such might be the case.  I did, too.  But the
point is that NetSol also might, to the contrary, be perfectly happy to
accept renewal money from anywhere as long as it's green.  And 
the way to find out is to telephone Network Solutions, Inc. Customer
Support at 1-888-642-9675, and inquire whether the caller may pay two
slightly delinquent renewals on behalf of Registrant Jim Stockford (for
sf-lug.com and sf-lug.org), charging said amount to caller's credit
card, rather than to Jim's.

Either they'll be fine with anyone's money, or they'll insist on getting
paid only by Jim for Jim's renewals.  Ask and find out.