Questions about reclaiming a domain name.

I've been reading a lot the past week about web hosts, and I'm thinking HostGator may be what I'm looking for. The people who praise the support outnumber those who complain by quite a large margin. I find this impressive since those who are unhappy are generally much more vocal about it than those who are satisfied, so that's a plus.

My question is this, a couple years ago I dealt with 1and1... I wasn't too impressed with their support and have since cancelled my account. However 1and1 has been holding the domain name I used for the past two years, despite my no longer having an account with them. Through email correspondence it seems they are unwilling to release the domain name.

Here's some info from domain lookup:

created: 18-Jun-2004
last-changed: 18-Jun-2006
registration-expiration: 18-Jun-2007

nserver: ns27.1and1.com 217.160.224.3
nserver: ns28.1and1.com 217.160.228.3

status: CLIENT-TRANSFER-PROHIBITED

tech-c-firstname: Hostmaster
tech-c-lastname: ONEANDONE
tech-c-organization: 1&1 Internet Inc.

bill-c-firstname: Hostmaster
bill-c-lastname: ONEANDONE
bill-c-organization: 1&1 Internet Inc.

Current Registrar: SCHLUND+PARTNER AG
Record Type: Domain Name
Server Type: Apache 1
Lock Status: ACTIVE
DMOZ no listings
Y! Directory: see listings
Secure: No
E-commerce: No
Traffic Ranking: Not available
Data as of: 14-Jun-2005


Now, I'm still listed as "registrant" and "admin", I just didn't post it due to my not feeling like listing private information. I also left out some redundant and less relevant info to keep this post shorter. I'm not too familiar with how this type of things work, but is there any way I can 'reclaim' the domain name?

If I'm forced to decide on a new domain name, can I expect this kind of "mine not yours" behaviour from HostGator?

[slapshotw]

I've had many domains with 1and1 in the past. Although they don't have the greatest support, they're a very popular registrar and if they were holding domains, they'd be in a huge amount of hot water for it. You have transfer lock on-- you need to turn it off, and then transfer requests will be forwarded to the admin email. I transfer about 2 domains from 1and1/month as I move to eNom, and there is never a problem.

Hostgator registrations are just resold eNom registrations.

Originally Posted by slapshotw

You have transfer lock on-- you need to turn it off, and then transfer requests will be forwarded to the admin email. I transfer about 2 domains from 1and1/month as I move to eNom, and there is never a problem.

Hostgator registrations are just resold eNom registrations.

Problem is I haven't had an account with them for at least two years, and no method (that I'm aware of) to admin the domain name. I've attempted to deal with 1and1 via email, which has not gone well.

[slapshotw]

You have an account with them if you have a domain name. Go to admin.1and1.com, enter your domain name as the login name, and try a few passwords. If none work, give them a call-- their number is 877-435-7281.

I'm not the biggest defender of 1and1. I think their support is terrible and their domain name tools are extremely subpar, hence my transferring all my domains away from them. Don't give up on your domain name though; as the admin contact, they have to let you transfer it or be in trouble with ICANN.

Originally Posted by slapshotw

You have an account with them if you have a domain name. Go to admin.1and1.com, enter your domain name as the login name, and try a few passwords. If none work, give them a call-- their number is 877-435-7281.

I'm not the biggest defender of 1and1. I think their support is terrible and their domain name tools are extremely subpar, hence my transferring all my domains away from them. Don't give up on your domain name though; as the admin contact, they have to let you transfer it or be in trouble with ICANN.

1and1 ended up pointing me to Schlund AG, who has so far been unresponsive... the "Domain Transfer" link on their page isn't even a link, its just html text with an underline under it.

[GatorChad]

If you bought the domain name from 1&1 then you really should only have to deal with them. However, you mentioned it had been a couple of years since you bought the domain. Have you renewed the domain name since then? If the registration lapsed and it wasn't renewed by you, then you may just have to follow that suggestion and try to contact the parent comopany--SCHLUND+PARTNER AG.

Hopefully it works out for ya.