Name Server problem

[burlington]

I am trying to help someone who is moving to a new host with a newly designed website,and wants to change the Name Servers on his present designer's host server so the domain points to his new site.

Unfortunately, though he has access to a 'Control panel' it is a very limited one. There is no facility to change the Name Servers. He has no access to the 'real' host (his designer is a reseller of space), and the designer/host(?) appears to be unwilling to help his client move away.

The domain TAG is easy to change; the Name Servers seem to be something else in this case. Any advice you can give him would be appreciated I am sure. Frankly, it amazes me how some 'designers' can screw their customers.

For the record, the new site is a CMSMS site.

Thank you

Martin

ps There must be a message from this story. If you want a new website, make sure that the person designing it for you has NO 'handle' on the hosting. in other words they should be two different entities with the client having control over the activities of both so far as THEIR interests are concerned.

[velden]

Not sure what you mean by 'domain TAG'.

If I were him I'd move my domain name to some other company. Depending on the root extension he would need the current company to provide him an authorization token.

Maybe the registrar has some ways to force him to give it or to retrieve it via some legal procedures.

ps There must be a message from this story. If you want a new website, make sure that the person designing it for you has NO 'handle' on the hosting. in other words they should be two different entities with the client having control over the activities of both so far as THEIR interests are concerned.

I don't fully agree (though I tend to think the same way sometimes). I register domain names and build websites for my customers. If one wants to move to another company (and did pay the bills) I will coorporate and hand over the authorization token. No questions asked, no hard feelings. It's all about trust.

[burlington]

Hello Velden.

ref. the TAG. Can I quote please:
'An IPS TAG is a way of Nominet (the not for profit company who governs the .uk domain names) giving control of a domain name to a certain company. For example the domain name 123-reg-drupal-website.co.uk currently has the IPS TAG of 123-REG. If you want to move your domain name to another provider you would need to change the IPS TAG to that of your new provider.'

A 'whois' may show (in the UK):
' Registrar:
Mesh Digital Limited t/a Domainmonster.com [Tag = MONSTER]
URL: http://www.domainmonster.com'
(nothing to do with this case though!)

As for your final paragraph, you are obviously very honest and indeed this is what all reputable people would do. However, there are some around who as not so minded to do the decent thing (yes, I have dealt with a few!), & I now recommend keeping design & hosting in separate hands. What happens if one party either dies or goes out of business?

Regards

Martin

[velden]

If I understand correctly you can change the TAG, hence the registrar? The registrar has to provide the dns servers to be used I assume. So I'd say: find a registrar that is willing to help you with DNS settings or provides access to their DNS panel and move the domain to them.

(I'm not familiar with .uk domains though).

[Dr.CSS]

I've always told my clients that they need to register the name and buy their own hosting so they have control of their site is all aspects, but yes I've run into some who own the domain for the client and it hasn't always worked out, one we had to wait till it expired...

[paulbaker]

The domain TAG is easy to change

If they can change the IPS TAG then I suggest they open an account with ukreg.com or 123-reg.co.uk (or whichever registrar floats your boat) and transfers it over, there are help pages that run through the process. He will then have complete control of domain and its email etc and can change name servers whenever he likes. The domain will also be out of the hands of the uncooperative designer.