I just learned something about Network Solutions today.
When trying to register a name via OpenSRS (I'll use example.com for the
example), I received a "DOMAIN TAKEN" from OpenSRS.
When I looked up example.com via whois.internic.net, it said that it was
pointing to whois.networksolutions.com, and NetSol was the registrar.
When I queried whois.networksolutions.com, I got back:
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Domain not found locally, but Registry points back to local DB.
Local whois DB must be out of date.
Domain Name: EXAMPLE.COM
Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, INC.
Whois Server: whois.networksolutions.com
Referral URL: www.networksolutions.com
Name Server: NS1.(not shown).NET
Name Server: NS2.(not shown).NET
Updated Date: 20-sep-2000
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The (not shown) is my edit.
So I called Network Solutions, and spoke to Donna.
She confirmed that the domain has been deleted from Network Solutions, but
hasn't been deleted from the InterNIC registry yet.
"Wait a few more days" was her solution.
I called the customer, and told them I could try again in a few days via
OpenSRS, or if they wanted to try something -- they should go to the
Network Solutions website and register it with them.
Guess what? They were able to register it with Network Solutions eventhough
all other Registrars are denied access to this domain in "limbo".
This gives Network Solutions an unfair advantage.
I can only assume it works this way:
1. Expire the domain, and hold on to it until the next $6 Registry fee is due.
2. During this time, if anyone else wants to register the name, they can
only do it through the Network Solutions website.
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Isn't there any terms and conditions which prevent a registrar from holding
onto a deleted or expired domain that no longer appears in their whois
database?
