DOMAIN RENEWAL SCAMS - Don't get fooled or ripped off by companies offering to renew your domains. We are probably the ADMIN and BILLING contact for your domain(s) and are therefore responsible for doing this for you.

It is important to know that we have this responsibility for your domain names, because there are various scams around that will try to extract money from you by scaring you into thinking your domain will expire and has to be renewed. Examples of this are "Domain Registry Services, Cambridge", "EU Registry Services", "Domain Renewal", "Domain Registry of America" and "Domain Renewal Services". Try searching in Google for these names and you'll see the problem and how people have lost money.

A recent scam that we have seen is from Domain Renewal Online (Domain Name Services) who will try to bill you $79.95 to renew the domain that they have no control over. A while ago, Nominet worked with Trading Standards and the Cambridgeshire Police to investigate another company, Domain Registry Services. In November 2005, the person behind the scam was jailed for six years - see the BBC News website for details.

The domain registries are public information. Certain companies will take that public information and email or write to you to try to get you to renew with them. Of course, you may do this if you wish. In most cases, they are not cheaper and in some cases you are signing over your ownership of the domain (if you read the small print). In the worst cases they are purely after your money or credit card information and have no intention of renewing your domain.

We register all domains through legitimate domain registrars. The domains belong to you (the registrant) and we are the administration and billing contacts. The registrars that we use automatically remind us when your domain is due for renewal. Unless we know you are closing down or no longer need the domain, we will renew it for you around a month in advance of the expiry date.

In addition, we apply a "registrar-lock" to domains. This is a service provided by our main registrar. It means that no-one can take control of your domain name without us unlocking the domain. Of course, we will unlock a domain if you ask us to do so. But the lock is in place to stop a "transfer away" from one of these companies if you fall for their scam.

Letters from Nominet about your "co.uk" domain (especially if its been recently registered) are quite normal. However, if you get any letters or emails concerning your domain name and you have any doubts over their authenticity, please contact us.

Graham Street - Streets Ahead