UK Domain Names - When does it drop?

[p3t3r]

hi,

 

I am trying to buy a UK domain name. This domain name expired in January 27th 2015.

 

I read that when the name expires, the owner of the name is given a grace period to renew it of 90 days, then after 90 days it 'drops' and then becomes available for anyone to purchase it.

 

It seems to have now gone past the 90 days and the previous owner still has not re-registered it.

 

Is this 90 days correct? When is it likely to become available to be purchased by anyone?

[p3t3r]

update... i found out the answer to my own question.

 

https://www.cybercompare.net/domain-names/uk-drop-list/ that site shows the names dropping today, tomorrow etc

[adridude]

Don't use sites like that EVERY to look up domains and their expiry dates.

 

When it comes to the UK, the only people you need to check with is NOMINET (http://www.nominet.org.uk) They're the UK domain registrar of.. well the UK. They govern how the x.uk domains are used.

 

Companies like the one you've listed rely on people to click through their list to find out which domains are popular.. From there, they cherry pick and buy them up for themselves....

 

have you noticed the number of decent domain names which resolve to really rubbish websites (i.e. pointless search results)? They keep them and horde them whilst trying to auction them off.

 

And about the expiry time, that depends entirely on who they registered with in the first place.

 

Usually, 30 days is the cap, but some companies offer an incentive to their customers bu offering a few months more leeway on their renewals.

[adridude]

if you want to check the status of a domain, do it the following way (to minimise the chance that its nicked by onlookers):

 

Use the NOMINET "WHOIS" database, which is database of domain name registration details

 

http://www.nominet.org.uk/uk-domain-names/about-domain-names/domain-lookup-whois/whois-tool

 

That link takes you to the tool and in the search box, all you type in is WahteverTheDomainNameIs.co.uk and it comes back with a load of info...

 

An example of this is me having just looked up google.co.uk, I get:

 

Domain name:
    google.co.uk

Registrant:
    Google Inc.

Registrant type:
    Non-UK Corporation

Registrant's address:
    1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
    Mountain View
    CA
    94043
    United States

Data validation:
    Nominet was able to match the registrant's name and address against a 3rd party data source on 10-Dec-2012

Registrar:
    Markmonitor Inc. t/a MarkMonitor Inc. [Tag = MARKMONITOR]
    URL: http://www.markmonitor.com

Relevant dates:
    Registered on: 14-Feb-1999
    Expiry date:  14-Feb-2016
    Last updated:  13-Jan-2015

Registration status:
    Registered until expiry date.

Name servers:
    ns1.google.com
    ns2.google.com
    ns3.google.com
    ns4.google.com

WHOIS lookup made at 05:22:37 11-Jun-2015

-- 
This WHOIS information is provided for free by Nominet UK the central registry
for .uk domain names. This information and the .uk WHOIS are:

Copyright Nominet UK 1996 - 2015.

You may not access the .uk WHOIS or use any data from it except as permitted
by the terms of use available in full at http://www.nominet.org.uk/whoisterms,
which includes restrictions on: (A) use of the data for advertising, or its
repackaging, recompilation, redistribution or reuse (B) obscuring, removing
or hiding any or all of this notice and (C) exceeding query rate or volume
limits. The data is provided on an 'as-is' basis and may lag behind the
register. Access may be withdrawn or restricted at any time. 

[brassnecked]

adritude is cortrect, these other firms squat on domains hoping to sell them on at a profit.