was my domain stolen or was It a glitch?

**astonworth** · 02-02-2009, 09:35 PM

Hey dnforums, I've spent the last number of hours scouring for decent addresses to start my portfolio. I finally found one on GoDaddy that was vacant a .co.uk address - then ten minutes later I go to register it and am told it's not available.

I go to the address and it's got godaddys holding page on it.

I go to call them to ask what's going on and then realise while doing a whois on nominet that its been registered since 2005.

I then go back to the site and notice the godaddy banners have vanished and it's now parked at sedo.

It's www.lumbago.co.uk

The fact that it was reg'd by godaddy then moved to sedo parking makes me think somethings underhand is happening. I.e. someone has seen me enter it in their search box internally and stolen it.

But the fact that nominet say its been registered since 2005 make me think otherwise.

Can one of you clever people have a look and tell me what you think please.

If the domain has been re-registered today by godaddy I'd be pretty annoyed but I don't know how to check propperly and would just like to know for peace of mind.

Thanks

**Banned: theinvestor** · 02-02-2009, 09:37 PM

Sometimes GoDaddy will show a domain is available when it is really not.

Once you go to checkout you realize it is taken.

**astonworth** · 02-02-2009, 09:45 PM

Oh thanks, the records at nominet are they accurate, I mean if an unscrupulous registrar employee wanted to publish whatever 'relevent dates' they like could they do that?

Thanks for your kind reply

**Banned: theinvestor** · 02-02-2009, 09:47 PM

They have records of when a domain is registered and by whom. It can't be tampered with.

**astonworth** · 02-02-2009, 09:56 PM

thanks maybe I was seeing a domanic mirage? then again if I was I'd have at least expected a three letter.com - hmm not sure what happened there. Oh well, I put it down to experience. I'll have to run my own second check at nominet from now on.

Thanks again for the help, back to the dictionary for me!

**ohkus** · 02-03-2009, 12:09 AM

Originally Posted by theinvestor

They have records of when a domain is registered and by whom. It can't be tampered with.

don't ever say something can't be tampered with

**katherine** · 02-03-2009, 05:27 AM

It is a glitch. Domain availability search at GoDaddy is not reliable.
You can check with Nominet direct.

Relevant dates:
Registered on: 01-Jul-2005
Renewal date: 01-Jul-2009
Last updated: 22-Oct-2008

**Carter** · 02-03-2009, 05:38 AM

Same happen with Name.com

**copper** · 02-03-2009, 06:08 AM

Sometimes, they even let you pay for it and then give your money back later

**draggar** · 02-03-2009, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by theinvestor

Sometimes GoDaddy will show a domain is available when it is really not.

Once you go to checkout you realize it is taken.

Sometimes they'll even let you register the domain and send you an email later on saying that "there is a problem". Normally, you're refunded within 48 hours of the initial attempt.