Joker.com and getting my domain back.
 

I have a domain which seems to be registered with Joker.com now. That's not who I registered it with, or renewed it with, but that's what the whois information has and that's who denied my registrar of choice when I tried to transfer it. Thing is, I don't have an account with Joker.com to go in and manage the domain and they certainly make transfering it away a chore and a half and one that I can't accomplish without an account..or maybe two different accounts. I'm not entirely sure. I tried to set one up and instead of sending me a password in e-mail, they sent me a link to get the password, which seemed nowhere in evidence when I clicked on the link. I went through that process several times and then sent them a request for help. It's now the middle of the day in Germany and not so much as an auto-reply to that. Does anyone know how to get through to them or how any of this works with them? The other domains I have are at 000domains.com, which is where I want to transfer this one and it's all a very simple process, as it was with the one other registar I've ever used. I'm off to work and won't be able to get back for 12 hours or so, so if there are any responses, thanks in advance.

In Holland it is a national Holiday today and everything is closed. I just checked and it's the same in Germany (Pentecost Monday), allthough I can't say for sure that everything is closed there too. So you might have to wait till tomorrow before you get a reply from them.

Hanneke

I just went over their FAQ page and this is what it says:

So it seems very strange that your domain was transferred over without you knowing about it. :confused:

Hanneke:confused:

Re: Joker.com and getting my domain back.
 

In the first place which registar did you register the domain with? The registar that you register with you should be able to login and manage the account from there. Perhaps the whois is wrong and what it reflects doesn't mean on the physical account. You might still be able to access. Probably this is a sign to tell you time to change registar!

Could be Killer: But I am guessing that the company that originally registered the domain has some kind of an agreement with joker dot com and are in effect a subsidary company. This shows that one cannot be too careful when selecting a company to do business with. --david

Hi, yes, I think that's exactly what happened. I registered at Registryweb.com about three years ago. It was the first domain I ever registered and I had no idea what I was doing or anything. Sometime since then Joker.com started showing up in the whois for the domain. The gaining registrar did start the process and it was denied before I got any opportunity to approve or disapprove it. I'm going to try to do this through registryweb now. Since it was Joker.com that denied the request I was trying to deal with them, but now I'm going to try to deal with this one. This is why I want to change. They make it a lot easier at 000domains.com, and I'm sure at many other ones.

I was checking out regulations regarding transfers at ICAN According to this only the registrant or the admin contact can instigate the transfer process. It is important I think to ensure that if you are the owner of any domain name that your name is entered in the whois record as admin contact in order to ensure that the domain cannot be transferred without your prior knowledge. --david

Hi..getting more frustrated. Yes, my name is listed and my e-mail address and everything else. I just can't access anything on their site that allows me to initiate the process. I tried on the registryweb site, which seems to be a reseller for joker now, but there's nothing at all about transferring a domain away from it and, as I said, I can't get to the part of Joker.com that allows you to do that and so far have received no response to my request for help on that. I'll give it the rest of the night, since it's a holiday, and then try again tomorrow.

Are you saying that during the three years you have quite forgotton about the domain? Perhaps it have expired, and someone got your domain.

he said it was under his name...

I think if you choose a new registrar and instigate an incoming transfer for your domain name, that should set in motion the process that will (at some stage in the transfer) prod Joker.com into issuing a transfer confirmation request via email to the Admin email address. All you would then have to do is act on this confirmation and the domain will be out of Joker.com.

In other words, the place to look for the transfer option is not at Joker.com but at the "destination" registrar. Joker.com is a near-passive loser in the transaction i.e. beyond the first challenge-response that you have to complete, they don't do anything much.

Killer, no, I haven't forgotten about the domain. It's one of the domains for an active site and I need it, as it's the one with the search engine placement and the incoming links. It's functioning and pointing to my site. I just want to change registrars.

Edwin, that's how I did start it. I started the process at 000domains.com. Joker sent a denial without my getting a chance to do anything about it. Wherever it's supposed to happen, I can't access the part of the Joker.com site that supposedly will allow me to get this done. Now I can't seem to get in touch with them to get them to do anything about it, but having learned that it's a holiday, I'm waiting until tomorrow to get really, really mad.

Have you tried emailing directly the contact person at CSL Computer Service Langenbach GmBH (dba joker.com)?

Found on this page at ICANN's web site:

http://www.icann.org/registrars/accr...fied-list.html

Their telephone number is listed, too, if worse comes to worse.

ICANN doesn't resolve any complaints with accredited registrars but they provide a reporting process and some "tips" on how to go about resolving any problems. Here's the page to report any problems with a registrar, which they keep track of for any trends:

http://reports.internic.net/cgi/regi...lem-report.cgi

Sorry about your problems with them. Knock wood I haven't had any problems with mine. They're resellers, too.

Hi. I think it's all worked out. I finally got a password that worked. I have no idea why the system they have didn't work the first bunch of times I tried it, but it works now. I haven't actually transferred the domain yet but I think I'm going to be able to.

With such an "un-stable" experience I would suggest the owner to move the domain to a more reliable alternative registar.

Her new registrar may be more reliable. At least they're in the U.S. and if anything should go wrong with them, she'll be able to deal with them only through the U.S. system.

I'm sure Joker is fine and maybe part of the problem is that I was using Firebird instead of IE, although it did say you could access the page with the password with "your favorite browser". Joker.com has been around quite a while and lots of people are happy with it, but I don't really care for the fact that I signed up with one company and when I wanted to move I had to deal with a whole new site. Seems to me if they're going to have resellers, either one sign-up should work for everything or you should be able to do any transaction, including transferring, from the reseller.

Hi psalzer,

Let me try to save you from some additional fustration. As you are probably aware of by now, Joker along with a few other european registrars, require that special steps be completed at their site before initiating a registrar transfer in order to transfer your domain to another service.

Go to https://joker.com/faq/index.php?num=3&f_id=1&s_id=5 and click "How
to Change from joker.com to another Registrar".

It can be quite confusing and you must time your initiation of the transfer request at the gaining registrar within a specific window.

Eric

I'm having the same issue! I registered my account with registryweb a few years ago and now I want to transfer out.

How were you able to get an account created on joker.com to administer your domain to open up the "transfer window" (assuming that is what you did)?

If that is not what you did, do you have any suggestions on what I can do to get my domain away from registryweb AND joker.com?

Thanks,

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

Registryweb is a reseller for Joker, Joker is the actual registrar as you may already be aware. For the domain that was registered directly at Joker, your login ID is the email address that you used when setting up your account. If you need the current password go to https://joker.com/?tool=sendpass - They may be able to provide information on how to transfer your other domain that was registered at Registryweb since they are the parent registrar.

Regards,

Eric

Eric,

Thanks for the info.

That could be a problem for me. I don't have the account that I originally bought the domain with anymore.

I did create an account at joker.com for my current email that I use at registryweb.com and that I used to set the email address for my owner, admin and technical handle. Problem with that is I don't see my domain.

I'll just keep trying to contact joker.com so I can administrate it there.

Update:
When I do a "whois" search at joker.com for my domain, it says this

Administrative contact: admin-handle@admin-handle.com#0
Technical contact: tech-handle@tech-handle.com#0
Billing contact: webmaster@specialistweb.com#0

I have no idea what these email addresses are for. Is this typical for all joker.com domains or is that because od the reseller registryweb?

Jeff

I think that's what it was. I kind of freaked because I'd managed the domain through registryweb all that time and never had signed up for any kind of account with joker.com. I still think it's a pretty poor way to do things. I did finally get control of my domain back.

The contacts should show your email address or that of someone that you've authorized so hopefully the domain hasn't expired and was re-registered by another party. admin-handle.com and tech-handle.com are registered to someone in Hong Kong but those email addresses could be the default addresses that are used if the original becomes invalid for some reason. The domain specialistweb.com is affiliated with registryweb.

Eric,

After further investigation, I think the admin-handle.com stuff is something registryweb requires on all their domain registrations.

I saw on their site somewhere when I go to the "edit handle" page they have that the handle is hardcoded to the admin-handle.com and it cannot be changed.

Sounds like they are causing my problem. I just can't get them to help me:-(

I'll continue to try and get joker.com to let me administer my domain at their site directly but with my original email address I used to create my domain no longer active, I will have to get them to do something. I tried to go to my old ISP to get the old name to forward to my current email but they would not help me either. So much for these companies "good will"!

Jeff

Some progress!

I think registryweb.com FINALLY did something to setup my admin handle correctly. It was set to admin-handle@admin-handle.com and it was suppose to be set to domain.com@admin-handle.com (where domain is my domain name I'm trying to transfer).

I was now able to initiate the transfer at GoDaddy.com and I recieved the email to authorize the transfer! I have never gotten that email in my attempts in the past.

Now I just have to wait the 5-7 days for the original registrar (I believe they sent it to joker.com) to authorize it.

I'll report back if it succeeds in case anyone else has problems with registryweb and finds this message to help them out.

So far, the key was to get the domain handle set properly (not just the correct email entered at registryweb.com).

Jeff

Just another update.

The handle updates did me no good at all. Registryweb is still in control of those emails and rejected my transfer.

After many more emails to registryweb, they magically had a new option on their webpage to allow a handle change and another option to open a "transfer window" much like joker.com. They claim they have been there for over a year but they never mentioned it to me with all the problems I've been having and I never noticed it on the changes page before.

The only catch to this is that they charge $25 for this service. They claim they are charged this amount for cancelling the contract of my domain but I don't think so. I emailed a couple other registrars and they say there is no such charge.

While this was going on, I finally was getting consistent emails back from an individual at joker.com. He said if I couldn't get registryweb to cooperate, that I could get the email changed at their site by faxing them some PDF files I could create from their site in the service zone area.

I did this and once joker.com sent an email to the admin and owner handles (required so the owner/admin may reject but if no reply, the change goes through), registryweb immediatly sent and email back to them rejecting the change. They sent the messages to the domain.com@admin-handle.com which of course I never saw.

So now I was back to having to pay $25 to open a transfer window. I explained my situation to the fellow at joker.com and he quickly updated the domains in question for me so I could administer them directly at joker.com and remove registryweb.com from the picture!

I think I finally have control to my domains back!

Just to be sure, I'm transferring them to GoDaddy.com now. I am further along in the transfer process to GoDaddy.com then I ever have before. I will feel safer knowing the are at a US company that also has a phone number to talk to a live human being.

So basiclly, I think joker.com may be a good company but TOTALLY avoid registryweb and get away from them! Don't pay their stupid $25 fee to transfer away, just get the attention of joker.com. You may have to fax them some owner or email change documents, but if you get the right person there, they should be able to update the email address on your domain and give you back control.

I'll report back when my domains are officially over at GoDaddy.com but wanted to post an update for anyone that may need this in the future.

Jeff

Read this thread before deciding on GoDaddy.

Daniel, I did read that thread on GoDaddy but I'm not affected. I'm in the US and I'm GLAD to get away from registryweb which is based in Austrailia and joker.com which is based in Germany (a subsidary of a company in Switzerland).

It will be MUCH easier for me to deal with a complete US company. I could understand the concern others have if they are not in the US.

I guess my advice is to pick a registrar that resides in your country if possible. I don't have hosting with GoDaddy but it would be good to have hosting from a company in your country as well.

To update my domain transfers, my 3 .com domains are all completely transferred to GoDaddy.com (YEAH!!! It was a long fight but I made it!). I'm still waiting for the 1 .org address I have to be completed. Not sure why it is taking longer.

Jeff

Just to close the loop. My 1 .org address was successfully transferred away from registryweb/joker.com to GoDaddy.com.

Anyone that finds this post and has trouble getting away from registryweb, the main key is to get control of your domains at joker.com. You may have to email them directly to have that occur (mine went to transfer@joker.com) but once you do, you should have control back.

My advice to everyone is to stay away from resellers and go with the registrar directly (preferrably one in your home country). You can get a list of valid registrars at the ICANN site.

Jeff

Some procdures JOKER.COM set
 

Hi
For those who had registered with godaddy or whatever reseller from Joker.com. You will have great difficulty transferring your domains out. I had tried for almost 6 months for 3 domains and without success and finally tracked down the root problem.
3 domains registered with Registryweb.com:-

1. They lured you to switch to them by offering only $7 to transfer.
2. Then 2nd years onwards they charge you $20 unless you pay 10 years, the domain is $13.
3. Another point to add. So I thought that I could just let the domain expire and purchase at another register. It don't work either. They use reason such as "helping you to safe keep the domain for you at their own cost, so that nobody can purchase for one month" In another words, your domain is held "hostage by them" for one month, then you can purchase at another registral. Which means only if you're willing to close shop for one month, then you'll do it this way, let it expire.

Having realised that it is very expensive, I decided to transfer out but after a few months, without receiving any confirmation of transfer I decided to do a whois and to my dismay. They didn't correct the my email entry as requested through their control panel:-

Owner email they register as regsitrant@homestanley.com#0 and other bogus email that cannot be reached.

So I checked with the main registral and managed to get email corrected but still having problem transferring because Joker.com is taking advantage of German regulation stating that :-

1. You must use their control panel to Open up a 10 days transfer Window.
2. Having done this, then you can get your ideal new registry to submit your transfer to them subject to their approval.
3. Unfortunately, during the Open window session at Joker.com they also stated that the intended winning Registry must be Accredited registral of ICANN.

So back to Square One, I still can't transfer my 3 domains out

Normal way of tranfer, at intended New Registry. Use their control panel and activate transfer process. But this is not the case for domain with JOKER.COM , you must OPEN UP A 10 DAYS WINDOW FIRST AT JOKER.COM OR AT THEIR RESELLER, THEN YOU DO THE TRANFER AT NEW REGISTRAL (must be ICANN Acredited).

Anyone here know of Accredited ICANN that charge domain name $8.99 tp $11 I would like to attempt to transfer domain name.
Forget about Register.com, they charge too high.

Anyone here face the same problem?


_________________
Stanley Tan
Managing Director
Homestanley.net Website Designer url http://www.homestanley.net
ASD Coldwellbanker Singapore http://www.homestanley.com

[color=orangered]

In my problems which are detailed in this thread, I was able to open the domain window at joker.com with no problems once the email address was fixed.

You can see a list of ICANN registrars at the following site:

http://www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html

Hope that helps!

RegistryWeb's rip off
 

I went thru the same hassle. When you sign up to register a domain name on registryweb.com they have a clause in their agreement.

3. You may terminate this agreement without notice subject to Contract Termination and fee procedures applicable at that time as published by us on our web site. Ownership of any domain name(s) will remain with RegistryWeb until all outstanding fees are paid.

What you don't see on their site when you register is the amount to be paid to terminate the 'agreement'. In my case they want $50.00 before I can transfer my registration. The named registrar joker.com is where your domain ends up if you don't renew. I guess that's their little chuckle: The jokes on you for registering with them.

I'm burned up with this rip off company; sadly I have 4 or 5 domains registered with them, and the bargain price for registration of $10.00 Austrailian, ($6.95), went up to $19.00 US when I renewed the first domain. Ironically, the servers for this sleazy company are in my home town: Denver, CO.

WARNING: DON'T REGISTER ANY DOMAINS WITH REGISTRYWEB.COM

I've been having the same headaches with Registryweb. One client even PAID for his renewal TWICE and then found Registryweb has RESOLD it to someone else!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for this thread. I've created the login on Joker.com but it lists no domains under my email address (which is same one on Registryweb and IS listed on Registryweb as admin and tech contact). Like you guys, I'm no longer listed as owner on Registryweb either so I've contacted Joker to see what I can do about that and hopefully this will also help some other clients get away from them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Registryweb.com / sslfirewall.com / system-notices.com / Specialist Web Corporation
 

Registryweb.com / sslfirewall.com / system-notices.com / Specialist Web Corporation Pty Ltd have old domains at joker.com and new ones at namesilo.com. How have you succeded to transfer out your domain?
The joker.com support has directed me to the ownerchange:
https://joker.com/?mode=ownerchange
I do not know if it works.
Regards

Registryweb.com / sslfirewall.com / system-notices.com / Specialist Web Corporation Pty Ltd
At the end I paid 25 $ per domain to get them back.
Do not expect any help from.
ICANN Unauthorized Transfer complain
Namesilo.com
joker.com
ventraip.com.au
www.accc.gov.au
paypal
local police
If the domian owner has been changed on transfer you have lost our domain.
Regards

Im sorry you are having problems TTT .. I hope you can resolve it somehow!!


Good luck :)