I put a backorder on a domain name through godaddy (per some messups on the part of the registrar, emails getting intercepted, and losing track of the expiration date as detailed here ). We figured that if we lost the domain, no biggie; but if I could snag it for just the “backorder” fee, that’d be nicer than losing it or paying the large redemption fee.
I believe a name-server is used to ‘match’ a DNS address (a URL, so to say) to an IP address which is mapped to your host (server, shared server, VPS etc.). Usually I would change a name-server only when changing to a different hosting service. Have you tried your domain name - I got a feeling that it’s not yours already…
So basically, those changes means that the domain name has switched hands between different hosting companies…
(As for suggestion, I have been using Yahoo! Domains. It’s more expensive, but they will auto-renew the registration)
I saw this happen with a client of mine the other day who let her domain lapse. When I went to investigate what the issue was, I saw her nameservers were set at domaincontrol.com too.
I think this is GoDaddy taking the opportunity to point the domains to their own servers while they have control of them (in this limbo redemption period). They have a system called “Cash Parking” where anyone can park their unused domains with them and make money. The catch is that you have to point the domain’s nameservers to their nameservers, and your domain name becomes an ad placeholder for GoDaddy. Like so (one of mine)
Seems like they signed you up for Cash Parking, only they don’t have to pay you - GoDaddy makes the money since you don’t “own” the domain right now.
Anyway, my client got her site paid up and after a day or less, the nameservers changed back to her original ones. If they hadn’t done it on their own, she could have changed them herself.
The last two nameservers look really suspicious, like your name already got snapped up, but according to whois records they’re owned by GoDaddy too. So it’s just more cash parking for the moment.
I put a name on backorder through GoDaddy. It went through the same process of generating mysterious change notices and other non-meaningful email, then suddenly I was told it was mine.
As long as your payment is good, that’s a good chance that the domain will revert to you.
I entered the thread because I was interested by the title. However, this question is about a registrar and not a registry (VeriSign holds the registry for .com, for example, and I used to work for them; there are lots and lots of registrars).