# What Does This WHOIS Registrant Information Mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 12, 2007, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-whois-registrant-information-mean/415332 "2007-08-12T10:23:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nobody\_Special](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nobody\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody_Special)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-whois-registrant-information-mean/415332/1 "2007-08-12T10:23:29Z")
There’s a domain name I’ve been watching who’s registration was due to expire August 4th. On the 5th, WHOIS said the registration had been extended until 8/4/2008, but now, it’s listed as having expired and the registrant has been changed to: Pending Renewal or Deletion P.O. Box 430 Herndon, VA 20172-0447 570-708-8786 Can anyone tell me what this means? I really want this domain name. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-whois-registrant-information-mean/415332/2 "2007-08-12T11:31:55Z")
I believe the domain name you desire has reverted back to the original domain name registrar, Network Solutions. The Herndon, VA-based company was one of the first to offer services to register a domain name. When the original registrant failed to renew their domain registration by August 4th, the domain name was taken over by the registrar company. It is stand practice for many such companies. More information here: [http://www.networksolutions.com/about-us/index.jsp](http://www.networksolutions.com/about-us/index.jsp) Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody\_Special](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nobody\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody_Special)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-whois-registrant-information-mean/415332/3 "2007-08-12T12:27:45Z")
Thanks. When will the domain name become available? I’ve already placed a backorder with GoDaddy and placed a bid at SnapNames. Is there anything else I should do to ensure I get the name when it becomes available? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-this-whois-registrant-information-mean/415332/4 "2007-08-12T15:10:30Z")
When I owned a domain name and let it lapse Godaddy sent me emails for about a month afterwards trying to get me to re-lease it. I’m guessing the lease term is up, but the hosting company is still holding it trying to get them to re-lease it.