Web Hosting troubles....what to do?

[big_pete]

As some of you may know my website (bigpetedesigns.com) has been hacked into. :jab:
very annoying indeed, when it happened i emailed my hosts (serverseed.com) regarding what to do etc etc.... no reply...this was repeated on at least 3 occasions with nothing back from my hosts.

so i decided bugger this, i need new hosts.
so i went off and found some great new hosts with top notch customer service (flexihostings.com.au)
they were great, before i signed up i asked if they would be able to transfer my domain name (bigpetedesigns.com) over without me contacting my previous hosts....they said yes they can, i will get an email asking me to approve the transfer once i sign up

so i sign up.

it took a few days for payment etc to go through, and then a few more days and no email to verify, so i email them, they say i need to 'Unlock' my domain name with my registers (serverseed)

so this leaves me where i am now, ive sent about 4 emails to serverseed trying to get them to unlock it, all with no reply.

What can i do?

my new hosts say they have done all they can, and in general have been great.
it just feels hopeless.

[BAWagonWheels]

try communicate to serverseed through paper medium... that way is on hard copy, not just email.

i reckon serverseed is trying to hold you ransom and doesn't want business to go elsewhere. if it takes more than a month to resolve or no action then you might consider reporting to Internic and the (TIO if its an Aussie company holding onto your domain name).

[big_pete]

well serverseed is an american company so i dont know what the go is there.

ive been with them for just under a year, and only had to contact them once and i didnt get a response then either.

ive also heard a few dodgy stroies regarding serverseed on other forums (after i searched thier name in google)

[LG]

You should be able to login to your severseed customer area, and change the domain forwarding, through there. Otherwise, sometimes web hosts, register your domain through a different company. And if you have their details. Log into their customer area, and do the same thing. Change your domain name servers to the new servers.

Goodluck

[big_pete]

Originally Posted by LG

You should be able to login to your severseed customer area, and change the domain forwarding, through there. Otherwise, sometimes web hosts, register your domain through a different company. And if you have their details. Log into their customer area, and do the same thing. Change your domain name servers to the new servers.

Goodluck

thats another thing, i cant access any of my customer area or email stuff
i just get a DNS error.
is this because of ive registered with the other hosts and they've done something?

??

if i can access it that sounds like the way to unlock the domain

[BAWagonWheels]

I had worst senario 5 years ago when my domain provider disappeared into thin air just 10 months with them. Tried contacting them every way possible. All avenues were closed and relevant authorities couldn't help.

[BAWagonWheels]

i've just checked up a whois for your domain...

Domain Name: BIGPETEDESIGNS.COM
Registrar: ENOM, INC.
Whois Server: whois.enom.com
Referral URL: http://www.enom.com
Name Server: NS1.SERVERSEED.COM
Name Server: NS2.SERVERSEED.COM
Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK
Updated Date: 07-oct-2005
Creation Date: 07-oct-2005
Expiration Date: 07-oct-2006

it shows status??? Registrar-Lock
which means???
Registrars often put locks on domains as an additional layer of security to prevent unauthorized transfers away from their systems. Often this feature is enabled by default. Depending on your registrar, this service could be called any number of things including Domain Lock or Locking, Domain Protect, Registrar Lock, Transfer Lock, Transfer Security or High Security. Enabling or Disabling the lock is typically as simple as clicking a link, button, or unchecking box within your domain account.

how to remove the lock on your domain so it can be transferred???
eNom

1. Login to your eNom account at http://www.enom.com/Login.asp
2. Choose menu option DOMAINS, my domains
3. Click on the domain name you wish to work with
4. Under UTILITIES, click on the » "Set Auto-Renew/Registrar-Lock Options" for Domain Names and Services option.
5. Remove the check from the check box marked "Do not allow this domain to be transferred to a different registrar."
6. Click save changes
7. Logout of your account

Try this...
Changes may takes 24-48hours to take affect.

[LG]

Bingo, go through Enom, and change it that way, like BAWagonWheels said... ;)

[big_pete]

thanks for your help, BUT
I tried enom earlier, i signed up, but cannot access anything regarding my domain,
it states 'You have no Domain Names in this List'
so i try searching for it and it states 'The domain does not belong to this account
'

any idea on how i can get my domain to belong to the account?

ive emailed eNom about unlocking the domain name, and they said i had to go through serverseed. aaargh!

[BAWagonWheels]

i have a hunch Serverseed is holding you ransom, note your domain name finishes rego next month and they'll keep hold of it until you renew the rego with them. Have you tried contacting them with every email address listed on their website? Otherwise if desperate then contact via phone... do a whois on serverseed.com and it'll reveal their contact details.

It took ages to get a Server Status on their website. It shows half their services are down.... Very bad....

Quoted from their website>>>>

Welcome to Server Seed, LLC! For nearly three years, we have specialized in providing a wide range of hosting services catered to the web enthusiast.

<<<< it sounds like a home garage operation. NEARLY 3 years???? And some fake photos of their service centre. hehehe

[big_pete]

yeah im not happy! the only reason i went with them was because they were cheap and i heard good things about them from a friend.

i guess ill just keep hounding them.

if it does run out, what will happen to the domain name then?

[LG]

ServerSeed should have pre-made an account with Enom.

However, ServerSeed, should have passed on the account details to you, in your beginning emails, when you first started.

Otherwise, you could speak to Enom, and say you have forgotten your password, and give your situation, they might be able to help you out.

Cheers

[big_pete]

it seems my site has dissappeared.

i still havent got any contact back from serverseed
this is really starting to **** me off.

[BAWagonWheels]

is serverseed also hosting your website contents??? if so, hope you have backup on your local computer.

here is my take... since your communicating to a brick wall, because your domain name finishes soon then stick it out till its finish rego and during that last week get flexinghosts to reserve that domain name so that when its released its yours and not sold off to somebody else.

[The Dok]

For what it's worth, if you have a backup of the site, & wish to find a new host, try http://GOT-hosting.com , I switched to them a few months ago & couldn't be happier, chEEEEEEp too, @1/2 the price I was quoted by most other companies. Customer service/support is excellent. Probably the only downside is that they are in the US, but it doesn't worry me a bit.
Best of luck. _2:

[big_pete]

that looks like me best (only) option

ive got a copy so its all good, ive actually redesigned it.
be on the lookout for a new improved bigpetedesigns.com come october!

......hopefully! lol