The MogBlog

My rant at 123-reg… a domain registrar that won’t give you your domain.

Feb 22

MoggyInternet, Web Design, Website 2882 Commentshttp://blog.alastairmogford.com/2010/02/22/my-rant-at-123-reg-a-domain-registrar-that-wont-give-you-your-domain/My+rant+at+123-reg...+a+domain+registrar+that+won%27t+give+you+your+domain.2010-02-22+20%3A08%3A36Moggy

After a couple of days, I have now officially decided not to recommend on the site 123-reg.co.uk to friends. I will admit that they have been a great hosting and domain provider in the past (my website used to be hosted with them), but the debacle I’ve had in the past couple of days has really irritated me. This is the email I sent to the support centre.

Dear 123-reg,

Up until now, I have been a user of 123-reg services and have had no problems with the service at all. However, until the other day, when I signed up for my third domain (www.******************.co.uk) with you.

The purpose for the domain was simple, to set up a forward to the current .org.uk site. However, I specifically needed the domain forward set up for yesterday morning.. but this didn’t happen since my domain still hasn’t been set up, even after the “up to 48 hours” period of setting up. 

Interestingly, today I can still search for the domain on your site, and it is listed as ‘available’, even though I’ve paid for it. 

I purchased it at about 5pm on the 18th Feb, which I will admit allowed less than 48 hours for when I wanted the domain (about 10am on 20th Feb), but it is currently 11pm on 21st Feb, well over 72 hours from the purchase, and my domain still has not been set up in my control panel.

Another thing I would like to complain about, with regard to the “up to 48 hours” setting up period – I saw absolutely no detail of this information before purchasing – I only found it AFTER buying the domain. Knowing this info may have stopped me from purchasing the domain. 

Because I only needed the domain for ONE simple task that has now passed, and it still hasn’t even been set up, I would like to request my money back (the invoice totalled to £7.03 inc. VAT). 

Regards,
Alastair Mogford (username: **************)

PS. This is one of many times that I have tried to send this question. Turns out that both Safari and Firefox are determind to keep me logged into the site, prompting the message “all browser windows must be closed” – which ironically appears when it is the only browser window open.

The response given was rather interesting, they wanted me to fill in a manual form to complete my registration for the domain that had “failed”. There was no mention of any money return, at all.

I shall keep you posted with updates… although, for the moment, I will have to say avoid using the service for the above reason.

Update (9th March ‘10): After chasing the case up, it turns out that my domain failed registration. After asking for a refund, they seemed fine and wanted to pay it in, however it’s only today when my refund has actually made my bank account.