Typical access-loss situations
Loss of access looks different from case to case, and where to turn at all depends on the specific situation. Most often we see a few scenarios:
- the login and password for the registrar's account are forgotten or lost;
- there's no access to the administrator's email, which notifications and password resets are tied to;
- the domain is registered to a former employee or contractor with whom contact has been lost;
- the company changed its name, but the owner is still listed as the old legal entity;
- the domain is close to becoming available because of an unpaid renewal.
The key question in every case is one: can you prove the domain is yours. The entire recovery is built around exactly this.
What to prepare
Before writing to the registrar, gather what you have. The fuller the set, the faster and calmer the recovery will go.
- Email. Recall which mailbox is listed as the administrator's contact. If you still have access to it, that's the shortest path, through standard password recovery.
- Contract and payments. The contract with the registrar, invoices, acts, and receipts for paying the domain. They confirm that you were the one who paid for the service.
- Administrator data. Who the domain is registered to – an individual or a company, and what passport or registration data is listed. If the domain is on an organization, the founding documents and a power of attorney will help.
It's not a problem if some documents can't be found. Tell us honestly what you have and what you don't – we'll build the recovery from the real picture, not an ideal one.
The recovery procedure
Recovery goes step by step, and each next step depends on the result of the previous one. Haste is harmful here: it's important not to make mistakes that lead the registrar to refuse.
- we identify the domain's registrar and current owner from public and internal data;
- we try the standard methods: password recovery, access via the linked email;
- if the standard route doesn't work, we prepare an application to recover access and collect supporting documents;
- we submit the request to the registrar and conduct the correspondence until control of the domain is returned.
Timelines depend on the registrar and the completeness of the documents: in some cases a single request is enough, in others a review and clarifications are required. We keep you informed at every stage.
How we assess the chances
Before starting, we look at the situation soberly and state the likelihood of a result in advance. The chances are high when the domain is registered to you or your company and there's at least some confirmation of the rights. It's harder if the owner is listed as an outside person who won't make contact – then recovery turns into negotiations, and sometimes a buyout.
We don't promise a hundred-percent result where it isn't guaranteed, and we honestly warn about the risks. If the chances are real, we take it on and see it through. More about the service is on the "Access recovery" page. Describe your situation, and we'll give an honest assessment before any work begins.