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My registrar, 34sp.com, wants to charge for changing nameservers for a domain.

The domain is a .cc domain. If this matters.

Is this normal? I've never heard of this before. Almost $30 US for a nameserver change?! Surely this is just a text file?

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2 Answers

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Some smaller registrars that don't provide an automated end-user control panel do charge for DNS changes. Some of these registrars only sell domains as an additional service and often entice you in with low (or even free) initial registration costs. Another thing to watch out for is that if they are charging for DNS changes then they are also likely to charge you if you transfer your domain away.

These companies are best avoided in my opinion for your domain registration as it can only cost you more or give you hassle in the long term.

There are many other (larger?) registrars that provide a fully automated service, so you can edit the DNS zone and change NAMESERVERS whenever you like and not incur any additional cost. Ideally, there should be no cost if you wish to transfer to another registrar in this case.

AFAIK there are no additional charges for specific TLDs? Apart from the registration/renewal costs. Or maybe the larger companies absorb these charges into their renewal costs??

34sp.com - a little puzzling since they advertise:

  • Full DNS (domain name server) Control
  • Advanced DNS Control Panel including MX Record Control
  • Complete Name Server Management

I can't see anything in their T&Cs that relate to additional costs, however, they do state:

5.3 Where the Customer wishes to transfer ownership of a domain to a third party 34SP.com reserve the right to charge an administration fee as appropriate for effecting the transfer.

Also, they do not appear to offer .cc domains for registration? Did you transfer this domain to 34sp.com?

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I bought it over a decade ago from them. it's definitely time to move on I think. – Kevin Sedgley Jan 19 at 21:07
+1 I've never encountered this, but strictly speaking they can charge whatever they want for their services. It's common enough not to that I'd just leave. – Su' Jan 19 at 23:03
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Never happened to me, most known registrars give you this option for free. However, if they do it to everyone and that is their pricing?! Transfer your domain elsewhere.

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I intend to do this. When I questioned it, they told me in an email: "Changing the nameservers isn't a charge we impose, it'll be a charge enforced by the main registrars. I.e. for .cc domains, it'll cost you in either case" – Kevin Sedgley Jan 19 at 15:24
@KevinSedgley: "main registrars" - aren't they (34sp.com) the registrars? – w3d Jan 19 at 18:21
   
Yes they are. I thought it sounded like nonsense when they sent the email. – Kevin Sedgley Jan 19 at 21:08
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@KevinSedgley I think you're unclear on the difference between registrar and registry. The .cc registry is eNIC, they seem to charge for nameserver changes. – Perleone Jan 19 at 23:04
-1. This Answer is wrong - see @Perleone comment. – akTed Jan 20 at 5:18
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