UKC

I’m planning on joining the ranks of *******'s who have their own email domain and looking for some advice on how to go about it…hopefully the ukc collective can help!

If I'm correct then I understand I can either buy a domain from a domain registration company (like godaddy or bluehost) or through my chosen email host (i.e. google, zoho). Initially I thought it looked easier and more familiar/user friendly to just do it through an email host (probably google) but this would tie me in to them. The advantage of the former if for example google change their service options in the future and it doesn’t suit me then I can change my email host without losing my domain.

Presuming I’m right in that logic then can anyone suggest a registration company? They pretty much all look like dodgy scams to my eyes and I’m worried they hike the price in a few years and then I’m stuck with them.

Any advice much appreciated. If it helps this is for personal use and the name is looking like it will cost about £8-20 with whois protection.

I'm with 1&1 but the bastards recently upped their prices by a pretty big hike, I have a couple of domains and can add up to 100 or so email addresses.

They're pretty good but I did think about moving. I didn't do much about it, as I'm too bust to piss around.

Depending on your domain type, i.e. .com, .co.uk , etc., they still might be value for money.

123Reg are about to go bust, so don't buy a domain with them.

I have domains with 1&1 (now IONOS), never had problems

You won’t be stuck with them in any scenario. The domain is yours, not theirs, and you can transfer it any time you like.

That said the transfer does require an element of cooperation on their part, so don’t go for anyone that looks like actual criminals. Any mainstream company will be fine.

I use easily.co.uk, but genuinely the level of involvement with them is so low that I don’t have anything on which to recommend for or against them. 

I use Krystal for my domain and hosting, have done for around 10-12 years now, based in the UK and never had any issues with them.

As others have said the domain is registered to you as an individual through a registrant with the appropriate register, for a .uk that would be nominet. If you ever want to move to a new host then you can transfer. I had to once, when Lycos (anyone remember them?) pulled out of hosting and that's when I went to Krystal, was a relatively simple process then, though Lycos were operating in the dark ages and required a copy of the request to be sent by fax.

1and1

12 months at £1 per month 25 email accounts, 1 domain the £5 a month after that. Cheaper than mine!!

I've used UK2.net for years without problems.  Simply process from their website to get set up.

Please use the correct type of domain, if you're not a company don't use .co.uk

Do you have any more info about this. I have some .uk domains registered through them (although the dns is hosted elsewhere) so I guess I need to know whether to be concerned.

Oh? What TLD do you suggest then? The reputation of most new TLDs have been contaminated by scammers. I have several .uk, .co.uk, .eu, .com, .org and .net but I would never opt for something like  .me or .biz.

In terms of fighting battles that are already lost that is up there with that guy running the apostrophe protection society. And even he’s thrown in the towel..

It's a few musings I've seen on Twitter (therefore it must be true), but there is this:

https://www.reddit.com/r/webdev/comments/e5b6p8/uk_web_hostdomain_registrar_123reg_may_be_in/

and it references a notice of Notice of dissolution

Accounts overdue and the company due to be dissolved in two months time

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/05306504

I guess the dissolution notice could be an automatic thing to force them to file accounts. Looks a bit iffy though.

In practice, what happens if 123-reg actually go out of business? Overnight loss of website, email accounts, etc for all domains registered with them?

I assume that with the Notice they will have a large loss of customers and so more likely to go under unless someone takes them over if that is possible?

Hover have been good for me. 

Network Solutions have been terrible.

Thanks for everyone's replies. Looks like it's one of those things that is simpler than it looks. Krystal looks good, i think I'll go with either them or 1&1

I would assume that they'd be another party that would buy the company, as 123reg have a lot of customers; I'm not sure of any figures but I'd say it's fair to assume that the majority buy a domain and then keep hold of it for many years

If they're snapped up quickly, the existing customer base probably won't even notice; I hope that's the case

When you buy a domain, look for the option to have your details kept anonymous on the public facing whois details - this will save you from a deluge of spam.  I made the mistake once of forgetting to do this, and my inbox was full of offers for web developers, business consultants, Search Engine Optimisation specialists etc.  

Thanks for that. For the sake of the many customers that are with them let hope they are taken over quickly rather than go out of business.

Keep clear of tsohost, a lot of their mail forwarders have been blacklisted.

For new domains i agree but pretty difficult for those of who registered our domains many moons ago and the .uk .email .whatever suffix didn't even exist so are stuck with a .co.uk, which i'm more than happy with.