Transferring Domains Out of Network Solutions Can Be A Nightmare

Transferring a domain name out of Network Solutions? Make sure you read this to avoid having to spend more money than you should!

Either you're already a Network Solutions's customer, having your domains registered with this domain registrar and you now want to transfer them out, or you are considering to buy a domain name from them, read about what I (and lots of other customers) have experienced with this company here first, so that you won't regret your decision later on.

If you're here, it means you're either trying to transfer your domain(s) out of Network Solutions, or you're just looking for some information regarding Network Solutions's domain transfer procedure. Well, let me tell you about my recent experience with them.

First off, it has always been known that Network Solutions isn't one of the cheapest domain registrars out there. While registrars like GoDaddy and eNom sell a .com domain name at around $10 per year (much cheaper with coupons!), Network Solutions charge over $35 for the same thing. Because of that, I've always tried to avoid buying domains from them. But lo and behold, in my quest of finding some good domain registration deals, I fell for their $1 domain promo.

I had a few domains with them for half a year and decided to transfer out some of them to Namecheap during Namecheap's domain transfer promo. I was pretty nervous, having read not-so-good-things about how hard it could be to get your domains out of there. But for their credits, everything went smoothly the first time. Unlocked the domains, requested the authorization codes and got them WITHIN A FEW HOURS, and initiated the transfers the same day. All went well. So I thought, probably after all the complaints they got, they've probably foregone their not-so-ethical tactics.

WRONG.

Not until you try to transfer an EXPIRING domain. First, when you request for an authorization code, they'll tell you it will only be sent to you AFTER AN APPROVAL PROCESS, and it could take 3 days. Really? Three whole days? And why is there even an "approval process" for me to get my auth code? That never happened with other registrars, except probably with register.com, another Web.com company like Network Solutions.

Fine, I went along with it. I told myself to "wait" for 3 days, and while waiting I updated my email in preparation for the transfer. And suddenly, BAM, I got an email that the domain was LOCKED because of "suspicious activity" in my account. I did some googling and found a lot of complaints from people that went through the same thing I did. And no, they don't do this because of "security" reasons, I don't buy that, it's just part of their sleazy tactics to prevent people from transferring out. I reckon at this stage, a lot of people who probably don't want to think too much of it would just renew the domain with them. A win situation for Network Solutions.

And if you're not living in the US, I would suggest you to avoid Network Solutions AT ALL COST. Apparently in Network Solutions, everything needs to be done through the phone. Have problems? Call us. Need help? Call us. You domain cannot be unlocked? Call us. Yeah, right. They damn well know that international customers won't make a costly long-distance call just to save a few dollars on a domain. Sleazy.

Ironically, Hubpages is actually registered with Network Solutions. Well, Network Solutions have been around in the industry for a long time. They're the first domain registrar that ever existed, so some businesses have been with them for a very long time, paying $35 or so a year for a .com domain name, and even more for TLD's like .biz or .tv. To companies like this, paying that amount of money a year for a domain name isn't a big deal, but to small online business owners, internet entrepreneurs, online marketers, and domainers alike, saving a few dollars on each domain is VERY important to their business. And Network Solutions haven't been very kind to these people, have they?