What is a DETAGGED domain name We get asked this question regularly.
Only UK domain names can be detagged. A domain name that has been DETAGGED is no longer hosted on valid name servers.
What happens if there are no longer valid nameservers showing against a domain name
If no valid name servers are showing this means that any services such e-mail or a web site will no longer work.
Who can DETAG a domain name
Only a domain registration service or agent can DETAG a domain name. This happens if the relationship between domain name owner and agent expires, for example if the registration fee or renewal fee is not paid.
When are domain names detagged
Domain names can be detagged at any point after registration. Detagging signifies the end of the relationship between the registration agent and the registrant.
It is not necessarily an indication of whether a domain name is paid for or not.
How can I tell if a domain name is DETAGGED
You will probably notice that the email or web site associated with the domain name has stopped working.
You can check the status of any registration by doing a WHOIS look-up that will indicate that the domain name is DETAGGED.
How can DETAGGED domain name be retagged
To restore a DETAGGED domain name, the registrant will need to pay a tag change fee of 15+VAT as of January 2004 to nominet via a registration service. Nominet charge a higher fee to deal direct with the owner.
Can I register a DETAGGED domain name
A DETAGGED domain name is still registered to the original registrant, and it remains as such until it is either renewed by the current registrant, or it is cancelled. Once cancelled, it immediately becomes available for registration on a first-come, first-served basis.
How long does it take for a DETAGGED domain name to become available for registration
Nominet contact the owner of each domain that is detagged and confirms if they wish to renew or allow each name to lapse.
If the domain is allowed to lapse then the domain name will be suspended after 21 days and then cancelled between 6-8 weeks after that.
For further information please visit Nominet
By Clare Lawrence 29th September 2003
Clare is the CEO of Discount Domains Ltd a leading UK Domain name registration service.
About The Author
Clare Lawrence is CEO of Discount Domains Ltd A leading UK provider of Domain name registration and Web Hosting services. Please feel free to re-publish this article provided this reference box remains together with a hyperlink to Clare can also be contacted on
Domain names are relatively straightforward! Or at least thats the theory!!
The domain name is also, but technically not quiet correct, known as the website address.
Using an ISPs domain name can look amateurish in an e-mail addresses, it is much more so with websites, giving the impression of hanging on anothers coat tails. The only exception being when a firm wants to re-inforce a local or professional affiliation by appearing as part of an existing site dedicated to a region or association. Even in such cases autonomy and continuity are better assured by having ones own domain and merely using a page on the third partys site to point users toward it.
Domains are classified according to their endings or suffixes. As a commercial organisation a company will almost certainly want a domain ending in .com or .co.uk. Other endings such as .biz and .ltd.uk are at least to date, insufficiently familiar to users, meaning the name can be too readily misremembered. Of the two desirable suffixes, .com is preferable for business with international activities, and arguably gives the impression of a bigger organisation, whilst .co.uk helps reassure users on the largely American-dominated web that they are indeed dealing with a UK firm.
The part of the domain name before the suffix will usually by the firms trading name, provided of course that the domain name has not already been registered, (which is increasingly likely these days). If the name is very long an abbreviation may be considered. Domain names are not case sensitive.
The actual registration of a domain name is a straightforward process that can be done online, either through your ISP or better still through a dedicated registration service company such as Discount Domains Ltd ( ). Renewal fees must be paid, typically every two years.
Checking if a domain name is freely available is very straightforward as most domain registration services provide a WHOIS service, as the name suggest, this checks the ownership details of a domain, note however that such services normally run 48 hours behind actual registrations.
Moving ISPs can save money, however it may take time and incur extra charges. Pricing in the domain name registration industry have fallen considerably over recent years and a domain name typically now costs from $15 for two years registration.
Once your domain name is registered, you can either leave the domain name parked awaiting future use, or point it at a website, this is usually achieved by changing the Domain Name Server, or DNS settings on the domain to point at hosting company where your website is located. Almost all registration services offer a free user control panel to change these settings.
Web hosting is the provision of space on a web server to publish a web site. There are numerous hosting companies in the market, and most domain registration services also offer a hosting solution. Prices vary but $100 per annum should be sufficient for most business needs.
(C) Clare Lawrence 11th May 2004
About The Author
Clare Lawrence is CEO of Discount Domains Ltd A leading UK provider of Domain name registration and Web Hosting services. Please feel free to re-publish this article provided this reference box remains together with a hyperlink to Clare can also be contacted on .