Date: 11/27/05 (WebDesign)    Keywords: web

This isn't, strictly speaking, about web design. But I'm hoping someone here will know the answer to this.

A week ago on Friday I initiated transfer of a client's domain from EasySpace to 123-reg. I requested transfer in with 123-reg and then logged into the client's EasySpace account to initiate transfer out. As I'm sure everyone's aware, EasySpace charge an incredible £49 to transfer out, so I had to pay for this on the spot. The following day I get an email from TuCows telling me to go input the transfer key, which I do, and get the usual "transfer confirmed" message.

Four days later and the domain still hadn't transferred. As far as the client's EasySpace account goes, everything looked normal. The domain says it's pending transfer but, then - surprise! - suddenly the domain is a dead link and I can't log into the site by FTP. EasySpace say this is because the domain is in the final stages of transfer but - another surprise - 123-reg now say the transfer is cancelled because no-one responded to the admin email (the one containing the transfer key). I say I did. They say they have no record of it. Meanwhile the site has been down for four days and no-one seems to have control over the domain. My client by this time is furious. I told him that it would be an almost instantaneous process, because well - it always has been in the past - but now I feel like a prize idiot.

So on Friday the domain finally appears in my 123-reg management list. I thank the gods and go in to set up the web-forwarding to the new site. Check again an hour later. Nope, still not redirecting. Check again, three hours later. Still nothing. I ring them:

"The web-forwarding isn't working?"
"When did you set it up?"
"10am."
"It can take up to twenty-four hours..."
"I know that, but it never DOES!!! Can you check to see if everything's ok?"
"If you wait until the twenty-four hours is up..."
::sound of me slamming down phone::

The next day - oops - still not redirecting. I ring customer support and - surprise no.3 - they're shut all weekend!!! Meanwhile the client rings me at home on my mobile asking what the hell is going on, and all I can say is I'm trying sir, I'm really really trying.

And then today I check again and - lo - the domain is now working. And what explanation do I get?

Hi,
The domain name was missing a zonefile. I have now rebuilt this and the domain name will be working in 24 hours.

So can anyone tell me who I can blame for this??!

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/webdesign/1022632.html