What if I don't pay the internets?

[spoonyliger]

Got a net admin question here.

First of all, I'd like to announce that I am finally moving out of my parents apartment. Yay! And into a shared apartment who's roommate could really be anyone.

So!

I'll have to cut down on costs. Which means I'm going to shut down my "show-off" website spoonyliger.com. It was only there for show-off, really. So my questions are...

1. If I don't renew my domain name (aka: pay for one more year), do I loose my domain name completely? Or will it just stay dormant and frozen in time for no one to touch ever again until I decide to renew it? Really hoping for the latter...

2. If I don't renew my Hosting service for next year, will the files be frozen as well?

Extra Credit: If I don't turn IV's blue penis into pet art, will I regret it deeply?

[Shucking Oysters]

Basically, it works the same as renting a flat -- if you don't pay, they'll clear out your stuff and make it available to the next tennant. Fortunately for you, it's unlikely that you'll have any problem reregistering it in the future, but you'll want to back-up your files on your own hard drive -- your server provider won't keep them around.

And yes. You'll regret it forever.

[McDuffies]

When your domain expires it's up for grabs. But if noone gets it in the meantime, you can register it again a few years later. Now how likely is it that someone else will need domain spoonylinger.com?

[Cope]

However, there is a chance that a cybersquatter will grab your domain and charge you a premium to return it. That happened to someone here back in the day.

[spoonyliger]

How likely is it that someone else will need domain spoonylinger.com?

True, true.

However, there is a chance that a cybersquatter will grab your domain and charge you a premium to return it. That happened to someone here back in the day.

Oh yea, I know about that kinda stuff. I think I'm just going to have to deal with it. It's going to be more important to pay the bills now.

[IVstudios]

Extra Credit: If I don't turn IV's blue penis into pet art, will I regret it deeply?

I can't tell you how you'll feel, but I know I will always wonder what could have been...

[peterabnny]

I should imagine losing your files wouldn't nearly suck as much as losing IV's blue penis.

[VeryCuddlyCornpone]

However, there is a chance that a cybersquatter will grab your domain and charge you a premium to return it. That happened to someone here back in the day.

That was Van Douchebag, right?

[McDuffies]

Dunno, but there seem to be vultures that operate on grabbing expired domains and redirecting them to penis enlargement sites... probably expecting that they're buying that url's google rating too, with all the sites that link to that domain and forget to change the link, etc.

[Cope]

However, there is a chance that a cybersquatter will grab your domain and charge you a premium to return it. That happened to someone here back in the day.

That was Van Douchebag, right?

That's right! Apparently, it didn't happen as long ago as I thought.

[spoonyliger]

However, there is a chance that a cybersquatter will grab your domain and charge you a premium to return it. That happened to someone here back in the day.

That was Van Douchebag, right?

That's right! Apparently, it didn't happen as long ago as I thought.

Man... I really have no choice. I hope I can just kill it when the time comes instead of letting it expire. If not then I'll just have to laugh at whatever my old domain turned into... and then cry. It's not like it was getting much traffic anyways, with an average of 0.125 visits a day.

[McDuffies]

Well the only problem would be if you some day try to get the domain again, and it's been taken. Also it would be graceful to inform anyone you know who linked you to that address that it's no longer valid.

[IVstudios]

On another note, how much do you pay for domain registration that you can't afford it? Most places I've seen range from $8 - $20 a year, not exactly breaking the bank even if you are on a tight budget. Usually it's the hosting service that cost the most, and you can cancel your hosting service without losing the domain registration.

[spoonyliger]

On another note, how much do you pay for domain registration that you can't afford it? Most places I've seen range from $8 - $20 a year, not exactly breaking the bank even if you are on a tight budget. Usually it's the hosting service that cost the most, and you can cancel your hosting service without losing the domain registration.

That domain cost me a little over $11 for a whole year. I'll have to debate with myself whether or not if it is worth it for me to keep it. I actually had the grand idea of giving my car to my dad and just getting a bike. Work is like 10 mins away. So I'll be saving a lot of money that way. Plus my dad already uses my car a lot anyways, so theoretically everything is right and sound with the world.

[peterabnny]

Obviously you gotta do what you gotta do, but I would say in a worst-case scenario make cutting your domain loose to be among the very last things you do.

[spoonyliger]

Obviously you gotta do what you gotta do, but I would say in a worst-case scenario make cutting your domain loose to be among the very last things you do.

Hm... I'll take the advice.

[Yeahduff]

I think what our Russian friend is trying to say is that if you're trying to make a go of this professionally you should definitely keep your domain name. But I trust you've already come to a decision.

[Rkolter]

As a rule, you should keep your domain name paid up if you ever plan to use it again.

Someone snagged reasonedcognition.com and actually is using it for a Trust and Mortgage business - I wonder if they get any email about my webcomic.