March 10, 2005 — (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — The pending status of Cambridge-based registrar Firevision (firevision.net) has left thousands of UK domain owners stranded, according to reports released this week. Several customers have vented their frustrations on Internet message boards about their inability to buy, move, update and renew domains names through the company.
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Companies House listed Firevision as being put under the authority of the Official Receiver last November, dispelling any reports that claim the company is in liquidation. But while the local receiver’s office has confirmed that the company’s debts were paid in December, the wind-up order was withdrawn, and the company is entitled to trade as before, it shows no sign of trading. Firevision’s Web site fails to mention the wind-up order under its current status.
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Firevision owner Graham Briggs, who formed the company with his wife in 1999, has reportedly not responded to emails or phone calls. The company is long overdue with its accounts, with its most recent due in February 2003 – over a year ago. In 2001, Firevision gave a stated loss of £11,320 on revenue of £77,588.
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The UK registry Nominet, which runs all .uk domains and authorizes registrars, does not yet seem to consider Firevision?s problems significant. Nominent director of operations, Eleanor Bradley, says that if it receives reports of problems, it will investigate them. She also assured that Nominet will carefully watch its tag holders and will personally contact all affected domain holders if it becomes a greater problem.
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Meanwhile, affected domain holders can move their domain to another registrar for £15 a time, while any more than two will be charged at £30. Domain holders will not be charged the £80 fee to renew their domains through Nominet. Transfering a domain to another registrar will allow holders to renew the domain through them, and will result in a cheaper fee.
