Options for redirecting email for a domain

dp1234

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Hi there

I have something of an emergency situation with only a few days to protect a couple of my hosted domains (web and email)

My main concern is protecting emails until the issue is sorted out

Please can anyone advise what options are available to redirect or catch mail to a whole domain if it goes offline for any reason (not under your control)

Can the registries provide any assistance. Are there commercial email redirection services

I have explored some options. Google email redirection works reasonable well but requires transfer of domains and establishment of accounts and aliases

The basic requirement is to catch all emails for a registered .com or .com.au and redirect to a safe/trusted email

Is that possible

Thanks
D
 

Dopani

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Please can anyone advise what options are available to redirect or catch mail to a whole domain if it goes offline for any reason (not under your control)
You can use any alternatives to gsuite like zoho to load directly to your mail box, it will provide you free smtp, but for me, using gsuite is best option if you have a budget for it.
I have explored some options. Google email redirection works reasonable well but requires transfer of domains and establishment of accounts and aliases
Using gmail to load emails to it, it requires any configurations to work.
 

S4 Hosting

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I'm not really sure that I understand the situation.

If you are the owner of the domains, then you can just make backups of all of the mail accounts, change the DNS to point to a new mail server/provider and then import the backed up mail.

If you aren't the owner or don't have access to the registrar of the domains, then why would you want to do this.
 

dp1234

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dp1234
I am the owner of the domains

But the hosting company deleted my services after 31st July without offering a replacement service

The registrars and other parties have been aware of the situation for the last few months (and ongoing). I am asking the registrars what I can do in my current situation, and to ask them to protect my assets as best they can

But I currently am without trusted web/email for those domains. I am having to use alternative email contacts

Most of the contacts in whois records have been updated to my new preferred trusted email addresses, but the reseller who caused me the problems still has access to administrative and billing emails for a couple of them.

That concerns me, as well as them potentially having control over and access to emails for all my previously hosted domains. Also possibly losing important communications for those domains. I've spent two months so far (forced) trying to protect my assets, contacts, networks etc - but some may still try to contact (currently) untrusted email addresses

I need to know what to do in that situation
 
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S4 Hosting

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Ok, so there are two separate issues here.

The first one is that you want to be able to send and receive mail at the domains we are talking about. This should be very easy, many registrars allow you to set up mail redirects for free (which would take care at least of incoming mail), and if they don't you can just change the DNS and point it to one of very many cheap mail services elsewhere.

Who is your registrar?

The second is access to existing mail, and unless you have a local backup of all of that or your previous host is still providing you access to retrieve it then you might not be able to do that.
 

dp1234

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dp1234
Hi there

I'm sorry but nobody is listening to what the issue is

I will explain further. The contract with my reseller and hosting company was terminated on 31st July without any replacement service being provided. I do not have legitimate access to their servers

Also all communication has broken down with the reseller. I am communicating with the registrars to see if they can assist

regards
 

S4 Hosting

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So, you bought the domains through a reseller and not directly from the registrar, is that right?

I'm just a little unclear if you have direct access to the registry control panel for the domains, in which case you can easily direct the mail elsewhere, or if somebody else has that access?
 

Kaz Wolfe

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Please can anyone advise what options are available to redirect or catch mail to a whole domain if it goes offline for any reason (not under your control)
You can do a backup for your email and restore it on any programs or different hosting if wanted.
 

dp1234

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dp1234
Hi there

Sorry thats now what I was asking

What I was asking is. Suppose you have had an uninterrupted email service for 20 years in business attached to a domain and that mail service is deleted or otherwise put out of action by someone else's unreasonable actions. Say your mail service is deleted from a DNS or ff a server

You are then offline for a while because you a cannot find a decent alternative to take it on. The people denying you the service offered no assistance in backing up or helping transfer to another party.

What options are there for getting your emails for a domain (*@mydomain.com) directed to a mailbox somewhere else. 20 years (say) of emails going astray because a service was deleted for no good reason

Can the registrars help. Can you get a mail redirection service for a domain. Google provides reasonably decent options provided you can register your domain with them. Than itself is problem for some domains. In a crisis and under extreme stress you do not have time to even mess around with the burden of trying to do all that stuff.

In an emergency. If your mail service is no longer available and you not have the resources to find a replacement yourself, and nobody has offered to find a replacement - which I believe is the responsibility of any professional service provider - to at least give you one option and help with the transfer without you having to spend much time on it at all. That is how its worked for 20 years

Does anyone provide those services. Especially in an emergency - maybe you are sick in hospital and cant deal with it. Who will
Dial and emergency email redirection etc. As far as I am concerned its the responsibility of the previous provider to assist if they are the reason for the problem in the first place. Thats how most professionals work, unless they themselves are sick in hospital or cannot find an alternative themselves

Thanks for everyone's attention and assistance

But please on no forums anywhere give me the answer - you can backup your emails and find another service etc
 

dp1234

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PS On a related topic

Suppose you are temporarily without hosting for a web site or email, do you have to notify registrars in case anyone thinks they are no longer needed or to be used. I am currently in a situation (no idea how long it will last) where I am unable to arrange replacement service. However I am still entitled (as the regsitrant with associated business names etc) to maintain registration/ownership? of those domains

I just wonder what protective measures you need to take against any hostile actions or a possibly hostile, uncooperative or untrustworthy reseller/hosting company transferring them without your say. Are registrants protected

During the period leading up to the denial of service (web and email services) I spent weeks or months trying to find a replacement (equivalent) service without success. I also checked with (some) registrars if any of them provided a basic service in such eventualities without success, which they don't. I checked if Microsoft provided a basic web service to go with Outlook etc

Maybe I am oldfashioned and maybe it explains why I am not a billionaire but I always thought the idea of providing a professional service to a client was to help them and make their life/business easier
 
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S4 Hosting

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Regarding the mail - do you own the domain name and have access to the registrar?

Regarding your second question about domain names - you can own it and not use it, you don't have to do anything with it or notify anyone. It's yours until the expiration date and you can always renew it before then.
 

dp1234

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dp1234
Yes, I own 5 domains (previously hosted with a reseller.

Thanks. I don't have t worry about losing it provided my business names are ok.

I'm still upset about having email for the domains terminated without any trusted replacement

Also I have specific requirements for a replacement service. That is a hosting company and servers located in my home state. Its part of my business trust and marketing. I never had to host anything outside my state. The previous hosting company was based in my State then transferred me to this recent one (also State based and hosted), when they closed down. I spent two months trying to find a similar service and nobody else offered a comparable solution

Also I don't have time to do that myself. Usually the reseller/hosting companies arrange all that for you. Thats my experience so far
 

AdrianG001

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It really depends on the platform, but let’s say that for cPanel.

For example:

  1. Login to cPanel.
  2. Click the Redirects button in the Domains section.
  3. You will then be on the Add Redirect page. Click the drop-down box for Type and choose either a Permanent (301) or Temporary (302) redirect.
  4. Click the next drop-down box and choose the domain you want to redirect.
  5. For the slash ‘/’ field, enter any folder names (if necessary).
  6. Enter the address you want to redirect to in the Redirects to section.
  7. Choose if you want to “Only redirect with www.” “Redirect with or without www.” or “Do Not Redirect www.“
  8. Check the box if you want to create a Wild Card Redirect. This will add the the file/folder name after the url when it redirects.
  9. Click add when Finished
 

dp1234

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dp1234
Hi there

Thanks for the advice at that level. I appreciate you can do it on various platforms each with their own method

However my query relates to a higher level and more critical issue. Suppose your domain reseller has deleted your web and email service, you have to access to their server. Maybe you need to be unhosted for some time. Maybe they will not respond to your messages

Can registrars assist with email forwarding. Can other resellers fix it up for you.

The situation is at a higher administrative level than the technicalities on a particular platform. In my case it relates to an uncooperative reseller/hosting company that has left me in limbo without access to my web and email services and without trusted email service

Who provides that kind of service.


Thanks again

EDIT I found a page with a list of some companies that claim to do it free (not really - there are costs). I mentioned Google above - there are several others such as Namecheap, ImprovMX etc etc. Has anyone else used one. Do you have to use one of those services or can you request the previous reseller to do it for you? Will registrars help if the reseller doesn't. Will most resellers do it as an option without full hosting etc. Who would have the easiest service. Enter your domain into a box on their form and its all setup for you. Can you do it without changing registrar and just asking for the DNS to be changed etc

How trustworthy are they. Many of them look a bit dodgy and untrustworthy to me. There goes your domain etc. I don't really like using the Google registrar if you must know
 
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S4 Hosting

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As I've already mentioned above a couple of times, most registrars will offer free mail redirection (but obviously you need somewhere for it to redirect to), and many will cheap or free mail hosting. So this really shouldn't be a problem if you have access to the registrar.

I also asked who the registrar is as this might make it easier to make suggestions.

Do you have to use one of those services or can you request the previous reseller to do it for you?
This is now really confusing, I thought the whole issue was that the previous provider had terminated all of your services and were not willing to help in any way?
 

dp1234

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dp1234
I will explain again.

The previous provider has terminated my services and holding my domains, sites and email to ransom

So we are looking at the following

1. How to arrange redirection of all DNS to another domain or site (without access to a rogue reseller's DNS)
2. How to get the registration details changed (admin and billing) that the rogue reseller has control over. Not ownership but admin and billing

How do we do that. Surely the registrar is the party that should help. Or do we have to go to police

That is the seriousness of the situation. Who will protect my (the registrants) assets in an emergency. I would be grateful if people on forums would stop avoiding the question and pretending they don't understand how domain theft works, or other theft

I currently have no (legal) way to manage my domains, my sites, my emails, even access my email accounts. The service has been terminated. What else. I cant read any mail (if its still coming in). I cant stop people doing anything with my web and email configuration etc. Its being held hostage

Total of two hosted domains (and two additional domain pointers) .com and .com.au. Seemingly nobody can/will help
How do we arrange redirection without access to a hostile resellers server in some way

Ans at what stage does it become regarded as a crime (eg theft) and not just a civil dispute

Come to think of it. During the months (up to the ending of services) I had asked widely about how to get an unhosted (ie no site) redirect of my webmail but nobody answered on any forum. Nobody helped. I was trolled on some platforms for asking that question. Who is a safe and trusted registrar/host that will look after 4 .com and .com.au domains and redirect mail

Do we have a domain recovery service. Take it out of the hands of an untrusted reseller. How do we do that. I keep being referred to the reseller to deal with it
 
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S4 Hosting

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Ok, I understand all of that (I think) but you are not answering the questions that I have asked a couple of times which would be really useful in suggesting the best way to move forward:
  • Did you register the domains directly through the registrar or through the reseller?
  • Do you have direct access to the registrar control panel, to alter DNS or change nameservers?
  • Who is the registrar?
  • Are you concerned about retrieving old data (mail and web) or only with moving everything from now forwards?
Additionally
  • What reason was given for the services termination?
  • What do you mean by being held to ransom, what have they requested from you?
  • Do you have unpaid bills with them?

If you are the owner contact with the registrar then you should easily be able to change the other contacts with them.

There are a lot of hosting companies that would be more than happy to help out, including ours, but your restrictions on where you want things to be hosted geographically makes that a much smaller pool.
 

dp1234

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dp1234
Many of your questions are irrelevant to the issue and asking specific detail which is irrelevant. Stop turning it on me. You arent one of the trolls from Whirlpool are you? Can you answer that question.
 

S4 Hosting

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I don't know who or what Whirlpool is, and I am not attempting to turn anything on anyone. I also think my questions were very relevant to the issue.
 

S4 Hosting

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You seem to be a bit unwilling to answer concrete questions which would help to understand the situation and propose solutions...

If you can answer the above, then it would be much easier to understand the resellers actions and also what you can do about it.
 

dp1234

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dp1234
I am going to answer. I will play your game and hopefully get a solution. But you havent answered mine yet either

What I am asking for is the following. Most of your questions are actually irrelevant and highly specific to a private business matter.

I am the owner of 5 domains. At present 3 of them are still with an old reseller (not the original one that caused me no trouble) but a newer reseller that caused me problems for two months and we have parted ways. However they still control my domains. I cannot logon to their servers to manage my domains. I cannot transfer them away. I did nothing wrong. I paid all my bills. Stop turning it on me. I cannot transfer the domains. And stop making out I did anything to deserve this situation. That is a private matter. But the reseller badly let me down and caused a huge crisis

But also, I understand your bias (as a reseller I imagine) but I am a good client. I have been a good client of every provider in my life including 20 years of trouble free web and email hosting. It is not the role of resellers to be giving clients a hard time for no good reason. Meanwhile my small business has suffered for almost 3 months and ongoing

How can I get my email directed somewhere please in that situation

PS I do appreciate any genuine helpful advice. But not being forced to answer irrelevant or private business questions. Not being forced to deal with ad hominem insinuations against my character, behaviour or that of my business. Its a possible attempt to undermine yet another enquiry of mine on yet another forum. Please do me the respect of not using such insinuations. Thats a reasonable request of mine is it not

PPS But since we are talking hypotheticals (some of your questions). Whatever the reason for me not having hosting at a previous reseller the question remains the same. How do I get the emails for my domains please

But don't worry. I will find the solution elsewhere. This conversation is headed the way of others on other forums. I would hate to run foul of the moderators here simply for getting upset at evasive attempts at not answering my question and turning it on me.
 
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S4 Hosting

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Just to clarify, I am not 'playing a game', 'turning anything on you', 'insinuating anything', or 'making out you deserve anything'. I'm also not trying to invade your privacy.

Neither am I biased, or a reseller. Yes I run a hosting company, but it is in a different part of the world to you, we do not sell or resell domain names and we run our own services and don't resell others.

You asked a question on a public forum. I wanted to be as helpful as possible, and it is much easier to give advice about specific problems with specific details, in this case I think I (and others) would be able to offer better suggestions with the information that I asked about.

I don't believe that I asked anything that was overly private (I deliberately avoided asking which company you were having the issue with), but I also did not ask anything irrelevant as far as I can see, and I didn't offer anything hypothetical.

I'm sorry that you don't feel as if anyone is trying to be helpful, but I can assure you that I actually was. I genuinely wish you good luck with finding a solution, but feel that I am clearly not the right person to try and offer further advice.
 

Kash1999

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If you are looking forward to forwarding your emails to a specific domain that you already own then there is nothing to worry about as you can do this without any hassle. You just need to be the real owner of the domain otherwise you will have to go for different types of permission.

If you are the owner of the domain then first of all, for security purpose, you will have to make a backup of all the email accounts and after that you will have to switch the DNS to a specific new mail server and finally, you will just have to import all the mail accounts.
 

invoinvo

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you have place your trust to register domain at the respective domain registrar and i suppose you can place your trust to use their free mail redirection service. start searching for a reliable web hosting companies to host your webspace, mail stuffs.
if you feel privacy is concern, host the web and mail on a Virtual Private Sserver or dedicated server .
 
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