free co.cc domains are going to expire?

[Mr.Big]

I've just registered for a co.cc domain to use it with byethost, but it seems like co.cc has changed its policy. Even the domain is available for free to register, but it is going to expire after two years. I logged in to the control panel and what I saw is

Expires on : 2010-02-26

When I registered my first domain 1 month ago, there is no such a thing like this in the control panel.

So from now on, after 2 years, I think that we have to pay an annual fee in order to continue using own domains? what a pain

What a pity, co.cc is still the coolest and shortest free domain that support DNS.

[mtp_admin]

Perhaps you should clarify this with CO.cc staff before you jump to conclusions, for all you know all that is necessary to renew is clicking a link in your control panel to verify that you are still active and using the domain.

[thegardenslug]

Hi,

I have contacted co.cc by email yesterday about this matter and this is what they said in there reply.

My Email :-

Hello

I donated $10 for 100 free domains last year. I will be paying $10 again this year to keep my domains. I have noticed that there is an expiry date on my domains. What does this mean? Does it mean that I will have to renew or re activate that free domain or will you be charging me for that single domain. How will you inform me when that domain has expired? I am paying you $10 each year for my 100 free domains.

Thanks

There reply :-

Hello, Sir/Madam.

Thank you for contacting us and using our service.

Actually, have currently changed our policy.
We give you 2 domain for free and they are available for a year. If you want to keep the domains after a year, you should pay for them.
Likewise, donated domains should be paid after a year.
In a word, donation just allow you to have 100 domains. It is nothing to do with domain using period.
You do not need to renew the donation. You only need to renew the domain expiration on each domain.

In addition, you should renew the payment after one year by using Paypal.
When your domain is expired, we will let you know that as below.
I am attaching the image in JPG format.

I have enclosed the renew jpg as an attatchment.

Basically I do not understand the reply. Is the free domain still free or do you have to pay to renew that single free domain? Is anyone from Korea that can phone and confirm this please. As I have around 35 free domains with them I am certanly not going to pay for each domain. If I wanted to pay for each domain I would have make a top level domain a .co.uk or .com

Thanks

[mtp_admin]

Looks to me like CO.cc has gone from free to paid on all domains, registration may be free but after the initial year you'll have to pay regardless of free or premium classification.

In that event, I'd recommend that if you're going to pay, pay for a .com, .net or .org from any third-party registrar, makes more sense to actually own your domain if you're going to pay.

[MicroChip123]

so from now on co.cc domains are only free for a year even if you only have 2?

How much does it cost to renew the domain?

and where is this changed policy so i can have a good read of it.
I have been recomending co.cc domains to people but i am going to have to stop now as its not realy free.

edit: all of my domains have expired
+ 1 Year (~ 2010-02-02) - $3 USD
+ 2 Years (~ 2011-02-02) - $5 USD
+ 3 Years (~ 2012-02-02) - $7 USD
+ 4 Years (~ 2013-02-02) - $9 USD
+ 5 Years (~ 2014-02-02) - $10 USD

why do they expect me to pay for my domains


it looks like i just cant change any of the domain Zone Records but the domain is still active
luckily i only use it for google apps how i have a .org domain.
but i am still very annoyed about that because for $3 i can get a .info domain
why would anyone pay for a subdomain of the domain co.cc

[katiekitty]

i am going to leave them too, it is not worth to pay for a subdomain for $3 per domain a year....

[thegardenslug]

Hi,

I have an update and it does look like they are going to charge for each domain. I sent them a reply email saying that I signed up for a domain and it cost me $0 to use when they had other domains in my feild they where charging $3-$16 dollars for. I asked being as it cost me $0 would it also cost me that amount to renew?

Here is the reply :-

Hello,

Forexample, the domain "domainused.co.cc" you have registered this domain for free on June 22 last year.
I know the domain was free, but please note that the free domain is available for a year. I mean you can use the domain for free by June 22 this year.
The price is $3 USD a year. Other domains are the same as this.

Why are they not making this clear on there main page! I think this is a money making scam and they should be investigated. It is mad, they ask you to give them money albeit donate money so they can give you 100 domains free to use then they say that the free domains are only available for a year! So If you have say used 30 domains spent time building the saite then spent time promoting the sites now you are obliged to keep those domains or forfit the time you have spent creating the sites. I am 100% livid with co.cc. They should be investigated.

Rant over!

[katiekitty]

i found that co.cc always change their statement.
at 1st, they say donation of $10 will give u 100 sub-domains for life time, then they suddently said it have to be renew.

also, they said the domains will be always free, now they said they are going to charge every year.
if that is the way to do business, i think i also wanted to buy a shor domain extension and do wat they are doing. ------> scamming ppl and force ppl to pay for renewal!!!

[mtp_admin]

The change is simply this...

All CO.cc domains will now cost, if not premium from the get-go then after a free one year period in which you get to use the domain free of charge.

For those who have donated then you will still be able to register 100 domains but now each domain will expire and cost you to renew every year.

So finally, again, if you're going to pay for a CO.cc... skip it and pay for a TLD instead from a registrar such as Name.com, GoDaddy or Namecheap.

[katiekitty]

yeah, i will now start to move away my sites that using co.cc to be under my own domain, at least it is a lor more cheaper!