Someone else has set up a website using my registered domain name

[JohnStonesMissus]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help, I've registered two domain names both with the same name but one is .co.uk and the other is .com because I intend to enter the US market, however I've just done a quick google and there is a UK website "coming soon" using the EXACT domain as mine, I've double checked my details and I have and paid for the domains for the next 12 months, can they do this? Thanks in advance!

No, if you have legitimately registered it, they won't be able to. Sounds like they just don't realise it yet...

Thanks for your reply, that's an answer I was hoping for, I just find it odd that they've gone to the trouble of setting up a website without checking if the name is available first..

When you say they've set it up, is this website already online? You say you found it in Google, did you find something that says they will have the website 'coming soon' at your domain, or did you find the actual site?

Is it not just a placeholder put there by the domain registration company? Have you done a whois look up to check the registration?

I don't understand...they wouldn't have been able to set up any website linked to the domain in question unless they owned/had rights to it, would they?

No, it's not taking sales, it's my domain name on their website which isn't active yet hence the "coming soon" on the landing page, it's is very nice and attractive but with my name!

@Ouchiehelpneeded

Is it not just a placeholder put there by the domain registration company? Have you done a whois look up to check the registration?

Yes and it's me

They have probably seen that you have set up the .co.uk and .com versions and bought the much less popular .uk version to try and sell it to you at a later date. Ignore any request to buy it off them and they will almost certainly give up. The same happened to me a few years back.

@AmazinglyGraceless

I don't understand...they wouldn't have been able to set up any website linked to the domain in question unless they owned/had rights to it, would they?

That's what I don't get, but it's there..

Some people go out of their way to set these accounts up in order to sell them for lots of money to business holders. You would need to usually set up those domain names at the same time as creating your business to avoid this.

@NetballHoop

They have probably seen that you have set up the .co.uk and .com versions and bought the much less popular .uk version to try and sell it to you at a later date. Ignore any request to buy it off them and they will almost certainly give up. The same happened to me a few years back.

Just gone back to double check and its .co.uk and not .uk

That's weird. So they've got a page up on their website (randomco.com) saying "johnstonesmissus.co.uk - coming soon"?

How strange! They won't be able to publish anything to your domain, but really weird that they're planning to without buying it first

Maybe they're hoping that I won't renew the domain in 12 months?

@Ouchiehelpneeded

That's weird. So they've got a page up on their website (randomco.com) saying "johnstonesmissus.co.uk - coming soon"?

How strange! They won't be able to publish anything to your domain, but really weird that they're planning to without buying it first

Yes, exactly, I can't speak for anyone else but one of the first things I did when I started is to check if names are available, it's a painful process because so many names are taken

If it's the .co.uk page then all it is is that your domain host have setup an automated page for you. Nothing to worry about. It's just to show that the domain exists and is waiting for you to set it up.

Thanks for your help everyone, it's much appreciated

@JohnStonesMissus

Thanks for your help everyone, it's much appreciated

Are there any contact details for them on the site? (Aside from your own ) - the amount of people who don't know their own email addresses or URLs, it could just be a mistake? Might just need it pointing out

Thanks Lellochip, yes there is a contact email, it's hello@mydomain!, I don't know if I should contact them? Not to get arsey, but just to save them time because they'll have a long wait for the domains to become available, i.e never! So it's best for them to find another name if they want to get cracking.

yes there is a contact email, it's hello@mydomain!

Haha oops, well that'll not do them much good! If you've got any other way of getting in touch I definitely would, you're doing them a favour, just making sure they don't lose traffic/customers etc

Yes some people are stupid enough to just assume the domains they want will be available. I wouldn’t bother contacting them. All it will lead to is harassment because they’ll have your contact details and they want your domain. Just ignore, there’s nothing they can do. If you haven’t done so already I suggest you also register the name on Instagram, Facebook, etc.

Thanks everyone, how do I register the name on Facebook and Instagram Sunnygold?

I've just set up a facebook page, is that you meant by registering it?

Yes, set up a Facebook page and Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, etc using the business name you want. Even if you don’t use that type of social media - it prevents them registering using that name.

Brilliant thank you

@Sunnygold

Yes, set up a Facebook page and Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, etc using the business name you want. Even if you don’t use that type of social media - it prevents them registering using that name.

I'm pretty sure that Facebook allows duplicate page names, I don't think you can register any namesas such . My local pub has a very common name and I've ended up on the wrong facebook page when looking something up as there are loads of the same name

The new business that wants to use your name is possibly just a bit naive about domain names and thinks that as there isn't currently a webpage with that address they can set one up

I'm not a techie but I assume they literally can't do it so you don't need to worry