HACKER Q&A
📣 ohgandihelpme

Gandi is holding my domain hostage. What can I do?


The short version of the story is that I was on a two-year internet hiatus. During that time my Gandi account with a decade-old domain name got locked. I have been emailing back and fourth with their Abuse department for the better part of a week and they’re slow-walking me at best.

I had assurances from the CEO, who I reached via text, that if it wasn’t resolved today to text him back. He has now gone dark on me.

I used to love Gandi, but they’re holding my domain name hostage. This doesn’t sound awful until I mention that the nameservers were changed when the account got locked, so I have no access to the domain whatsoever. This isn’t just a domain I’ve done nothing with, but it has my entire life attached to it.

I know they went downhill since they were acquired, but I didn’t think it’d be this bad, obviously.

What can I do? Other than “learn a lesson with backup codes and transfer the domain name.”

  👤 abxyz Accepted Answer ✓
What you’re describing doesn’t make much sense: why would a registrar lock your account? Why would a registrar change your domain’s nameservers? If you have direct contact with the CEO then you’re already far ahead of wherever people here can get you.

You said “backup codes” so I’m going to guess what’s actually happened is you lost access to your second factor, your domain has expired and you’re unable to log in to your account to renew it. Does that accurately reflect the situation?

👤 eduction
Give it time? Just because the CEO hasn’t texted you back in the hours after close of business in Paris doesn’t mean the person is ignoring the issue. What are they supposed to do until business opens tomorrow?

It also sounds like you’ve been in touch with support for a weekend and a few business days and it’s not resolved yet. But it also sounds like communication is ongoing.

In a subsequent message you say your Gmail was compromised and probably your Gandi too. Do you think it’s realistic or desirable for them to sort that in just a few days?

I’ve not loved the direction of the new Gandi but if it were me in your shoes I’d be shocked if it were resolved as quickly as you expect it to be. They have the unenviable task of sorting out your hacker from you from thousands of miles away. I don’t think it’s bad, neccesarily, that they need more than three business days to do it.

👤 johnisgood
I love Gandi, and I will never switch. I am sad they no longer provide not even one mailbox, unfortunately. :(
👤 cr3ative
You disappeared for two years, your account got broken in to, and you’re wondering why it might take perhaps more than one week to untangle this?

It’s amazing they’re entertaining the idea of recovering it at all honestly.

👤 helpful1
1. You can access your personal domain by just updating your /etc/hosts file on Mac or Linux or googlebke file on Windows.

2. No details in your post so I’m convinced that you’re only telling the part of the story that paints you in a good light and Gandhi in a bad one.

3. Good luck

👤 vbezhenar
I've always wondered, is it possible to completely lose access to domain name, if registrar decides to ban my account? Or I have a way out through IANA or something like that? I'm supplying my personal information to them for a reason, after all? So can I forcibly transfer my domain to another registrar?
👤 greenchair
3/10 fanfic from a competitor, too many inconsistencies
👤 kiitos
why would you post this customer support request to hacker news??
👤 lagniappe
>I know they went downhill since they were acquired, but I didn’t think it’d be this bad, obviously.

You abandoned your account for two years, please spare us.