What's an inexpensive way to maintain domain registration privacy?
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Other than using a paid service like 'Domains by Proxy', is there a clever way to maintain my privacy with a domain registration w/o incurring the added annual cost of privacy service fees for every domain I own?
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Thanks everyone, for your responses. Got 14 domains coming up for renew, you just saved me $$. Thanks!
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You can become an RSP with Tucows/OpenSRS and then Domain Privacy is available for free by default on all domains under that RSP. You can then transfer all your domains there. RSP is like a reseller account (Registration Service Provider). It all depends on how many domains you own.
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I use Dreamhost and my domains are $10/yr whether or not there is Privacy or not. Just fill in whatever you need to in the fields if you need to or make it private. I have never had an issue with Dreamhost.
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This depends on what you're doing and how. Most European countries have a 'nameplate' requirement (at least minimum contact info) for sites that operate as businesses. There is no such formal requirement in the United States that I'm aware of. There is however a perception issue, especially if money is changing hands, that you generally should have a public WHOIS.
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I'm not sure if there's a technical requirement for the contact to be a "person." The registration doesn't ask for a person, it asks for a contact. I've used my trust as the contact.
I used to use Godaddy. Their customer service is the best, but they're expensive, both in their yearly rate and for charging extra for privacy.
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Brian - Thanks for the quick response. I got free privacy for year 1 from GoDaddy and another registrar, but both have been coming back for $10/yr thereafter. I'll switch! Like the dba and/or trust ideas, but aren't we still required to list a valid person/human who can be reached as technical contact, administrator, etc.?
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You have two options....
1.) Place the domains into the name of a trust or a dba just for the domains. ( I can get a dba for my company for $10 where I live and it doesn't obligate me to do anything)
2.) Use a domain registrar like 1and1.com or dreamhost.com who offers free privacy.
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