Back in 2008, I made a web site for a friend's local business. I was in a pretty bad way financially and the $300 he gave me really kept me going at the time.

I hosted it and kept the domain name registered until it expired yesterday. All at no extra charge. I felt that he helped me beyond the $300 at the time and it only cost me the registration fee.

Earlier, this year, I got a message from an unknown person telling me he's making a web page for the same friend (same business) and was wondering if I would transfer over the domain name. I didn't take offense at this as I've not been in that business for over 12 years. I agreed but only after I checked with my friend. He confirmed the guy and he was supposed to start the domain name transfer "ASAP". The web page guy fell off the face of the earth and I can't raise him on any messaging service. :shrug:

Well, a couple of weeks ago, before the domain expired, I contacted my friend and told him that it's going to expire on the 9th and he should either have me transfer the domain to him or have the guy finally get back to me about the transfer. He said he would but it never happened.

The domain is now expired and, if I understand it correctly, it will cost extra to reinstate it.

Still haven't heard back and I don't want to just reregister the domain and be stuck with it for another year with no action on it.

I think I've decided to just let it go and if they call me tell them the problem was with their inaction.

So, is my obligation complete? I could very easily reinstate the domain name but haven't I given them enough time? Is there something else I should be doing?

I think you've completed your obligation and then some.

Agreed, you have kept up your part and some.

You've been helping him with this since 2008. I'd say he has gotten his $300 worth many times over.

He found someone else to take over so you are fine just to let it go.

Let it go. You've got the documentation reminding him about the renewal and have had multiple discussions with him.

The only action you could take is to pay for it yourself and hopefully expect him to ask about it again and pay you back. I know it's only $12.

When it comes to what I consider company assets, I always try to ensure the client fully owns those assets and pays for them on their own. I'm listed as having delegate access for many of the accounts so I can remind them about upcoming bills.

Same goes for other assets like Mailchimp, Constant Contact, G Suite. But those are monthly bills so they are easier for the company to remember to pay.

It's also a protection for the client if something happens to me. I can count at least a dozen times where a company has contacted me about services, stating the previous "web guy/girl" will not respond or will not give up the domain name.

Good morning Mark123. From what you posted your obligation was paid in full a long time ago, and you were a good friend for keeping it up for so long. Sounds like you friend was lazy and took the easy way out and let you handle it for this long. If this is a business website and can either generate income or advertising for a business, he should have had control of it a long time ago.

I say you have done your part, and tried to help them move it along to the next step. Ball is in their court. It is their inaction that has put them in this spot, let them handle it from here.

Yep. You're done. This is like when someone asks my advice on something and they go another direction. That's fine, it might have been a better choice. But when it isn't don't come back to me and ask "what do I do now?'.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
Is there something else I should be doing?

Not that I can think of.

This sort of thing is all too common in my experience, and when a friend is involved it’s even more unpleasant for the individual who is faced with trying to keep things going. But just as people can forfeit their “inalienable” rights through their own acts or failure to act, the same is true of anything else they might be owed. This example is obviously on a far different level than forfeiting one’s right to be free by committing a crime, but the principle is the same. You no longer have any obligation in the matter and you should put it all behind you with a clear conscience.

Far too many people allow themselves to be burdened by former obligations to others because they’re not emotionally capable of accepting when an obligation comes to an end. And although I’m not suggesting it’s what’s happening in this case, far too many other people have no compunction in taking advantage of others’ indulgence.

quote:

Originally posted by steve495:
... When it comes to what I consider company assets, I always try to ensure the client fully owns those assets and pays for them on their own. I'm listed as having delegate access for many of the accounts so I can remind them about upcoming ...

It was one of those things where I mention that he should control the domain name with his own account. "Oh, you handle it." I should have said no but it would have gone defunct one year later when he ignored the emails.

You've done your bit, and then some.

Given he was having someone else work on the site, it does not sound like this is the sort of status he desires. If he was not a friend, that'd be 'too bad, too sad,' but since he is, I'd go an extra step.

If I wanted to keep the relationship strong, I would let the friend know explicitly (he does not sound tech-savvy)
a) what the status is (domain name expired),
b) the consequences thereof (nobody will see his site), and
c) what his options are to get it going again (renew before it gets released for anyone else to own).

Well, that and let him know that if he is going to be depending on that site going forward, the guy he now has working on it is not very reliable.

Yes you completed your obligation. I had a boss once who never knew anything was broken because I fixed it before it ever got that far. In a similar way your friend has to be responsible for his piece, and if you let his problems become your problems he doesn't learn anything.

You've completed your obligation and then some. Let it go.

Many thanks, friend. It's not that this guy is a friend that's ever called or visited my house. I had mostly decided to just let it go and wanted to see if there was something else I should do before just letting the the chips fall where they may.

If one of them calls before the domain goes public then I will help them get it but not another cent from me.

He snoozed, he loozed. You did everything necessary and more.

You fulfilled your obligation in 2008 and have been going above and beyond ever since then. Good on you.

More than, my friend.

Above and beyond. You even reminded him that it was about to expire. Nothing more to do except wash your hands of it

After nearly 13 years the warranty has run out, in a manner of speaking.