As the web designer for someone site and also the web host, is it necessary for me to be added as the Technical Contact for someones domain?

I have a hosting competitor (local) that is assisted one of my clients with the registration of her domain. It's normal practice for me to be added as the technical contact for the main reason of updating and maintaining the DNS. However, when I asked to have me added as the technical contact for this domain, she forwarded it to the the guy and he set the nameservers up for me. Now this competitor is a friend of hers, but I noticed all of the contact information for her domain is registered under his company. Anyone have ideas on what types of problems or issues this might cause down the road?

Thanx in advance
Snap

Anyone have ideas on what types of problems or issues this might cause down the road?

If that guy is an online friend, and some day he just disappears, there's gonna be trouble. Getting control over the domain might be virtually impossible.

So what's the best approach for telling her this without:

a) Stepping on the toes of the competition & offending him and her for that matter since they are friends? ...and...

b) Not coming off as the controlling web designer that I seem to think I'll end up sounding like?

Originally Posted by ldcdc

If that guy is an online friend, and some day he just disappears, there's gonna be trouble. Getting control over the domain might be virtually impossible.

It is actually the adminstrative contact name, email address and password that controls the domain, its ownership and transfer rights with the ability to change the other two at will.

I am all 3 contacts on the domains that I own and would never have it any other way. IMO as long as the actual owner controls the admin and has the domain registered someplace other than where it is hosted he/she will be okay.

The issue is the other company (not a part of her company or the host) is listed as the primary (registrant), admin, and technical contact for her domain.

I am in total agreement with ldcdc here. She's screwed if this guy wants her to be, but as I mentioned they are friends. My issue here is if I need to make a DNS change of some sort, I'll have to jump through hoops to get it done my normal time frame.

What I need to know is how two approach the situation to make her understand that what he has done is something that could be an issue later and could cause me time delays in the future. Suggestions anyone.

Originally Posted by snapcridge

What I need to know is how two approach the situation to make her understand that what he has done is something that could be an issue later and could cause me time delays in the future. Suggestions anyone.

You can explain to her that DOMAIN NAME is her property and should be assigned to her name.

That Domain User Name and Password is her keys to the ownership of that
domain and that without control over domain, she may loose it in a flash if
that guy decide to steal it or he can make her to pay dearly for renewal.


fastreplies

I agree with fastreplies and since none of us except for you "have a dog in this fight" you could point her to this thread.

One more time I will say it is a very careless or naive person who does not make sure they are the administrative contact for any domains they own.

Originally Posted by snapcridge

It's normal practice for me to be added as the technical contact for the main reason of updating and maintaining the DNS. However, when I asked to have me added as the technical contact for this domain, she forwarded it to the the guy and he set the nameservers up for me.

Sorry, I missed this part first time around.

Technical Contact means something only if you provide domain registration
services eg Tucows Reseller etc. To change DNS, all you need is to have
an access to Domain Admin Control Panel.

If she'll give you her User Name and Pwd to her Admin CP, then you can
change Technical contact at the same time you are going to make changes
to Name Servers.


fastreplies

There is one other potential issue, and it pertains to renewals. Both admin and tech contacts get them. What happens if the admin contact (which should be her, as others have stated) doesn't get the renewal? Then the tech person should.

Dirty hosting pool, once again.