Sniping Domain Names?

[studavis]

There is a domain name that I am after that actually expires today. It's a .co.uk and it doesn't look like the owner is going to renew it as it doesn't point anywhere and hasn't for a while. Whats the best way of getting in there and sniping this domain name? How long will I be waiting before I can claim ownership?

[threadkiller]

if it expires today, you need to wait for the tags to be released, this can take months. as for sniping, not sure

[Vex]

Maybe try a company like this? https://www.snapnames.com

Not used them myself so no idea if they're any good, or whether it even works..

D'oh actually they don't cover .co.uk perhaps there's others that do though...

[Uridium]

When the domain expires, it will be classed as Suspended while the registry attempts to contact the existing owner to see if they wish to renew. This period lasts between 6-8 weeks. If they don't hear anything, the domain is then made available. Best thing you can do is check as often as possible - there is no real way to 'snipe' that I'm aware of. I was in the same situation a few months back and managed to get a domain I'd been after for a few years!

[pompeyfan]

It can take ages - I had a .co.uk domain registered with UK2.net, but rather than pay a transfer fee to move it to UKREg.com (no banner ads) I let it expire to renew it through UKReg and it took a year to come available - even after being detagged, it still showed up in whois as registered to me, and I couldn't do anything with it unless I paid Nominet.