Request to hand back a domain name
To recover your domain name, access and website from a former provider.
The template text in French (the one on the document) — « Demande de restitution d'un nom de domaine »
The document starts with « Je soussigné(e) [your name], born on…, residing at…, » (I, the undersigned)
agissant pour [nom de la structure], numéro [SIREN, SIRET ou RNA], titulaire du nom de domaine [nom de domaine], demande à [nom du prestataire], [adresse du prestataire], qui gère ce nom de domaine et le site [adresse du site], de me remettre sous 15 jours :
[x] le code de transfert (code AUTH) du nom de domaine
[x] le passage du nom de domaine à mon nom, s'il n'y est pas déjà
[x] les accès techniques (bureau d'enregistrement, hébergement, outil de modification du site)
[x] une copie complète du site et de ses contenus (textes, photos, logo)
Merci de me confirmer par écrit la réception de cette demande, à l'adresse [e-mail de réponse].
Translation (to understand)
acting for [name of the organisation], number [SIREN, SIRET or RNA], holder of the domain name [domain name], ask [name of the provider], [address of the provider], who manages this domain name and the website [website address], to give me within 15 days:
[x] the transfer code (AUTH code) of the domain name
[x] the transfer of the domain name into my name, if it is not already
[x] the technical access (registrar, hosting, website editing tool)
[x] a full copy of the website and its content (texts, photos, logo)
Please confirm in writing that you have received this request, at [reply e-mail].
When to use it? You are changing provider, or the former one no longer answers, and you want to get your web address and website back.
Good to know: send it by e-mail and, if there is no answer, by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. For a blocked .fr, Afnic offers a recovery procedure (Syreli). If the domain is in your name, you can also ask the registrar directly for the transfer code.