Transferring .COM.AU domains from one registrar to another

[Halcyon]

I have a number of registered domains which I use for personal purposes including .COM.AU and .NET.AU domains. To ordinarily register one of these addresses, you have to jump through a pointless verification process to check that your company is valid because they are "reserved" for businesses, companies, registered bodies and so on.

Bugger that! I back-doored it since I happen to know a wholesaler who pushed the registration through for me. I don't have an ABN (Australian Business Number) nor am I eligible for one.

My question is, now that the domains are registered and "verified", if I were to transfer them from the current registrar to another, will they repeat the verification process again or will they simply take carriage of the existing domain straight away without all that rubbish?

[TerraHertz]

Was there some reason you wanted ".au" domains?

Anyway, possibly relevant anecdote: Registering domains overseas seems to have no such 'proof of business' restrictions. And I know that transferring a .org name registration from the USA mob networksolutions.com, to Australian crucial.com.au there were no questions.

Btw, I'd suggest to never have anything to do with networksolutions.com.

[Halcyon]

Was there some reason you wanted ".au" domains?

No reason other than all the ones I wanted (and reasonable combinations thereof) were already taken. I also didn't want some "obscure" TLD like .id.au, .biz, .xxx etc... At the end of the day, we're talking about a domain name, not a bank loan. I shouldn't have to provide squat other than payment. For example, all the WHOIS details (while "valid" addresses) are completely fabricated and I shouldn't have to pay extra to keep my information private.

Anyway, possibly relevant anecdote: Registering domains overseas seems to have no such 'proof of business' restrictions. And I know that transferring a .org name registration from the USA mob networksolutions.com, to Australian crucial.com.au there were no questions.

Btw, I'd suggest to never have anything to do with networksolutions.com.

Thanks. I'll keep that in mind. I have no issues with the current registrar, but just in case I wanted to transfer it later.

[aargee]

I didn't think there was much of an eligibility requirement for an ABN, short of filling out the paperwork?
All contractors have them, and contractor can be a pretty encompassing term.. my son got one so he could tutor other students after school.

[Brumby]

I didn't think there was much of an eligibility requirement for an ABN, short of filling out the paperwork?
All contractors have them, and contractor can be a pretty encompassing term.. my son got one so he could tutor other students after school.

You are correct.  There is not.  You can apply for - and get one - quite easily.

[Halcyon]

I didn't think there was much of an eligibility requirement for an ABN, short of filling out the paperwork?
All contractors have them, and contractor can be a pretty encompassing term.. my son got one so he could tutor other students after school.

There are some requirements, namely you need a sole trader or otherwise carrying out business in Australia. They won't approve the ABN application otherwise. I don't mind lying to private companies who really don't need to know my business, but to the Australian Government, I'll pass on that.

The first stage of the application process is an eligibility questionnaire, I don't qualify and can't proceed any further in the process even if I wanted to.

[aargee]

Sounds like the same moral quandary: getting a .com.au registered domain name by a not so legal path or registering for an ABN to make it legal.
The reason the ABN requirement exists is to ensure the .com.au domain truly represents (as best it can) a registered Australian commercial enterprise, unlike .com which any Tom, Dick or Harry can get hold of (like me for one!) 

[Halcyon]

Sounds like the same moral quandary: getting a .com.au registered domain name by a not so legal path or registering for an ABN to make it legal.
The reason the ABN requirement exists is to ensure the .com.au domain truly represents (as best it can) a registered Australian commercial enterprise, unlike .com which any Tom, Dick or Harry can get hold of (like me for one!) 

The Australian government doesn't really give a crap who registers a .com.au domain, those requirements are stipulated by auDA, a private body responsible for .au policies. Lying to a private organisation which has no legislative powers isn't illegal*. Some might call it immoral, but I don't. At the end of the day, I wanted a .com.au for personal and legal purposes, so I got one that didn't involve lying to the Government or breaking any laws.

Had I have registered for an ABN knowing full-well that I wasn't going to be conducting business could have had other implications for me down the track.

I know the reason why the rules exist, but in reality, it offers minimal consumer protection and confidence at best and they are easy to circumvent. I believe that a .com.au is no different to a .com other than it's Australia-focused.

Also I have no issues providing private organisations with fabricated details. My domain registrar doesn't need to know where I live or what my phone number is, they can contact me via e-mail if the need arises. I don't even give Ikea my correct post code when I shop there.

* Lying to your bank or insurance company is different. Don't lie to them.

[TerraHertz]

auDA seem to have got themselves in some hot water. Good.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/04/19/auda_review_demands_major_reforms/
Australia’s .au admins told to reform or get rooted
auDA bins plans for direct .au sales to focus on governance and not pissing off members

[lwatts666]

I went through the whole need-a-business routine to get a .com.au domain registered some years ago. I found that I only needed a Registered Business Name to satisfy the requirements. The RBN costs only $82 for three years, and does not have any of the accounting/reporting requirements of an ABN.

Down side is that if you actually do business under that name, you have no limited liability protection.