Member Avatar for adamswine

A client of mine has a website that was developed by a webdesigner. This web designer now ignores are requests to share the access details. The client is now unable to make any changes to the website and is dependent on this webdesigner.

The client is not provided with any access details and the designer is not intending to share the same too.

Is there anyway the website can be got back

  • 3 Contributors
  • 2 Replies
  • 101 Views
  • 6 Days Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by macgurl70

Dani AI

Generated

This is a common "site held hostage" situation described by . Two separate ownership questions determine recovery options: who is listed as the domain registrant/administrative contact, and who controls the hosting account where the files live. Confirm the domain registrant and contact email using the ICANN WHOIS/RDAP lookup (ICANN WHOIS lookup) and review registrar transfer rules () before taking next steps.

Practical next steps to try (document everything and keep copies):

  • Gather proof: invoices, payment records, registration confirmation emails, business registration documents, and any contract text. These are what registrars or hosts will request.
  • Contact the registrar: ask for account/ownership options or an EPP/auth code if the client is the registrant or can prove ownership.
  • Contact the hosting company: provide the same proof and request a site backup, account transfer, or that they reset access to the client-controlled email.
  • Recover content if files are unavailable: use the Internet Archive or cached pages to reconstruct pages (Internet Archive Wayback Machine).

If those routes fail, escalate with a formal written demand, consider small-claims or legal advice, and preserve all communications as evidence. As and implied, contract terms and payment history are decisive—if possible, negotiate a clean handover rather than a long dispute. For the future, ensure the client registers the domain and hosting under their own account and that contracts include IP assignment and access-credentials clauses.

Recommended Answers

All 2 Replies

Member Avatar for Lusiphur

Short answer... No...

Long answer... Depends on who registered the domain and hosting for the site.

If the domain information is registered under the client's information then they can make a (good luck) request to the registrar and attempt to re-take control of the damain name itself. Provided that the client has enough information to do so. One catch to that, however, is that most (good) registrars will also email the contact on-file to advise them of this and the webdesigner could potentially block them.

If they are successful in obtaining control over the domain name they would then be able to point it to any alternate hosting platform of their choice. However, without having access to your current hosting platform site contents you would be in a position of having to completely re-build the site.

Unfortunately some designers are so protective of their content and design that they turn to these types of tactics to prevent someone else from 'picking up where they left off' and stealing their business. What many don't realize is, if they were doing a good job in the first place for a market-reasonable price they wouldn't need to worry about this. I speak from some personal experience as, in the past, I have done some site management and web design work for people and they have always had the option of buying out the content I had custom made for them at a reasonable price should they decide to take their business elsewhere.

Hope this helps :) Please remember to mark the thread solved once your issue is resolved.

Member Avatar for macgurl70

What was stated in the contract? Or was there a contract to begin with when the job was started? Usually, when I hear a designer is not providing files the designer is holding out for their fees to be paid.

While I understand the predicament your friend is in, the question I have is were all business matters taken care of? Most designers will provide the information as agreed once all fees are paid, and have no problem with it.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.