Transferring an email domain. Idiots guide needed. Registered, hosted where?

[#1]

Hi

After more years than I care to remember with metronet and then plusnet they are booting me out to EE. Feeling aggrieve and hassled. It's a choice of email hosting or landline.

The question is where is my domain registered and hosted, whats the difference? I bought my domain from Reg123 and I think it's registered there and I pay them to renew the domain. I'm guessing plusnet host it and as such hosting needs to be moved before being booting out. If it makes a difference, as far as I'm aware I've not been migrated to Greenby. Sounds like that's not been going well!

So am I right so far, and how do I go about it?

I'm maybe looking at Zoho and I'm assuming they host as well as operate the email service?

I've seen a few topics around transferring hosting but I'm a few steps behind that in knowledge and don't want to mess it up as the other domain users wouldn't be happy.

The clock is ticking as they have given me 30days notice!  aaggghhhh No pressurehuh!

Thanks for any help

Jon

[#2]

If it's registered with 123 Reg with our name servers, just contact 123reg, and they'll change the name servers to the new ones. 

[#3]

@JonG01 

as Tony says, if the domain is registered with 123 then you can just change the nameservers to a new hosting service. Note that there can be up to 48 hours for the nameserver change to propagate so in the meantime some email may still go to the old hosting service

and don't want to mess it up as the other domain users wouldn't be happy.

That sounds like you have multiple users(mailboxes) . Like many hosting services , Zoho charge on a per-user basis , so it can be expensive with many users.

I'd suggest having a look at Mythic beasts https://www.mythic-beasts.com/hosting , their pricing includes unlimited mailboxes subject only to an overall storage limit depending on the product selected. They have a good guide here https://www.mythic-beasts.com/support/domains/transfer-no-downtime detailing the procedure to transfer a domain . Note that it will not be possible to use the 'no downtime' procedure since the Plusnet DNS control panel does not permit changing the existing MX records

[#4]

I second @MisterW 's suggestion of Mythic Beasts for good value web and email hosting.

[#5]

Thanks for advice. I think I'm clearer.

Just change the name servers on Reg123 and I don't need to touch the plusnet settings. Then just a bit of setting up on the new host.

I've seen talk about changing or transferring the MX records! Would I need that?

As you say I would have 3 or 4 mailboxes, some alias's and a catch all. Mythical beasts doesn't look a bad option and a tad cheaper!

Thanks

Jon

[#6]

@JonG01 

Just change the name servers on Reg123 and I don't need to touch the plusnet settings. Then just a bit of setting up on the new host.

Close, but you setup the new hosting first, then change the nameservers to the ones for the new hosting.

I've seen talk about changing or transferring the MX records! Would I need that?

For the 'no downtime' procedure then, yes you change the MX records at the existing hosting provider. That's not possible on the Plusnet DNS control system.

So , if you take the example of moving to Mythic, you create the account, add the domain as a third-party domain, create all the mailboxes and aliases, and then switch the nameservers to the Mythic ones. Mail will now start to be received at your Mythic account bu (due to nameserver change propagation) some may still arrive at PLusnet. After 24-48 hrs the NS change will be complete and all mail should now be being received at Mythic. 

Mythical beasts doesn't look a bad option and a tad cheaper!

and even cheaper if you pay quarterly or annually!