Website designer wants domain transferred over to them

[Brother D]

They say they'll leave me as registrant but all the other aspects will be managed by them...

They insist it necessary because they want everything to originate from website hosting and because of that it 'simplifies the php mailing system used for forms so that confirmation emails can be sent from the hosting server'

I have no issue updating the DNS to use their nameservers at their hosting company. Just they desperately want to have me transfer my domain over to them...

And also they want to set up a new gmail account for the business to which 'they let me be a manager' that all emails will go through.

Any advice..?

[Brother D]

They have been used by friends I know who recommended them in the first place, and they seem reasonably happy with them. Have already spent quite a bit with them for the development before this really came up. If am kept as registrant, then can recover the domain fairly easily right?

[Brother D]

deckster said:

It's more their motivations for wanting to take it over. There's no reason I can think of why they should.

The gmail thing is dead fishy as well. Why would you hand over your business email to somebody else? What possible reason could they have for wanting it?

Ask them for detailed reasons why they need to do this and post them up as at the moment it's all sounding a bit dodgy.

Their reason for emails is 'so that emails will originate from the same server as the hosting' and will 'simplify the php mailing system used for contact forms'.

Currently the primary mail account is hosted separate to the existing website. It's never been an issue with the existing supplier.

[Brother D]

All, very much appreciate the responses and confirming my thoughts - told them that there's no way would be moving the domain over to them and they are sort of ok with it...