How long does it take to get an EPP authorization code?

[Menard]

I am getting ready to transfer my first domain away from Namecheap. It took more than one time to both unlock the domain and to request an authorization code. What has been a registrar with occasional glitches in the past has become a registrar filled with errors on everything you try to do; just about everything I have done today has required a minimum of two attempts due to server errors on their part; sometimes three or four attempts.

I have requested an authorization code for transfer of a domain away from them which was suppose to be emailed to me; that was an hour ago. Of course, if it takes several hours, I can understand. Being that this is the first time I have transferred a domain, I don't know what is a traditional timeline to be expected.

[Menard]

I sort of answered my question by myself; well, not completely.

I did not know that a domain could not be transferred 40 days prior to renewal.

Rather than pay Namecheap a red cent, I'm going to end up letting some domains expire and take my chances with them. I will have to make a list of my domains by their expiration date and try to get them transferred out before that 40 day period.

Of course, this is provided that Namecheap is ever going to give me an authorization code. I might have to see if I can find a default code.

Feels like my domains are being held hostage in some way.

[Manu]

Email them at support@namecheap.com and they will send it manually.

Authorization codes are usually delivered instantly. Some send it at the email while some make it available in your control panel. Of course, there are some ripe ones like register.com who want you to call them to receive it.

>>>>I did not know that a domain could not be transferred 40 days prior to renewal.
It can be transferred.

There is no default code. It is different for every domain.

[Menard]

Email them at support@namecheap.com and they will send it manually.

Authorization codes are usually delivered instantly. Some send it at the email while some make it available in your control panel. Of course, there are some ripe ones like register.com who want you to call them to receive it.

>>>>I did not know that a domain could not be transferred 40 days prior to renewal.
It can be transferred.

There is no default code. It is different for every domain.

With regard to the 40 days, I have looked through the Icann policy on transfers and cannot find any mention of it. It was on another registrar's faq page, and may have been out of date as they referred to it as an industry standard.

With regard to contacting namecheap...

I have been trying to contact namecheap for various reasons and get no replies. I have twice used the reqest for the EPP code in the control panel for the domain I am wanting to transfer, I have sent a ticket and email just recently. If they stick to their usual guns, I expect no reply to any of that.

I don't know what I can do. Maybe I can try to find a phone number.

Is there a resolution center with Icann or somebody else to handle disputes with registrars?

I have 58 domains registered with namecheap and they don't seem to care.

[Menard]

*Update*

Though I have not been happy with namecheap's customer service, I have been incorrect about their responding.

They have been responding to my emails, but it has not been coming back to my email but to a ticket system I did not know about. I only found this out today due to having to use the ticket system to contact them and, by surprise, finding that I have had replies to my emails, just not sent to me.

Though I wish they had been sent to me, they have not been non-responsive to a degree.

[Menard]

After several attempts, and changing my account, registration, and administrative email address, I finally got the code.

[Andy]

After several attempts, and changing my account, registration, and administrative email address, I finally got the code.

Let's hope it is all worth the effort.

Ticket systems seem to be the norm now for customer support of non-urgent matters.

[Menard]

I should stress that they did reply to my emails, and I should have received those in my email, but didn't. That, however, was a glitch either on my email provider's server or on their server; it was not people ignoring me.