Ok So I found a registrar that doesn't have strings for transfer.
The name is Xilo. I have yet to confirm anymore useful details but meanwhile, you guys can visit their site:
http://www.xilo.net/domain_names/
By strings, I mean transfer is free but they commonly require you to buy a 1 or 2 years extension.
But as I understand it, It's a free transfer and they're going to extend your domain for two more years without paying anything and you won't even have to buy hosting from them. But as I said, I will confirm these details.
Zen, can you confirm if it costs anything to transfer .uk domains please?
Hi, I'm not quite sure what your question is, or what the point is that you're making. I'll try to clarify what I have found so far, if this helps.
As I said, most sites are free to transfer INTO. This Xilo site is no different, but seems rather expensive for the registration (£10). The site I mentioned before,
www.daily.co.uk is free to transfer into (at least they were the last time I used them) & only charge £2.55/year for reg. (I think 15% VAT may be added on). I'm sure there are also plenty of other sites with good prices. Daily have provided a good service & customer support so far, & you'd only need their basic service of £2.55/yr if you stick with X10 for your hosting etc.
As for tranferring OUT of ovh.co.uk, the question mark still remains. Their site info is vague. I rang their Customer Support & got a guy who had to go off & ask someone. He then hesitantly said he thinks you can't transfer away from them within the 1st year of free accounts. But when I pressed him on whether you could transfer away for free after that, without them charging you or locking you in, he said that you could (thus avoiding their charges & going to a better registrar such as Daily).
Then I asked him the important question of just exactly at what point he would advise one could do this transfer. Because he says one can't transfer within the 1st year, & presumably if one doesn't renew with them before the 2nd year has started, the domain is suspended? So before, after, or exactly on the date the 1st year has finished? Guess what,
the line went dead! Presumably this question was getting a little too awkward for him! Perhaps a little too close to the mark of where they hope
to catch people out & start making their profits? You be the judge.
Anyway, I'm still hoping someone else here can add a few extra tips on their findings, & advise on how they handed sites over after they registered them for other members of the X10 forum.