I've run into a few web design companies who seem to think holding someone's domain hostage is good business. I can see why they would want to maintain control of their work and not lose customers, but honestly, if a client is that unhappy with my work that he wants to leave, I'm perfectly okay with turning over the access info, after determining, of course, whether there's any way I can convince him to stay.
Two of my recent clients lost the domain names they had used for years and years because the former company refused to turn it over and they had nothing in writing. The problem especially comes up when the administrative contact on the domain is not you. It often doesn't matter if the registrant listed is you; the administrative contact is the one with the power. I always list my client as the admin contact, since it's their domain, not mine. I just register it for them.
That said, it kind of depends on what the contract stated when you hired them. I'm sure some have it worded in such a way that it could prevent you from reclaiming control of your name. Make sure in future that you request to be listed as admin. In my opinion, any above-board web design firm should be okay with that.
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