United-Online Holding Domain Names but not authorized to do so Internet

My website host reminder me that my organization's domain is coming due for renewal.  I remembered the nightmare the last time so I was not looking forward to this situation.  

I looked up on Whois with whom my domain is registered. It says Register.com LTD.  But I come to find out that Register.com covers for companies who as their representative states, " We are there sponsoring Registrar for them. They Partner with us because they are not accredited to be able to sell domain names."

When I called to speak to someone at United Online, the operator who answered asked what company I wanted, and when I stated United Online regarding my domain name, she tensely stated, ok and transferred me to a voice mail. I called back 30 minutes later hoping to get a real person, this same lady transferred me to a different voice mail. Two hours later I called back and was transferred to a third voice mail.  I called back immediately and asked to speak to a supervisor because I did not want voicemail again and the operator very rudely stated, "Did you bother to leave a message, they are at lunch or on another line."  When I said that I did, she retorted, "Well it has only been two hours give them a chance. "

I never identified myself in any of the previous three phones.  One was a transferred call from Register.com, and the others were from different phones. Something tells me this lady answers calls from her home.

United Online has locked down my domain so I cannot transfer it. They have not sent any correspondence stating that the domain needs to be renewed, and they do not answer any phone correspondence- at least that is what I have found whenever trying to reach them in the past.

I want my domain freed from capture and I do not want any interruption has what happened the last time we went through this