SUPPORT Frequently
Asked Questions
BILLING/ REGISTRATION
HOSTING
TRANSFERS/ RENEWALS
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
REGISTRATION
The cost to register a domain name is
$9.95 per year. As long as you pay the yearly fee, the domain is
yours.
If there's a domain you'd like to check availability for,
you should enter it into the searchbox on our homepage. If it's available,
click the checkout button and go through the registration
process.
The first time you register a name with Order Your
Domains, you'll need to set up an account with a username and password.
This is how you will get access to your domains later. You may specify
whatever username and password you'd like, as long as it has not been
taken by another applicant. If your username has been taken, you will have
to specify another username.
Continue on through the registration
process, and your name will be submitted. You will get a confirmation
email at the email address you've chosen. You will also receive all email
correspondance through that email address, as well.
If you have any
other questions, just let me know.
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RECEIPT
In order to
keep our costs low, Order Your Domains does not do any paper billing. All
of our transactions are conducted online.
Therefore, we cannot send
you a receipt, as we have no capabilities for such. You can, however, log
in to our management section to get a listing of your domains and when
they were purchased, and use in combination with your credit card
statement, which will have a charge from us- "Domain Registration" as your
proof of purchase.
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CASH ACCOUNTS
You
can set up an account with us by pre-paying with a certified check or
money order (both in U.S. Dollars). Each domain registration, renewal or
transfer will draw from this account, until the funds are depleted. The
funds can be replenished at your convenience.
You will still need
the relevant account information. With your certified check or money
order, include your name, address, phone, and email. You will also need to
choose a username and password. Please indicate the registrant (owner of
the names).
You may start an account with any amount of
money, however, you must have at least $9.95 in your account for a
transfer, and $9.95 in your account for a new domain registration/
renewal.
Send your certified check or money order
to:
ItsYourDomain.com
1005 Wise Rd. Suite 201
Schaumburg, IL
60193
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BILLING-
AUTHORIZATIONS
When you attempt to make a purchase in our
credit card system, we "authorize" funds on your credit card. This is not
a charge, but a test to see if you have the funds available for the
purchase. After the authorization returns a result of sufficient funds, we
attempt to register the domain(s). If the domain registration fails for
any reason, there will be a void that accompanies the attempted charge.
The net result is that there will be no charge that posts to your
account.
There is still, though, that authorization
on your credit card. This authorization looks like a charge, and will
reduce your available credit, but will expire on its own within a few days
on most cards. Some card systems, notably debit cards and PayPal cards
(because they both deal with your bank account) hang on to authorizations
longer. You should contact your credit provider for the specific
authorization policy.
It is for this reason that we recommend
contacting technical support if you are having trouble registering a
domain. If you continue to submit time after time, you will rack up a
large number of authorizations, and may run out of available credit or
freeze your account funds. You may even cause your credit card company to
suspect fraud, and they will put a hold on your card.
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BILLING- CVV2
CVV2
is a security measure we require for all transactions. Since a CVV2 number
is listed on your credit card, but is not stored anywhere, the only way to
know the correct CVV2 number for your credit card is to physically have
possession of the card itself. All VISA, MasterCard and American Express
cards made in America in the past 5 years or so have a CVV2 number, while
those in Europe and Asia will be joining the CVV2 program shortly.
For a complete explanation of the CVV2
number, and how to locate it on your credit card, click here:
https://secure.onlineaccess.net/cart/cvv2.php?IYD=&ID=9b3a6dd20e650167803befe6d5e289f5
If you have any other questions about your
CVV2 number, please contact your bank or credit card
issuer.
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HOSTING - no
hosting
Order Your Domains does offer web hosting however does not
offer web design.
You will need to contract out for separate Once
you have hosting, obtain your new host's DNS (Domain Name Server)
Information. Once you have their DNS info, you can return to the
ItsYourDomain website and update your DNS records online, gaining access
to our Member Login area with your username and password.
Or, if
you have a free site (such as a members site with AOL, Geocities, Mirror Pages or MeFree), you can point your
domain there by using our URL-forwarding option.
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HOSTING II - changing
hosting
You have several options to change the hosting of your
domain.
The first option is the most direct. You can contact your
host, and obtain your new host's DNS (Domain Name Server) Information.
Once you have their DNS info, you can return to the ItsYourDomain website
and update your DNS records online, gaining access to our Member Login
area with your username and password. Choose the Change DNS Info link,
then select the domain you wish to change the hosting for and enter your
new DNS information.
Some hosts, though, will not allow unique
domains to point to your site. In that case, you'll need the second
option. That is our URL-forwarding service. URL-forwarding is a function
of the management control panel. Access the Manage section through our
Member Login with your username and password, and select the
URL-forwarding link. You can pay the nominal fee of just $6.00 per name
per year to receive banner-free forwarding to the URL of your
choice.
You can use a www URL- http :
//www.yourcompany.com/yourexamplesite.html, or a host URL- http :
//12.34.56.789.
Both options will take 24-48 hours to take
effect.
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HOSTING III - changing
DNS
Your host should have given you the primary and secondary
DNS information. This information will usually take this
form:
Primary Hostname- ns1.examplehostname.com
Primary IP-
123.45.67.8
Secondary Hostname- ns2.examplehostname.com
Secondary
IP- 123.45.67.9
You can log on to our website at
www.orderyourdomain.com, and click the "Member Login" link in our "Manage"
section. Enter the username and password you chose at the time of
registration. If you have forgotten the username and password you chose,
you may enter the email address you entered at the time of registration to
have your username and password emailed to you.
After you log in,
you will see links to the actions you can perform. Click the "Change DNS
Info" link. You will be able to see the current nameserver info listed.
Select the domain(s) whose hosting you wish to alter, and click the
"Continue" button.
On the next screen, you will be able to enter
the hosting information your host has given to you. Replace the current
servers with the new server info (you may omit the IP addresses, as they
are optional), and click the "Continue" button. Your new DNS information
will be automatically entered, if it is verified to be valid.
It
will take a couple of days (24 - 48 hours) for your change to propagate
Internet-wide.
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URL-FORWARDING
URL-forwarding is available as a
service from Order Your Domains. URL-forwarding is a function of the
management control panel.
Access the Manage section through our
Member Login with your username and password, and select the
URL-forwarding link. You can pay the nominal fee of just $6.00 per name
per year to receive banner-free forwarding to the URL of your
choice.
You can use a www URL- http :
//www.yourcompany.com/yourexamplesite.html, or a host URL- http :
//12.34.56.789.
It will take a couple of days for your change to
propagate Internet-wide. Your domain will be hosted on our servers, and
will pull up the webpage you specify. Therefore, you cannot specify meta
tags or other domain information. Your name will be in the address bar of
the browser window at all times- your "real" web address will be
hidden.
You may change your forwarding destination
at any time through the management control panel. Simply log back in to
the Enable URL-forwarding section, and update your web address. Click the
Enable URL-forwarding to update the address.
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EMAIL
FORWARDING
Email forwarding is available as a service of Order
Your Domains. You can have "anymailrecipient @ yourdomain.com" mail
forwarded to any existing email address.
To activate email
forwarding, log on to the Manage section via the Member Login link on the
left-hand side of our website. Enter your username and password. If you
have forgotten your username and password, enter the email address you
used at the time of registration, and we will email you your username and
password.
Once you've logged on, click the Enable Email Forwarding
link. Select what email address you'd like to set up for your domain, as
well as the email address you'd like to forward that email to. If your
real email address changes, no problem. Just return to the Control Panel
and the email forwarding section and update your email address.
The cost for email forwarding is $6.00 per year for up to 10
addresses. You may purchase an additional 10 addresses for $6.00. It will
take 24-48 hours for your email to begin forwarding.
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TRANSFERS
If your
domain was registered with another registrar, you can transfer it to
orderyourdomain.com.
The cost to transfer a domain is just $9.95,
and this adds one year on to your registration term. For example, if your
name expires in January of 2002, you can transfer it to us and once the
transfer is complete, the new expiration date will be January of
2003.
To begin, click on the Transfer Registrars link at
www.orderyourdomain.com. If you have an existing account with us, enter
your username and password. If you have never used our services before,
click on the New Users button, and set up an account with a username and
password. This is how you will get access to your domain once the transfer
is complete.
You will receive confirmation of your request
immediately. Also, within 24 hours, the administrative contact listed in
the WHOIS record will be asked to verify the transfer request. Please make
sure that the admin contact's email is up-to-date before submitting a name
for transfer.
In the admin approval email, there will be a link to
click on, and a code to cut and paste. Once you've approved the transfer,
your prior registrar may email you their own confirmation letter. Read it
carefully and follow the instructions. Once you've approved the transfer
with them, your name should migrate to our system within 5-7 days. FOR
THIS REASON, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU BEGIN THE TRANSFER PROCEDURE AT LEAST
TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
The information currently
contained in your domain will remain the same prior to, during and after
the transfer. Once the domain has successfully transferred to our system,
you may begin using the online management system to make any changes you
like.
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TRANSFERS IV -
NSI
If your domain will not transfer because it has expired, or
if your registry has it locked until you renew it, you do have a couple of
options. One is to pay the registrar their fee to renew it for a year, and
then continue the transfer. The other is to allow the name to be released,
and then try to re-register it. We don't recommend the second option under
any circumstances.
It's entirely possible that someone else
will get your domain before you have a chance to reserve it. Additionally,
it is the policy of some registrars (most notably Network Solutions) not
to release the domain no matter how long it has been expired. If you want
the domain at all, you'll have to pay them at some point, sooner or
later.
Therefore, we recommend that you do renew
the name with your prior registrar for one additional year. Then, you can
continue the transfer process to our system. You lose nothing by doing
both. You'll get a one year renewal from your prior registrar, and then we
will add one MORE year on to the end of your term.
If you have already paid for a domain
transfer, and it has been denied by your registrar, you can keep the
transfer active, and, as previously mentioned, continue the transfer after
you have cleared your hold status at your prior registrar. Should you
choose to cancel the transfer, however, we'll be happy to refund your
money. All we need is the domain you're trying to
transfer.
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TRANSFERS V- email
link
If your link returns a value of "invalid key" after you
paste the approval code in, this is most likely a result of multiple
emails being sent out. The latest version of your admin approval email
makes all older versions obsolete, and any key off these old emails will
not function properly. If you receive an invalid key warning, check for a
later email in your inbox. If it's not there, contact support to have a
newer one sent.
If the link you're clicking on for
transfers returns this response- "Warning, your ID is invalid. Contact
technical support", then the remedy is to have the entire link contained
in the browser window.
Some email programs have a "page-wrap"
feature that breaks our link into two parts, like this:
If you wish to verify and approve the
transfer(s), visit the following
link:
https://secure.onlineaccess.net/trans.php?
email=email@domain.com&key=ti&FID=&IYD=1&secID=
For conveniences' sake, let's break this
down like this:
If you wish to verify and approve the
transfer(s), visit the following link:
linkpart1
linkpart2
You will have to copy (CTRL + C) the first
part of the link (which begins with "https:" and ends with "?" in the case
above) and paste (CTRL + V) into the address bar your browser window. Do
not hit GO or hit the Enter key yet. Return to the email and copy the
second part of the link on the line below the first one (which begins with
"email" and ends with "=" in the case above) and copy it into the address
bar of your browser window, after the first part of the link you pasted
there earlier.
In your browser window then, the address
you need to go to is:
linkpart1linkpart2
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TRANSFERS VI- check transfer
status
You can use the Check Transfer Status tool to manage
your domain transfer away from your previous registrar to our
system.
Access the Manage section through our
Member Login with your username and password, and select the Check
Transfer Status link. Your domain transfers will appear. Some will require
no intervention from you (marked in green). Others (marked in yellow) may
require you to resubmit an admin approval email if the domain has not been
approved for transfer with us. Or, you may resubmit a domain for transfer
to your prior registrar if it has been approved on our end, but your prior
registrar denied the transfer.
If a domain appears in red, it's status
cannot be determined automatically. Please contact us for help with these
domains.
A domain that has successfully completed
transfer will appear in blue.
Some of the most common reasons for your
prior registrar denying the transfer include:
Not answering their
confirmation email in time.
Not answering their confirmation email in
the proper format.
The domain is expired or otherwise locked due to
nonpayment.
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LOST USERNAME/
PASSWORD
If you have forgotten your username and/or password
for the domain you registered, you can request it via email.
Log on
to www.orderyourdomain.com, and click on the Member Login link in the
Manage section. There is a "Forgot Your Password?" section, where you can
enter your email address. We will email your username and password
immediately.
IMPORTANT- Depending on your mail system, it may
take some time to receive, usually no longer than 15 minutes. You must
enter the email address you used at the time of registration. If you have
forgotten the username and password, AND your email address is incorrect
or out of date, you will have to provide the last 4 digits of the credit
card used to register the name. Also provide the new, correct email
address so that we can update your info and send your username and
password.
If you have forgotten your username and
password, AND your email address is incorrect or out of date, AND you
cannot verify your credit card information, you will be asked to provide
proof of ownership and identity.
We will first need a written request to
provide access to the domain. Accompany this request with a valid photo ID
(passport, drivers license, etc.) If the domain is registered to a
company, we will need the signatory page of the articles of incorporation
for that company. All of this information is required for security
reasons. If you cannot provide any or all of this information, you will
not be able to get access to this domain. Please fax all of this
information to (888) 905-3949. Include your contact information (email and
phone), so that we may verify the information's validity.
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NAMESERVER
MANAGEMENT
Go to our website at www.orderyourdomain.com and
access the Member Login link in the the Management section with the
username and password of the account containing the domain you wish to
specify as the hostname of your new nameservers.
Click the
Nameserver Management link. You will be able to create new nameservers,
edit current nameservers, or delete current nameservers. The nameserver
you wish to create must be a domain in this account. Click the New button
to create new nameservers. Then, you will choose your new server
hostnames- i.e. NS1.YOURNEWSERVERHOSTNAME.COM &
NS2.YOURNEWSERVERHOSTNAME.COM. You must also fill in the IP addresses that
you wish to associate with your new hostnames. You must use 2 unique
static IP addresses- no other servers may already use the IPs. After each
nameserver submission, click the Continue button.
If your
information is valid, your nameservers will be sent to the central
database. It will take 24-48 hours for your nameservers to
propagate.
Please note, this is the limit of our tech
support- if you need support on how to configure your server or any other
issue, you must get outside support.
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RENEWALS
You can
renew your domain you registered at, or transferred to,
orderyourdomain.com for up to 10 years.
Simply log on to our
website at www.orderyourdomain.com, and click the "Member Login" link in
our "Manage" section. Enter the domain name in question. This will take
you to the appropriate section as some Order Your Domain customers are
still in the old system.
Old
System
You will be taken
to the transfer domain area. This is to enable you to transfer the domain
into the new, more user friendly system. The price to transfer as well as
extend the domain expiration date by one year is $9.95
New System
Enter the username and password you chose
at the time of registration. If you have forgotten the username and
password you chose, you may enter the email address you entered at the
time of registration to have your username and password emailed to
you.
You will see links to all of the actions that you can perform.
One of the links is to "Renew Your Domains". Click that link, and check
the box next to each domain you wish to renew. Click the Continue
button.
Choose the length of time you wish to renew each
domain for. (Remember, you can renew for up to 10 years- if your domain
will expire in 3 + years, you will only be able to renew 6 additional
years.) Click the Continue button.
You will then be asked about
your payment information. Click the Continue button to finalize the
renewal. The price to
renew is $12.95 per year.
IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO RENEW YOUR NAMES- use
the "Disable Renewal Notices" link in the manager. You will not receive
further reminders to renew your names, and they will be released on the
expiration date.
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DISABLING
RENEWALS
If you do not wish to renew any of your domains, and
you do not want to receive renewal emails, you can stop the emails from
being sent, and your domain will expire at the end of it's
term.
Simply log on to our website at www.orderyourdomain.com, and
click the "Member Login" link in our "Manage" section. Enter the username
and password you chose at the time of registration. If you have forgotten
the username and password you chose, you may enter the email address you
entered at the time of registration to have your username and password
emailed to you.
You will see links to all of the actions that you
can perform. One of the links is to "Disable Renewal Notices". Click that
link, and check the box next to each domain you wish not to renew. Click
the Continue button.
You will be prompted for confirmation,
as this action means your domains will be released at the end of their
term. Click the "Yes" button to finalize the disabling of your chosen
domains.
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REGISTRANT INFO
CHANGES
We often receive requests to casually change the
registrant information, since it is the only aspect of a domain that
cannot be accessed through our online management system.
Some
people wish to update their address that has changed, or the company name,
which has been bought out. Others want to remove their ownership
information for security purposes.
Changing the registrant
information requires a higher level of security, since it affects the
ownership of a domain. You should also be aware that it may affect your
ownership adversely. For example, should someone file a WIPO claim to this
domain, one of the ways ICANN will resolve the dispute is to immediately
terminate a disputed domain if the information provided is known to be
false.
Should you wish to go ahead with your change of ownership,
we will require some actions on your part, in order to assure good faith
on your part, and reflect security concerns on our part.
The steps
for changing the registrant are as follows:
1. You should change
your administrative, technical or billing contacts (at least one of these)
over to the information you wish us to use, in order for the change to be
accurate. We will cut-and-paste your information directly from the contact
you specify.
2. Make a request to support@orderyourdomain.com to
change the registrant information. Provide the domain, your username and
password, and the contact info we are to use.
We may ask for
verification from the registered contact for this domain.
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OWNERSHIP
CHANGE
You can use the Change Ownership link on our website to
sell your domain to a buyer, or to change the registrant info for your
domain registered with, or transferred to, Order Your
Domains.
Generally, the buyer (or new registrant) uses the
link, and enters their information in. The seller's information is
automatically derived from the domain. The fees to change ownership are
$35 for a standard turn-around (10-14 days), and $199 for a rush job (1-2
days), plus a renewal fee, if the domain is about to expire.
A form
will then be generated that the buyer (or new registrant) signs and then
delivers to the seller. The seller must also sign the document, get it
notarized, and deliver it to us. The most common method of transmission is
via fax- (847) 895-4123.
This process is necessary because a domain
has been ruled to be property, like a house or car.
If you have any
questions about the ownership change procedure, just let me
know.
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CHANGING CONTACT
INFO
Changing the admin, billing and technical contact
information can be accomplished via the Management control
panel.
To begin, click the Member Login link on the left-hand side
of our website at orderyourdomain.com. Enter your username and password.
If you have forgotten your username and password, you can enter the email
address you used at the time of registration to receive your username and
password via email.
Once you're in the Management system, click the
"Edit/ Manage Contact Handles" link. A contact handle is a shorthand
version of all of your contact information. You can edit any of your
contact handles here (click the "Edit" button next to the handle), or
create new ones (click the "Create New Handle" link at the top of the
page). Once you have the contact handle information the way you want it,
return to the main screen of the Manager.
Next, click the "Assign
Domain Contacts" link. A list of your domains, as well as the current IYD
contact handle associated with the domains, will show. Choose the domain
you'd like to change information for, and click the Continue
button.
Choose what information you'd like to update- admin,
billing and/or technical, and click the Continue button. You may choose
any of the IYD contact handles you have set up in our system.
Click
the Continue button to finalize the change. Our system will update
immediately, however, it will take 24-48 hours for the information to
propagate Internet-wide.
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SECURE CONTACT
INFO
You may use contact info of your choice for a domain. Many
people are reluctant to use their personal information, especially if a
domain may be objectionable to some.
This is technically a
violation of the Terms of Service, which state that correct contact
information must be provided. OrderYourDomains, however, will not take
action against you solely for that reason. We appreciate security
concerns, and allow you to provide whatever information you
like.
Should your site be objected to, though, OrderYourDomains
will attempt to contact you. If your contact information is false, and we
cannot contact you to respond to any complaint, your domain may be
deactivated.
If you need to change registrant info to something
more secure, follow this procedure:
We often receive requests to
casually change the registrant information, since it is the only aspect of
a domain that cannot be accessed through our online management system.
Some people wish to update their address that has changed, or the company
name, which has been bought out. Others want to remove their ownership
information for security purposes.
Changing the registrant
information requires a higher level of security, since it affects the
ownership of a domain. You should also be aware that it may affect your
ownership adversely. For example, should someone file a WIPO claim to this
domain, one of the ways ICANN will resolve the dispute is to immediately
terminate a disputed domain if the information provided is known to be
false.
Should you wish to go ahead with your change of ownership,
we will require some actions on your part, in order to assure good faith
on your part, and reflect security concerns on our part.
The steps
for changing the registrant are as follows:
1. You should change
your administrative, technical or billing contacts (at least one of these)
over to the information you wish us to use, in order for the change to be
accurate. We will cut-and-paste your information directly from the contact
you specify.
2. Make a request to support@orderyourdomain.com to
change the registrant information. Provide the domain, your username and
password, and the contact info we are to use.
We may ask for
verification from the registered contact for this domain.
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CHANGING ACCOUNT
INFO
Changing your default account information can be
accomplished via the Management control panel.
To begin, click the
Member Login link on the left-hand side of our website at
orderyourdomain.com. Enter your username and password. If you have
forgotten your username and password, you can enter the email address you
used at the time of registration to receive your username and password via
email.
Once you're in the Management system, if you wish to change
your password, click the "Change Your Password" link. You'll be asked for
your current password, as well as your new password twice. PLEASE NOTE:
Once you hit the "Change Password" button, your change is
finalized.
If you wish to change the default account information
click the "Update Account Information" link. You'll be able to update the
email address for your account, your default registrant & contact
info, your default nameservers and your default credit card
information.
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NEW ACCOUNTS
If
you have domains under a username and password, you can create a new
account and move a domain in your current account to that new
account.
The best way to create a new account is to go to our home
page and search for a domain that does not exist, such as
asdgsdfgwtertgrteqagsdfbdswtwfafvasdfweragdasfvasfasfwfasfwe.com.
When
that comes up as available, click the Checkout button and then enter the
New User section. Fill out the default information for the new account,
and click Continue. (If you like, you may enter default credit card info
as the following- VISA 4444444444444444 03/03 This is a "dummy" credit
card account.)
After your new account has been verified, click the
Cancel button to stop the registration. You will not be charged, and the
domain will not be registered if you click the Cancel button, but the
account will still be valid.
Once you have the new account set up,
you can contact support@OrderYourDomains. Give us the domain, as well as
the username and password for the current account, and the username of the
account you want us to transfer the name to.
We may contact you via
email to confirm.
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MERGING
ACCOUNTS
If you have created more than one account with
OrderYourDomains, you can merge all of your domains into one
account.
Simply provide the username and password of all the
accounts you have, as well as the username of the account you want to be
the single account for all of your domains.
We will transfer all of
your domains into the account with the name you've
specified.
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INTERNIC
UPDATES
It usually takes two business days for updates made
online at OrderYourDomains to be seen elsewhere on the web, including
hosting information.
This is standard Internet propagation
time.
Additionally, some registrars whois databases are not
compatible with others. You may wish to use a central whois lookup, as one
registrar may not carry another's info. Your best bet is always to look up
a domain at the registrar of record. To find out who the registrar is for
a name, go to http://www.internic.net/whois.html.
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WHOIS
DATABASES
WHOIS databases are specific to each registrar. If
you registered the name properly, it will show in our WHOIS database
immediately. It will show in the InterNIC central database 24-48 hours
later, but might not ever display in another registrar's database. That
doesn't mean someone else can register the name, the name record is still
taken, but it might not show you as the owner.
Your best bet is always to look up a domain
at the registrar of record. To find out who the registrar is for a name,
go to http://www.internic.net/whois.html.
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EXPIRED
DOMAINS
Domains that expire at OrderYourDomains are released
after their term expires. Please remember when looking at a domain's
expiration date that the format is Month/Day/Year-
MM/DD/YEAR.
Domains that expire at another registrar are subject to
their own policies. They do vary from registrar to registrar, however,
there are some consistencies.
There is usually a grace period, and
then a period when the domain is "on hold"- where nobody can do anything
with it.
Generally, you will need to give a domain at least 30 days
from the time of expiration to be released. You cannot put in any kind of
"pre-claim" on the name. You'll have to wait until it is released by the
registrar, and then register it manually. Lately, Network Solutions has
adopted the policy of not releasing domain names. If a name expires at
Network Solutions, they will require it to be re-registered at
NSI.
For a registrar's specific release policy, you should
contact the registrar that owns the name. You can find out who is the
registrar for a specific name by entering the name into the central
database search engine at http://www.internic.net/whois.html.
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