Frequently asked questions

• General
  
• Domain Names
  
• Registration Errors
  
• Bulk Registrations
  
• Name Servers
  
• Registrar Transfers (Incoming)
  
• Registrar Transfers (Outgoing)
  
• Transfer Ownership
  
• Domain Name Renewals
  
• Domain Name Redemptions
  
  
  More to come.. we'll post them as we get them! For questions not covered, please contact our customer service department.
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  General Questions

  How do I contact customer service? We use an internal mail system, click the customer service link from within your account, or on the main web site page. Customer service hours are from 9am to 5pm (EST) Monday through Friday. Closed all statutory holidays. Back to top I don't have a credit card.. how do I register a domain name? That is a problem. Unfortunately, we no longer accept checks or paper transactions, and only accept payment via credit card. We are currently exploring other means of payment via the internet but currently we do not have these in place. $15 seems awful cheap, how do you do it? We participate in the recent expanding of the domain name registration system. This expansion has provided for a lower cost structure than was previously available, and currently still charged by other registrars. Back to top Are there any other costs? There are no further costs to you in the registration of your domain name, other than our registration fee per year registered, with the possible exception if you use our name servers to register your name. We currently charge a fee of $5 per name server used, per year of registration. This is charged at the time of registration, and displayed to you before you register the name, outlining your full costs. Back to top What is your role in the registration? Our role is strictly to facilitate the registration. We submit your request to the shared database, and if available, register the name for you, for the term you select. Our fee is $15 per year of registration. Back to top Are you authorized to register domain names? Yes. We have entered into contracts, performed systems testing and integrations, and at time of writing registered thousands of domain names. Back to top What is the shared database? The shared database is the database which contains information on your registration. All authorized registrars have access to this database. It tells us if your requested name is available amongst other things. Back to top What type of domains can I register here? You can reister most popular domain name extentions, such as .com .net .org .biz .info as well as a wide variety of ccTLD names (specific country code names). Back to top What does .com .net .org signify? .com is used to signify a commercial entity. .net is used to signify a network entity. .org is used to signify a non-profit organization At least this was the intention of the system. Todays registrations however rarely reflect these standards, since previous registrars , and others began recommending the registration of the names to take them out of circulation. Back to top

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Domain Names

  What is the maximum length I can register? The maximum length of any domain name is 63 characters. This does not include the .com, .net or .org extention. Back to top What is the shortest length I can register? Theoretically 1 character. However those names are long gone. Many single name domains are gone as well, however many hyphenated (-) names are still available. ie. instead of JoesDiner.com , Joes-Diner.com may be available. Back to top What are invalid characters? You may only use AlphaNumeric combinations along with a hyphen (-) in a domain name. Any other character within the domain name will cause it to be rejected. Back to top Why do I need name servers? In order to register your desired name, you must have 2 name servers. This is by ICANN regulations. This allows the root servers to tell other name servers where to find your page or site. Back to top Why do I need VALID name servers? In order for the internet to operate, name servers must be delegated as name servers. Simply typing in a name as a name server without checking if it is valid, will cause many domains to be unresolved. In an effort to ensure the internet operates smoothly, we require that both name servers be operational. You can obtain this information from your ISP or Web Host prior to making the registration. If you do not have a host or ISP for the site (domain), then we offer a service to act as your name servers for a fee of $5 per name server per year of registration. Back to top How long can I register a domain name for? You can register a domain for up to 10 years. The cost is a simple $15 per year registered. Back to top Do I OWN the name? No, you have entered into an agreement to use the domain name, to define your computer system on the network. There may be other considerations, such as trademark, or prior use issues which may revert the domain name to that party. Back to top How do I see who owns a name? In our members area, we have a WHOIS utility which will display the current owners information for any given registered domain. This utility is not accessable from outside our domain, or outside the members area. Back to top

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Error Messages

  No dial tone - or - Modem not ready Our connection to the credit card authentication system is currently down. Try again within a few minutes. Back to top Invalid Card Number You may have transposed a number, or placed (-) in between where the spaces are. Please use no spaces, and simply enter the card number. Back to top Invalid EXP DATE You may have entered a "/" or " " in between characters. Please use the format "MMYY" . eg. 06/2005 expiry date would be entered as 0605 Back to top Card type not enabled We only accept Visa or MasterCard as payment for the registration services. You may have transposed a number or are attempting to use a card we don not support. Back to top Invald Batch SEQ - Transaction file error These are internal errors. Please do not re-enter your number and contact Customer Service for further assistance. Back to top For each of the above errors - your credit card is NOT charged. For each of the following errors your credit card will have been charged. The amount will have been automatically credited to your account, so you can simply change the information, and re-register without re-entering your credit card information. If you wish to have the amount credited to your credit card, simply email customer support. Missing required field: owner/tech/billing/admin first_name Missing required field: owner/tech/billing/admin last_name The system requires a first and last name. If this is a company, simply enter something appropriate such as "DOMAIN", "ADMINISTRATOR" Back to top Missing required field: owner/tech/billing/admin phone number Please enter a telephone number. Omit all alpha characters. In place of "." use "-" or a space. (Don't use the quotation marks). Back to top Domain Taken This is usually because of a lag time between the Whois and Shared Database systems. The registration receives the error from the Shared Database, whereas, the availability can still show in the WHOIS. It is also possible that in cases of a "hot domain name" that someone beat you to the domain name. Back to top Nameserver xxxxxxxxx.xxx does not exist. You must register the domain name to a valid name server, for both primary and secondary. If upon attempting to resolve the name server it is found not to exist, this is your error message! If the error continues, please contact your ISP for the correct name server information. Back to top Field owner state must contain at least 1 alpha character In cases of where there IS no state or province (many European and Asian countries), simply enter NA into the STATE/PROVINCE field in your profile. Back to top

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Bulk Registrations

  How can I register a lot of domain names? We have a bulk registration utility which allows you to register up to 25 names in one session. Back to top How can I avoid a lot of small charges on my credit card? In order to avoid having your card frozen for "fraud control", we suggest you decide how many names you will be registering, and then using our prepayment utility to pay the one amount. You can then use the normal registration procedure, or the bulk registration utility to register names, and you will not be required to enter your credit card information again. For amounts over $500 we require a signed faxed credit card authorization. Back to top Do I have to re-enter my information during the bulk process? No, the system uses your default settings, as you set up in your profile. You can however, elect to register them for a longer term than 1 year through the setup screen. Back to top How long does it take to register a domain? Approximately 4 seconds. We do not send confirmation emails upon registration, please watch the screen for successful or failed details. The bulk registration process will also list out the various successful or failed registration attempts. Back to top

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Name Servers

  How can I set up a name server on a domain? Currently we do not employ an automatic name server creation system in our site. However, once you have installed dns software on the server to be designated as a name server, you can email us, giving your userid, domain name, and the name server name. We will then make the appropriate entries. Back to top How can I change my name servers for a domain in my list? Highlite the domain name you wish to change name servers for in your domain list, and press EDIT. On the new screen, you will see an area where you can enter the name server information. Please ensure that you have contacted your web host and gotten the name server information prior to changing this field. If your changes do not reflect in WHOIS with 24-48 hours, there has been an error in entering the name servers. Please verify that you have entered the names correctly. Back to top I was using HostServers.net for name service/parking, but now I want to change name servers. I was using HostServers.net for name service/parking, and changed the information, but it remains HostServers.Net In the domain editing described above, ensure you have UNCHECKED the USE OUR NAME SERVERS option. Leaving this checked will default to our name servers (HostServers.Net) Back to top I was using HostServers.Net, but now I have a website, do I need to change name servers? No. Simply modify the WEB IP area in the domain edit screen to reflect your current web host IP. Our name servers continue to tell the world where to find your site. This also gives you great portability, should you decide to change web hosts for some reason. If that web host does your DNS, then you would need to re-enter your new DNS, and as well, wait the 24-72 hours for propogation. Back to top TIP For clients with their own name servers only. If you know in advance that you will be changing IPs, shorten the current TTL (Time to Live), from the default value of 86400 (24 hours) to something like 3600 (1 hour) a full day or two beforehand. Then you only need to wait for the registry to update. This tells other name servers that the information is invalid after 1 hour, and to query the name servers (as per the registry) for the correct IP. Helps to minimize downtime. (Don't forget to reset it to its default after you have fully propogated).

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Registrar Transfers

  I am unhappy with the service from my current registrar - how do I transfer them to Domain Name Systems? From within your customer profile area, you click TRANSFER REGISTRAR. Enter the domain name. Once the transfer request is acknowledged by the current admin email address on record as per Whois, then a period of 5-9 days transpires. After which time the domain is transferred. The losing registrar may also require to acknowledge the validity of your request. This is to ensure that in fact you are the domain owner, and that you are authorized to be requesting the transfer. Back to top IS there a cost for transferring the domain name? There is a $15 fee, payable at the time of initiating the transfer. This provides for the service of transferring your name. In addition, we also increase the length of time your domain term has by 1 year. This is in addition to the current term. Please use the Prepay function of our website to make payment for this service. The system requires a prepaid balance. Back to top IS there any downtime associated with a transfer? No, there is no downtime. This is an administrative move, we get editing control over your domain versus your previous registrar. Your web site does not cease to function at any time during the transfer. Back to top What are the benefits of transferring the domain name? Certainly the cost factor, from a higher priced registrar to a lower priced one. We only charge $15 a yr vs others as high as $35. The other benefits include having all your domains within a single registrar, an easy to use and read domain list format, plus responsive customer service all adds up to sound reasons for transferring the name. Back to top Under what terms will a transfer NOT go through? If the domain name has only been recently registered (under 60 days old) If the administrative contact for the domain does not acknowledge or denies the transfer If the domain name is currently "on hold" at the previous registrar Back to top The transfer failed, can I get a refund? No, the fee is for the submission service to the registry, which we will have performed at the point of your submission success screen notification. Back to top My account no longer displays the pending transfer... The transfer has failed. After 25 days of no "successful transfer" our systems purge the old transfer requests, removing them from your account, emailing you the notification failure. You are then free to resubmit the request at any time after that. Back to top The transfer completed as per Whois, but I can't edit my information yet.. The transfer has been completed as per the registry, however, our systems have not yet received notification. Upon successful transfer our systems then revert the technical contact information to that listed in your account, updates our local records with your dns information for the domain, and then removes it from the pending file to the active file. This procedure is automatic, and is handled by our systems. Back to top

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Domain OWNER Transfers

  I have sold or otherwise transferred my domain name. How do I make the changes in Domain Name Systems? From within your customer profile, select the domain name you wish to transfer by: Highlighting the domain name Click EDIT Select the TRANSFER DOMAIN link The transferee MUST have a domain name systems account (they are free). Enter the account user id of the person you wish to transfer to. A further confirmation screen will appear, and you must confirm this transfer again. Once this has been done, you will receive a confirmation email, and the domain will be transferred to the new owner. The domain will be removed from your profile, and be entered into the purchasers profile. You will lose editing control over this domain. Back to top IS there a cost for transferring the domain name ownership? No there is no cost involved in this type of transfer. Back to top How long does it take? The process is immediate. Back to top

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Domain Renewals

  My domain is due to expire, how do I renew it? From within your account, select Domain Renewals, along the left hand sidebar. This will bring up a screen which allows you to select which domains to renew. You must have a positive prepaid balance in order to renew names. Select the "account payment" link to add funds to your account. To renew a single domain, you can highlite the name, and click edit. At the resulting screen click "Renew Domain", and follow the screen instructions. Again, this requires that you have a prepaid balance in your account. I missed the deadline, and now the domain is gone from my account. How do I renew it? We reserve the right to sell any domain name which has been outstanding for a period of 10 days or more since the expiry date. Check our "expired domains" listing to see if the name is still available. If it has been less than 45 days since expiry, we should still be able to renew it. If it has been greater then 44 days, the domain may already be re-registered by someone else. There is a chance the domain may have been sold to another party after the 10 day period, you then have no opportunity to renew the domain. It may show a higher price tag than our normal registration amount. If you are the original registrant, we still offer you the opportunity to renew the name at your current renewal rate. Ensure that you have sufficient funds in your prepaid account to cover the renewal cost. I haven't yet renewed the name, but no one can access my website!! DNS is de-activated on the date of expiry at the registry level. Renewing the domain will reactivate it. You will need to allow at least 48 hours for normal re-propogation of the domain, so that others may see it. I want a name on the expired list, how do I register it? Simply click the domain name link, the system will process the re-registration. The dns will NOT work for at least 48 hours, and you need to reset the dns after 24 hours to your name servers.

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Domain Redemptions

  I missed my renewal period, and the domain shows "Redemption Period" on the whois, how do I renew it? The time for a regular renewal at your registration/renewal rate has passed, and we have deleted the domain name from our active system. It is now at the registry for a holding period of 30 days (from the date we deleted it). The registry will allow the ORIGINAL registrant the ability to renew the domain name within this period, however, the costs for the redemption and renewal is $200 per domain name. The redemption includes a 1 year renewal from the original expiration date not the date of redemption. I have a domain in redemption via another registrar, Can I redeem and transfer it to you? No, the redemption can ONLY be done via the last registrar, and transfers will be locked for a period of 60 days after redemption. After this period you are free to transfer it to us.

  
  
  

  DomainNameSystems.com

  Domain Transfers (Outgoing)

  What is the process? For the most part we have very little to do with the process, as the responsibility lies with your new registrar, but here's a few helpful tips: Ensure you have unlocked your domain name. Locking prevents transfers, and if the domain is locked it will not transfer. Ensure you have acquired the EPP code. It is available within your domain edit screen. Ensure the domain is at least 60 days past the last transaction date. Allow 24 hrs after unlocking to ensure the registry has updated with the request. If the domain is under dispute through the UDRP or WIPO or any other legal process, it may be held pending resolution. It wont transfer in these cases. All other questions should be directed to your new registrar for clarification. I am changing web hosts, do I need to change registrars? No definately not, and it is usually a bad idea. Web hosts go in and out of business rather easily, possibly leaving them in control of your domain name, whereas if you maintain your domain within your account at a registrar, you can easily switch web hosts as needed.