Domain Questions
What is a Domain Name?
What is a Domain Registrar (Registration Company)?
Do I own my Domain Name?
Where is my Domain Registered?
When does my Domain Expire?
What is Redemption?
How do I Renew my Domain?
Where can I Purchase a new Domain?
How do I Update my Domain Contact Information?
Domain Transfer
Domain Modification
Domain Forwarding
Domain Scams
Whois Lookups
Common Domain Registrars
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the web addressed used to identify the location of your website and to direct visitors. It begins with www. and most commonly ends with .com, .net, .org, .info, or .biz (among many others). When somebody types in www.yourdomain.com, they are then able to access the website that has been designated to pull up under that domain name.
What is a Domain Registrar/Registration Company?
In order to use a domain name, it must be registered with ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). To do this, you go through a Domain Registration Company, of which there are literally hundreds. Domains are registered on an annual or multi-annual basis and must be renewed at the end of that time through the SAME company where it is currently registered, or else it will be released to the public for somebody else to purchase.
Do I own my Domain Name?
So long as your domain name was registered under your name, you are the technical owner of the domain and therefor have control over: where it is registered, how long it is registered for, when it is renewed, and what website it points to. If your domain expires, you are NO longer the owner. It becomes available for anyone to purchase, and that person would then become the owner.
Where is my Domain Registered?
To check where your domain is registered, who it is registered to, and when it expires use a public Whois Lookup.
When does my Domain Expire?
To check where your domain is registered, who it is registered to, and when it expires use a public Whois Lookup.
What is Redemption?
When a domain expires, the registrar gives you 30 days in which to renew it. If you fail to renew the domain during this time, your domain goes into what is known as the Redemption Period. Redemption is the equivolent to having your car impounded for not paying your registration: it is your FINAL chance to claim your domain for an additional fee (minimum $85) before it is released for public auction. Redemption may last anywhere from 20-50 days, depending on the registrar.
How do I Renew my Domain?
Find out where your domain is currently registered using a public Whois Lookup. Contact that registration company to renew your domain. Many companies will allow you to do this online or over the phone. For a list of common registration companies and their contact information, click here.
If your domain is registered with Z57 (Tucows), you can renew it online using our secure form. Make sure you select "Renewal" from the drop down menu and spellcheck your domain carefully.
Where can I Purchase a new Domain?
You can purchase a domain name directly through Z57 using our secure form. Make sure you select "Purchase", spellcheck your domain carefully, and ensure BEFOREHAND that the domain is available for purchase (check availability). Pricing is as follows: 1 yr $35, 3 yrs $75, 5 yrs $99. All domain purchases include free domain forwarding and up to 5 email accounts upon request. If you would like this domain to forward to an existing website, please be sure to specify this in the Instructions section.
If you are purchasing multiple domain names and are comfortable setting up forwards yourself*, I would recommend going through Godaddy. Pricing ranges from about $8-15** per year, and you can set up the forwards yourself for free.
*If you will require assistance from Z57 to modify or forward any domains from an external company, administration fees of $25-35 will apply.
**I've been told, and have found nothing in their Terms and Conditions or Privacy Policy to dispute this, that one reason GoDaddy is so cheap is because they sell your information upon purchasing a domain.
How do I Update my Domain Contact Information?
You can check the contact information listed under your domain using a public whois lookup. If changes need to be made, you should contact the company your domain is registered with.
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If your domain is registered with Z57 and you have access to the email address on the whois lookup under "Administrative Contact", simply send an email from that address directly to domainservices@z57.com with the updated contact information.
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If your domain is registered with Z57 and you do NOT have access to the email address under "Administrative Contact", you will need to download and print the Domain Information Update form. Fill this out completely with the corrected contact information, sign it, and fax it back with a LEGIBLE copy of a photo ID, to: 858-869-9931. (A photo ID that matches the administrative contact's name on the domain is required for identification and security purposes.)
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Any requests sent to Z57 that do not meet ALL of the above conditions and instructions will be ignored. This request can NOT be completed over the phone.
Domain Transfer
A domain transfer changes the company with which the domain is registered (for example, to move the domain registration FROM Network Solutions TO Z57). Future renewals will take place with the new company.
When you transfer a domain, there is always a fee involved (varies per company), and it automatically extends the registration by an additional year. After a domain has been purchased or transferred, it can NOT be transferred again for a minumum of 60 days, according to Domain Registry Law.
A domain transfer is not required in order to change your website hosting or to repoint the domain to a new website; however, it is recommended. See more information about Domain Modifications below. To transfer your domain to Z57 is $35 and includes the necessary modification.
If you are a new client and you need to transfer your existing domain to Z57, you will need to provide us with the username and password for your domain. You should receive emails with the needed instructions to unlock the domain and to confirm the transfer when you sign up. If you have questions, please contact Jordan at domainservices@z57.com.
If you need to transfer your domain name away from Z57, you have two option:
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If your domain is registered with Z57 and you have access to the email address on the whois lookup under "Administrative Contact", simply send an email from that address directly to domainservices@z57.com asking to have the domain unlocked and to have the username and password sent to you.
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If your domain is registered with Z57 and you do NOT have access to the email address under "Administrative Contact", you will need to download and print the Domain Release form. Fill this out completely with your correct contact information, sign it, and fax it back with a LEGIBLE copy of a photo ID, to: 858-869-9931. (A photo ID that matches the administrative contact's name on the domain is required for identification and security purposes.)
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Any requests sent to Z57 that do not meet ALL of the above conditions and instructions will be ignored. This request can NOT be completed over the phone.
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NOTE: Transferring your domain name does NOT cancel your Z57 website. To cancel your website, you must contact Customer Service at 800-899-8148.
Domain Modification
A domain modification is the act of changing the domain's Name Servers (or DNS settings) to point to a specific website. A domain modification IS required in order for your website to pull up under your domain name. Without one, your website will never be live under that domain name.
If you need Z57 to modify an existing domain that is registered with another company, there is a $35 administration fee- even if you do not choose to transfer it.
Domain Forwarding
Unlike a domain modification, for a domain forward the DNS settings do not need to be repointed and it is not necessary for your website to be live. You should use a domain forward to point ADDITIONAL domain names to your existing (live) website. If those additional domains are registered with Z57, we will set up the forwards for you at no charge (this is done upon request). If your domains are registered through a company other than Z57, you may be able to set up the forwards yourself. If you need Z57 to set up the forwards, we will forward up to 5 domains at a time for $25. (Domains must be located under a single account. You must provide the username and password to this account. All forwards must be completed at the same time. Otherwise, additional $25 will be incurred).
Domain Scams
There are several companies who are known to send out Renewal Notices by mail, by fax, or by email in an attempt to get you to transfer and renew the domain name through them. Many of these notices are presented in a way that is very deceiving, and many domain owners are taken advantage of. First they ask you to mail in a check or to process a credit card payment. Then they tell you to have the domain unlocked so that they can transfer and renew the domain. They refuse to offer any refunds whether you transfer and renew the domain through them or not. Domain Registry of America is particularly notorious for this.
Some very shady companies may use this method to STEAL your domain name. If you transfer it to them, they may point your domain name to another website (sometimes even porn sites) and charge an exorbitant amount of money for you to get it back.
Some companies will backorder your domain name in attempt to snatch it up if it expires so they can charge you large sums to buy it back from them. Domains using your name are particularly vulnerable to this.
If this happens to you, please report it to the Better Business Bureau.
Whois Lookups
A Whois Lookup is a publicly accessible database of all registered domains that includes the domain's owner and contact information, registrar, expiration date, etc. You can use these to look up information about your domain. NOTE: Only a limitted number of searches is allowed per computer in a certain amount of time to help protect domain owners from spammers.
Common Domain Registrars
| Z57 - (Tucows) | domainservices@z57.com |
| Godaddy | 480-505-8899 |
| Network Solutions | 888-642-9675 |
| Register.com | 877-366-0133 |
| Domain Registry America | 866-434-0212 |
| Homes.com | 800-889-3726 |
| Its Your Domain | support@iyd.com |
| MelbourneIT | +61 3 8624 2300 |
| Names 4 Ever | 888-301-2516 |
| Dotser | 360-253-2210 |
| Verio | 800-438-8374 |
| Wild West Domains | 480-624-2500 |
