Domain Transfers Without Tears

One of the most common errors I come across week after week, year after year, concerns domain transfers. That is when a request is made to transfer a domain name from one registrar to another.

Many domain owners wait until just a few days before their domain expires before requesting transfer, because they mistakenly think the remaining time on their domain will be lost if they transfer earlier.

The result is that the transfer often fails because the procedure can take a few days to complete. And during that time the domain expires. The 'losing' registrar will then refuse the transfer due to the universal rule that expired domains can't be transferred.

I guess one reason so many domain owners are badly informed about this is because registrars consider it's not in their interests. After all, the more failed transfers there are, the more the registrar can rake in for another year's fees. Personally I think that's a short-sighted attitude because it makes customers more determined to leave your service as soon as possible!

What you need to remember is this....

When you transfer your domain name, one year's validity is added to the domain's EXISTING expiry date. So no time is ever lost when you transfer your domain!

For example if your domain still has 6 months to go before expiry and you transfer it now, it will have 18 months after the transfer completes.

So the moral is ...

If you've decided to transfer your domain to another registrar, don't wait until renewal time comes around. Transfer it now!

The only exception is if you just registered or renewed a domain. You will then have to wait for 60 days before requesting a transfer. The reason is that domain registrars have a common rule against this. Many were ripped off in the past by fraudsters who didn't pay their credit card bills and the registrars then had nothing in hand, neither cash nor domain!

Winning Free Domain Renewals Each Month - Is It Unique?

Easy to enter, this prize draw could mean you never have to pay to renew your domain again!

I've searched Google and the other big search engines but haven't been able to find another free offer like it. This one is nice because it needs little or no effort. That's how I like it. Sit back and be lazy :-)

All you need to do is just register or transfer a domain and it's automatically entered for the monthly draw. Any .COM, .NET, .ORG and other popular TLDs (.INFO, .BIZ, .US) qualify.

The draw is organised by my site at DomainsNow4U.com and takes place around the last Sunday of every month when 4 domain names came out winners.

The happy owners are informed by email and the domain names (not the owners' names) are published on the web site. The expiry dates of the domains are extended by 1 year, free.

See recent domain renewal winners and read more here

Oops! I Registered a Domain In Error - Can I Get a Refund?

Typing mistakes happen to all of us. The typo is with me every day. Even now as I'm typinge - oops - typing this. But when it comes to registering a domain name it's important to carefully double check before hitting the "Go" button, because most registrars' conditions make it clear they will NOT refund domains registered in error.

But I've found that that's just not true.

ICANN accredited registrars DO have a few days after registration (usually 3 days), during which they can reverse the transaction. They can't change the name that was registered, but they CAN simply have it deleted altogether and refund your credit card the amount you paid.

So why don't they do it?

Well, let's face it, some registrars understandably feel that dealing with claims for refunds caused by typing errors is a waste of their human resources because the claims can't usually be automated.

Also, many registrars aren't properly organised to cope with these mistaken registration requests because they obviously need quick attention and their staff may not be trained to handle these requests efficiently. Plus some feel that if they openly state they are willing to make refunds, it will be an open invitation to carelessness as domain name customers will know they can get a refund anyway.

So most registrars take the easy way out and publish conditions effectively saying "no refunds!".

But in practice it works out differently because of one fact...

Registrars don't want to be faced with expensive chargebacks.

What's a chargeback?

Well, it's a fee, usually $40 to $50, charged by the credit card company against the merchant (the registrar), when a sale is not paid by the client.

For example, say the domain costs $12 and if the customer refuses to pay, not only the registrar doesn't get that money, he additionally gets charged $40 to $50 by the credit card company. Ouch! And as the registrar passes on the charge to the affiliate partner, i.e. the domain registration service, obviously a chargeback is something to be avoided at all costs.

So am I suggesting you threaten your domain registrar with a chargeback if you make a spelling mistake registering your next domain?

Definitely not! If you do, your registrar will likely black-list your credit card and you'll need to look for another registrar or get another credit card.

So what is the best way?

First of all you need to act quickly.

Email your registrar IMMEDIATELY you have registered a name in error, but anyway not later than 24 hours after registration. Tell him the exact name you registered and inform him politely that you made an error and request the transaction be cancelled and you will then register the correct name.

You'll usually get a prompt response but if you don't, you should call your registrar 24 hours later to resolve the issue. Not all registrars will respond positively but most will.

And if you want to be sure you are dealing with registrars who respond positively, here are the names of two companies who WILL give refunds if you made a genuine mistake registering your domain name.

How do I know?

Well, I own both of these sites and I'm your first line of support.

I'll make sure you get a refund provided you've followed the guidlines in this post:
http://www.DomainsNow4U.com
http://www.CheapToRegister.com