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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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
TOP
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.
TOP
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=ec545c7204c6fa4019fc44cddef0fda9
If you have any other questions about
your CVV2 number, please contact your bank or credit card issuer.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.
TOP
TRANSFERS
If your domain was registered with another registrar, you can transfer
it to OrderYourDomains.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.OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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
TOP
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.
TOP
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.OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
NAMESERVER MANAGEMENT
Go to our website at www.OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
RENEWALS
You can renew your domain you registered at, or transferred to, OrderYourDomains.com
for up to 10 years.
Simply log on to our website at www.OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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.OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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@OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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 OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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@OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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 OrderYourDomains.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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.
TOP
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.
TOP
