Discount Domain Names & Web Hosting

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

These are the common questions we get asked every day.



ABOUT US
GENERAL DOMAIN INFORMATION
REGISTERING YOUR DOMAIN NAME
DOMAIN PRICING & PAYMENT
RENEWING YOUR DOMAIN
DOMAIN MANAGEMENT
DOMAIN TRANSFERS
ACTIVATING YOUR DOMAIN
WEB HOSTING
EMAIL SERVICES
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
CONTACT US

Who is DomainsWeb?

DomainsWeb is part of an international network of search engines and specialized sites which has been providing web services to over 3 million customers since 1998. We provide a wide range of discount domain name, web hosting and email services for individuals and businesses around the world.

Click here for more information.

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Where are your servers located?

Our Network Data Center is located in Chicago, USA in an N+2 Military-Class Tier-3 high speed facility. This ultra-modular carrier neutral facility has no single points of failure. It is entirely N+2 redundant, with each of 3 computer rooms having its own Dual Backup Generators, Dual-Feed Internet and Redundant Network. Security protection includes Physical Guards, Access Control, Retina Scanner, Security Cameras and Key Cards.

These high-tech features ensure fast servers, bulletproof reliability and maximum security for our customers and network.

A professional team monitors the network 24/7/365 to ensure smooth and efficient operation of our systems.

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Do you have any testimonials?

Yes. We have received hundreds of "thank you" emails from people who have used our services. You can find a small sample here.

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What is a domain name?

A domain name is an Internet address (such as domain.com). It is similar to a phone number or address in the offline world. If your organization's name is FOO, Inc., you could register the domain name FOO.COM and people could access your site by visiting "www.foo.com" with their Web browser. A domain name also allows you to receive e-mail at a customized e-mail address (such as yourname@foo.com). 

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What is a URL?

The term URL means Uniform Resource Locator. This is the string of information that lets people locate specific sites on the Internet. A URL is unique, meaning that no two are exactly alike. It is a description of a computer's location on the Internet much like your home address describes your location within a city. An example of a URL is http://www.domain.com

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What is a Registrar?

A Domain Registrar is a company or organization that processes domain name applications for a Top Level Domain (TLD) such as .com or a country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) such as .com.au. Registries also manage and administer those domains on a continuing basis.

Network Solutions, also known originally as Internic, was the first and only Registrar for the .com TLD for several years, however the system has been changed to allow many hundreds of Registries around the world to compete for registrations.

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What are the rules for creating a Domain Name?

A .com domain name can be up to 67 characters long, including the extension. Domain names are not case sensitive. When entering the Domain Name you want, do not include "www" or "http." You should, however, put .com, .net, .org, .com.au, .net.au, .co.uk, .org.uk, .co.nz, .net.nz etc at the end of the Domain Name.

If your first choice is not available, consider looking up the same name with a slight variation, or a different ending.

Example: yourname.com is not available? Try yourname.net

The only valid characters for a domain name are letters, numbers and a hyphen "-". Other special characters like the underscore "_" or an exclamation mark "!" are NOT permitted.

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Do I have to use .com?

No. In addition to the Top Level Domain ".com" you can also choose from many other Top Level and Country domain name extensions such as .net, .org, .biz, .info, .au, .uk, .us etc. Click here to see the full domain name list.

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How do I get a FREE domain name?

To help our customers get online quickly, easily and cheaply, we offer a FREE domain name when you buy another service such as Web Hosting, Domain Forwarding or Email. You can choose any available COM, NET, ORG, BIZ or INFO domain.

Click here for more information.

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How do I check if a domain name is available?

You can check here:

 
Check available domains here
 

 

All of our order forms and many other pages also have domain search forms.

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What if the domain name I want to use is already taken?

It means that someone else on the Internet has already secured that domain name for their site and the name is probably gone. You can try a slight variation on that name, register the same name with a different domain extension or think up a new domain name.

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What should I do if I am planning to start a business in the future but I want to reserve a domain name now?

If you are planning on starting a company or business but do not have an official name established yet, simply register the domain in your name. Once you have established your business you can change your name and information.

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How long should it take to register my domain?

Your domain name will be registered immediately after your payment is approved. However please note that it can take 1-48 hours for the Internet to recognize new domain names.

Some Country domain name applications can take up to 1 working day to be approved by the local Registry.

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How do I check the details of my domain registration?

You can check the current information for your domain name in our WHOIS database.

This information can be turned off to give you complete privacy if you wish.

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Where will my domain name be held as soon as it is registered?

Your domain name will either be hosted at your web host if you specified this information during your application, or parked on our nameservers until you are ready to activate your web site.

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Can I "park" my domain name on your servers? How much does it cost?

After you register your domain name, you can park it on our nameservers for free. Parking simply means your domain is reserved for you, so nobody else can register it. You can leave it idle, or put up a simple "Parked Page" for as long as you wish until you are ready to activate it with a web host.

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How do I change my domain name if I have misspelled it or registered the wrong name?

Please contact us urgently. We can only change or correct one domain name once for each customer and this must be done within the first 72 hours after ordering.

After 72 hours, the name is finalized and can't be changed. You would need to place another order to obtain the correct domain name.

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How does DomainsWeb use my data?

Your privacy is of utmost concern. We have a privacy policy that is strictly followed. The data we request is necessary under worldwide rules to register a domain, create a WHOIS record and provide a high level of security. No user identifiable information will be sold to any third-party under any circumstances! For more information regarding your privacy, please see our Legal & Privacy Notices.

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Will my name and contact information be publicly available?

Registration and contact details will be visible in our WHOIS database however, if you want complete privacy, you can turn WHOIS off and on for your domain names whenever you wish.

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How much do you charge to register and renew domain names?

Click here to see our current price list.

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How can you be so much cheaper than Network Solutions?

Network Solutions used to have a monopoly on domain name registration but now is only one of hundreds of domain Registries worldwide. Competition and market forces are driving down prices under the new domain registration system, however the older players in the industry have been slow to respond to this new challenge.

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What payment methods do you accept?

We can accept payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), Paypal and bank wire transfer. Please contact our Customer Service Team if you need more information about any of these methods.

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What documentation will I receive from DomainsWeb after registering a domain?

To help maintain our low domain pricing, all documentation from our system is electronic. After you complete your order, our system will produce an onscreen Invoice and an email Invoice will also be sent to the Cardholder email address immediately after any transaction.

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Why have I been charged in Australian dollars, not US dollars?

DomainsWeb uses a Billing Provider located in Australia so all services will be billed in Australian dollars. Prices stated in other currencies are intended only as a guide. If you place an order, your credit card company will convert our fees into your currency automatically.

Click here to see our current price list.

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Will I be reminded when my domain is due for renewal?

Yes, Renewal Notices will be sent to the Admin and Billing Contacts for a domain name on a weekly basis commencing 90 days before expiry. These notices will contain full instructions to help you renew your domain.

If necessary, you can update the email addresses for your domain names by logging into your account here.

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How do I renew my domain registration?

You can renew your domain registration(s) by logging into your account here.

You can also log into your account and turn on Auto-Renewal for your account.

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Can you renew my domain registrations automatically?

Yes, log into your Account here to activate Auto-Renewal. You need to have credit card details on file to use our Automatic Renewal Service.

If you choose to use this service, our system will automatically renew your domain names and charge the credit card on file for one additional year of registration from the current expiry date.

One month before the relevant expiry date of each domain name, we will charge the credit card we hold on file for your account. If the credit card is charged successfully, you will receive an email Invoice confirming payment. If the credit card is declined, you will receive an email Renewal Notice requesting payment. We will continue to attempt renewal until it is processed successfully or the domain is deleted.

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How many years can I renew for?

For com, .net, .org, .biz, .info and .name domain names, our Renewal System gives you the option to renew for terms ranging from 1 to 10 years. Most country domain names give the option of fixed renewal terms of 1 or 2 years.

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What happens if I am late renewing my domain name?

For COM/NET/ORG/BIZ/INFO domain names, a short "grace" period is provided after expiry to allow for late renewals so you can still use our standard renewal process.

After the "grace" period ends, the Central Registry will not accept a standard renewal. If the domain name is renewed during this period, we will send your order to the Central Registry asking them to re-register it at the earliest opportunity. This usually happens 2-3 months after expiry when they delete the domain name. There are no additional fees for using this procedure however there is a risk that somebody else can register the name after it is deleted but before it can be re-registered for you. We will refund your renewal fee if the renewal is unsuccessful.

An immediate reactivation process is also available, however it is very expensive so we don't recommend it. Please contact us if you need more information.

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What happens if I don't renew my domain name?

If you choose not to renew your domain name, it will be deactivated on the Expiration Date and may be deleted soon after by some registries. You risk losing your domain name if you don't renew it on or before the Expiration Date.

For COM/NET/ORG/BIZ/INFO domain names, a short "grace" period is provided after expiry to allow for late renewals.

If the domain name is not renewed during the "grace" period, the Central Registry will then suspend the domain name. After suspension, a reactivation process is available by logging into your Account here, however it is very expensive so we don't recommend it. Please contact us if you need more information.

If the domain name is still not reactivated during the suspension period, it will be deleted 60-90 days after expiration and will become available for registration anywhere.

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How do I manage my domain name?

You can log into your Account here.

After you log in, please scroll to the bottom of the Main Menu if you need help getting started, or use this FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for more information.

Our interface has been designed to be quick and easy to use and has detailed instructions throughout the site. However, if you need additional help, we are always here to assist. Our Customer Service team runs a "Concierge Service" and can process changes for you on request. Simply click here if you need to contact us.

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How do I set up privacy for my domain name?

You can choose the "Free Privacy" option during your order or log into your Account here to turn Privacy on or off.

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Can I change my domain name?

Please contact us urgently. We can only change or correct one domain name once for each customer and this must be done within the first 72 hours after ordering.

After 72 hours, the name is finalized and can't be changed. You would need to place another order to obtain the correct domain name.

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How do I transfer my domain name to DomainsWeb?

You can transfer domain names from another Registrar to DomainsWeb using our Secure Transfer Form.

Your first .COM domain will cost $10.00 and includes an extra year of registration added to your current registration term. For other domains, click here to see our full Price List. You won't lose any time still remaining on your domain. After your domain is transferred, you can renew for any period you wish. The process usually takes around one week to complete, so you need to have at least 7 days left on your registration before it expires.

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How do I check the status of my transfer?

You can check the status of your domain transfer by logging into your Account here.

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I have registered my domain. How do I activate it?

If you have registered a free domain name as part of another order, it will be set up on your account automatically.

Alternatively, if you have only registered a domain name, the next step is to choose a web host or set up Forwarding for your domain name.

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Do I have to host my domain with DomainsWeb?

No, if you have only registered a domain name, you are welcome to host it with any company you choose. Simply enter the details of their nameservers when you register the domain, or log into your account here to change your nameservers. The change will be processed immediately, however it can take 1-48 hours for the internet to recognize domain changes.

If you have registered a free domain name as part of another order, it will be set up on your account automatically.

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What hosting choices do I have?

You have 3 choices for hosting your web site:

  1. Current Web Host. If you already have a web host, you can set up your domain name with their service quickly and easily.
  2. Host With Us. If keeping costs down is your highest priority, click here to order web hosting with us.
  3. Domain Forwarding. If you already have a web site, forwarding can redirect multiple domain names to that site.

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How do I set up my current web host?

If your current web host supports domain hosting, log into your account here to change your nameservers.

If they don't support domain hosting, you can point your domain at your site using Forwarding. Click here for more information.

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Can you host my site?

Yes, we offer fast, reliable, low-cost web hosting from 25 ¢/month! These accounts are designed to help our customers get online with a basic site quickly, easily and cheaply. Our system will set up your Web Hosting Account instantly.

Click here for more information.

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How do I set up forwarding?

We offer 2 types of forwarding:

  • Domain Forwarding is a type of URL Forwarding that will cloak (hide) the Destination Address behind your domain name.
  • Basic URL Forwarding allows you to forward your domain name to another web page (for example www.otherdomain.com/page.html).

You can set these up by logging into your account here.

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How do I set up a simple Parked Page for my domain name?

We offer a free Parked Page to help you get your domain name online quickly or help you sell your domain name. This is a 1-page option. If you need more than one page, or a full web site, you'll need to choose a web host or set up Forwarding for your domain name.

You can set this up by logging into your account here.

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How do I set up email on my domain name?

Click here to find out more about our Email Accounts.

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My domain isn't working.

There can be many reasons why a domain isn't working, however some of the most common include:

  • Your domain is only parked (reserved) and needs to be activated.
  • The nameservers entered for your domain are wrong or were rejected by the DNS system. You can check your current nameservers here. If they are not correct, you can change them by logging into your Account here.
  • You have set up your domain with a web host, but they are having a technical problem. You will need to contact them for help.
  • Your domain is not parked on our nameservers so our DNS services won't work. If you need to move your domain back to our nameservers, you can do this by logging into your Account here.

Please contact our Customer Service Team if you need help.

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I need more information. Who do I contact?

Our Customer Service Team will be happy to provide you with further information or assistance. You can contact them here.

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