Domain Name Record Responsibility

When you move or change your phone number, you notify all those you want to know about your new contact information. When your contact information changes, you need to ensure that you add your Domain Registrar (where your domains are registered) to that list of those you notify.

If your credit card expires or you cancel it, you update all the companies that you use that card with so that your automatic charges can be made without issue or possible cancellation of services. Here again, your Domain Registrar needs to be updated or your domains cannot be renewed. And now, that will cost you big money if your domain expires and goes past 12 days into the redemption period. Large fees are now being levied on domain owners who shirk their responsibility in keeping their domain records and accounts up to date.

Several times each week I work with online business owners who find that their domain names have expired. “Why wasn’t I notified!?” Many times these folks try and point at the Registrar or even to me being at fault as to why their domains were allowed to expire. “How could this happen!” Because you didn’t update your domain record to reflect your current info and new e-mail address! It is your sole responsibility — no one can do this for you. You have no one to blame but yourself.

If you read all that small print in Domain Name Agreements you will see it is your responsibility to keep those records up-to-date. Most reputable registrars even send out notices each year reminding domain name owners to make sure their records are updated. If you don’t make these efforts, you are to blame for domains that expire or are actually lost to someone else.

If you have an invalid e-mail address on your domain’s record, you won’t get these important reminders and notices. If you have an expired credit card, your domains cannot be auto renewed.

Domain name record accuracy should not be an afterthought. It should be right up there with notifying business associates, family, friends and utility companies when you change any of your contact information.

Why not stop right now and go check your records and makes sure they are up-to-date and that your records reflect current information?

At your service,
Judith