Q:	What is the back order service?
A:	It is a reservation service for domain names. This technology will attempt to acquire and register, on your behalf, a domain name seconds after it is deleted by the central registry. The service also provides regular updates for subscribers as to the status of a targeted name. return to top

Q:	Can someone else purchase a back order subscription on a domain name I want?
A:	Only one back order subscription is available per domain name. These are sold on a first come first served basis and are not transferable to another person. If the current back order holder targets a new domain name with his or her subscription, the original domain name will immediately become available again for back order. return to top

Q:	What if someone else purchases a back order subscription on a domain name I want?
A:	Only one back order subscription is available per domain name. These are sold on a first come first served basis and are not transferable to another person. If the current back order holder targets a new domain name with his or her subscription, the original domain name will immediately become available again for back order. return to top

Q:	Will you inform the current domain name registrant that I have placed a back order on the name?
A:	No, we do not reveal any information about back order subscription holders. Of course, anyone can see whether or not a back order subscription has been purchased by searching for the domain name on our web site, but will not be able to determine that person's identity. return to top

Q:	How does the back order technology work?
A:	When a domain name is deleted by the registry and becomes available for registration, our system automatically submits a registration request for the domain. If it is successful, the name is registered on your behalf. return to top

Q:	How much does the back order service cost?
A:	The service is available for $44.95 (subject to periodic discounts) per domain name. This covers an entire year of monitoring or seeking to acquire a name, and includes one year of registration if and when we acquire the name. Your credit card is charged at the time you place the order. return to top

Q:

Is the back order service guaranteed?

A:

No. The targeted name may be renewed by its current registrant well in advance of its expiration and deletion. Also, although this technology is the most consistently effective secondary registration service available today, the service may not successfully acquire the targeted name. If not, you may change your targeted name (provided there is no current back order position already taken for that name) at no cost. The one-year subscription period for your back order remains unchanged. You may exchange a back order in this way up to three times. return to top

Q:

What happens to my back order subscription when VeriSign's Wait List Service (WLS) is implemented?

A:

Neither the final form of WLS nor its schedule for implementation have been finalized. Until these details are known, back ordering remains the best and most effective method for acquiring currently registered domain names. As of now, here's what you should expect when the WLS is implemented: Your back order subscriptions will be converted to WLS subscriptions at the time WLS goes into effect; this means you will get a WLS subscription at no extra cost to you, and that subscription will be 100% effective in reserving domain names not renewed by their owners. Please note, however, that according to ICANN rules, all parties participating in the WLS system must compete equally for subscriptions at the time of WLS activation. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee that we will be 100% successful at obtaining WLS reservations for specific domain names. We will, of course, make every effort to do so. If we are not successful, you may reserve another domain name through your WLS position at no additional charge. There will be no additional charge for converting your subscriptions to WLS positions. We will continue to be in touch with further information on this process. return to top

Q:

How can the back order service register a deleted domain name faster than I can?

A:

There are more than 100 active domain name registrars worldwide, and each follows its own schedule for deleting domain names back into availability. Because there is no uniform deletions policy, it would be very difficult for the normal end-user to successfully track a soon to delete name. In addition, because competition for high-quality deleting names has become so intense, and the technology needed to capture a name so specialized and intricate, it's unlikely that the average end-user even has access to the technology or the knowledge of the processes required to secure the name. The back order service does the work for you. This automated technology works efficiently within this complicated process to, first, continually monitor your targeted domain name and, second, acquire and register it on your behalf if it is surrendered by the current registrant. return to top

Q:

I received an email telling me that all the values have changed on the registration of the domain name I want, but everything looks the same.

A:

From time to time, registrars will add text to (or remove text from) their registration records, which, at minimum, moves data up or down by a few line spaces. Even though no substantive change has taken place in the record's content, a notification is nonetheless automatically triggered. We're sorry if this causes an inconvenience. However, we've determined that it is good practice to inform customers of changes of any kind, since what may not be important to one customer may be considered vitally important by another. return to top

Q:	When will my credit card be charged?
A:	Your credit card will be charged at the time you place your back order subscription order. Monitoring begins immediately following the purchase of your subscription. return to top

Q:	I want to order a back order subscription, but the system says the back order has already been taken.
A:	This means that another customer has already purchased the available back order subscription on that particular domain name. return to top

Q:	How long will it take my registered domain name to appear in Whois?
A:	A newly registered domain name can take as long as a week to propagate throughout the global network. return to top

Q:

Will I get my domain name on the date it expires?

A:

No, not on the precise expiration date. A domain name's expiration date is merely the anniversary date of its registration. When a domain name expires, it enters a "grace" period, during which the current registrant can still renew. This grace period can last from 30 to 90 days or more, depending on the registrar. At the end of the grace period, the registrar will issue a delete command to the registry. Approximately five days later, the domain name is released and is available again for registration. Our back order service will notify you that a name has expired, but will not attempt to acquire and register a name until it is released. return to top

Q:

How does a back order protect a domain name from being "hijacked"?

A:

Our service monitors domain records and will notify you instantly if that record is changed. If, for example, someone "hacks" into the domain record and redirects it elsewhere, you will receive a notification that the record has been changed. This gives you time to correct the problem before it propagates across the Internet - which often means the difference between a minor event and a major disaster. The service protects against other potential perils (employee sabotage, unintended expiration, etc.) in the same manner. In addition to giving "early warning" of various perils, the back order will automatically attempt to re-acquire the domain for the back order subscriber. return to top

Q:	What happens when I place an order for a back order subscription?
A:	When you enter your credit card billing information and press the "Enter Order" button, our system will immediately query the central domain name registry to check the current status of the domain name and begin monitoring. From that point forward, you will receive notifications of any change in the name's status. return to top

Q:

What are some of the hazards that face my domain name?

A:

There are three principal hazards that can threaten a domain name registration. First is hijacking, when someone hacks into a domain record and directs it elsewhere. For example, a company could have the domain record of its web page hacked and redirected to another organization's site that is dedicated to complaining about that company or its policies. This can damage a company's reputation, or even cripple its ability to do business over the Internet. Second, there are rare instances of accidental transfer or deletion, when registrars mistakenly move your registration record to another registrar or send a "delete" command to the central registry, signaling its intention to make the domain name available for someone else to register. Finally, it is surprisingly common for a domain name to be inadvertently deleted because the registrant forgot to re-register the domain name. Our back order system helps protect against the massive damages that can result from these perils. return to top

Q:	How can I switch my back order subscription to another name?
A:	You can exchange your back order subscription on any name for another. When you are logged in, click the "Back Orders" menu link and then use the "Exchange" link for the back order in question. return to top

Q:

How does a back order protect my domain name from being deleted if I forget to renew my registration?

A:

This technology monitors domain records and will notify you instantly if that record is changed. If, for example, you forget to renew your registration, you will receive a notification that the record has expired, giving you time to contact your registrar and renew the registration before it is deleted (all registrars allow a brief "grace" period between expiration and deletion for this purpose). SnapBack protects against other potential perils (employee sabotage, hijacking, etc.) in the same manner. In addition to giving "early warning" of this peril, SnapBack will automatically attempt to re-acquire the domain for you if your registration is deleted. return to top

Q:	To whom can I direct alert emails from my back order subscription?
A:	Alerts will be sent to the primary and secondary email accounts that you specify in your user profile (see the "My Information" link when logged in). return to top

Q:	Can I subscribe to your services on behalf of a client or someone else?
A:	Yes. In fact, many attorneys and branding experts subscribe to our services on behalf of their clients. return to top

Q:

What are "root name servers" and how do they work?

A:

The root server system is a group of 13 file servers that contain a master list of domain names in the COM, NET and ORG domains. They also contain a list of the Domain Name Servers that link to those names. When a domain name is registered or a registration record is changed, this information is provided to the "A" root server as a point of entry into the system; this information is then copied to the other 12 servers. Once this propagation is complete, domain names are considered "resolvable", meaning it can be used for web site development or email communication. return to top

Q:	How do I reassign my back order to another domain name?
A:	You can exchange your back order subscription on any name for another. When you are logged in, click the "Back Orders" menu link and then use the "Exchange" link for the back order in question. return to top

Q:

What is a transfer? How do I transfer a domain name?

A:

This term typically refers to the transfer of sponsorship (or supervision) of a domain name from one registrar to another. If you would like to transfer one or more of your domain names from one registrar to another, you must contact the new registrar to request initiation of the transfer request. This may be done at any time, but only after sixty (60) days following the initial registration with your current registrar. Only when your current registrar acknowledges the transfer request from the new registrar will the name be permitted to transfer. If you have questions about this process, contact the registrar organizations involved in the transfer. return to top

Q:

What does it mean when a "creation date" changes?

A:

The creation date refers to the specific day a domain name's registration record was created with its current registrant information. Typically, when a creation date is changed, it means that the name was registered by a new registrant, was transferred to another registrar, or was changed in another significant way. For more information, contact the registrar sponsoring the registration. return to top

Q:	What does it mean when an "expiration date" changes?
A:	This may mean that a domain name's current registrant renewed his or her registration, or extended the term of registration for that name. For more information, contact the registrar sponsoring the registration. return to top

Q:	What are all the contacts in a domain name registration record?
A:	A contact, or agent, is the individual or group of individuals listed in the contact information associated with a domain name registration (usually as reflected in the Whois file). These contacts are categorized as organizational, administrative, billing, technical and zone contacts. For more information about a specific registration record, contact the sponsoring registrar. return to top

Q:	What constitutes a "registrant" change?
A:	Typically, this is when a domain name registration is transferred from one registrant (the current "holder" of that domain name) to another. return to top

Q:	Why are some fields in the registration record (or Whois file) empty?
A:	Registrars elect to present in different ways the Whois data for the names they sponsor. Some randomly remove information from certain fields in the record. If you have questions about a specific Whois record, contact the registrar sponsoring that registration. return to top