Frequently Asked Questions

The NearlyFreeSpeech.NET FAQ (*)

Domain Registration (*)

How do I change the name servers of a domain registered here?

What are the steps involved in an inbound domain transfer?

I let my domain expire a while ago. Now I'm trying to renew it and I get "renewal failed." Why?

I have a domain with a proxy privacy registration service. Can I transfer it to NearlyFreeSpeech.NET?

I want to transfer a domain to NearlyFreeSpeech.NET. Will my site/DNS/email go down if I do?

What happens to my domain's name server settings during a transfer?

Can I add or remove RespectMyPrivacy on a domain I already registered here or transferred?

Is NearlyFreeSpeech.NET an ICANN-accredited registrar?

Will you remind me before my domain expires?

If I still have time left on my existing domain registration with another registrar, can I keep that time if I transfer the domain to NearlyFreeSpeech.NET?

Why is my domain transfer taking so long?

What happens to my domain after it expires?

Why is the domain I transferred to NearlyFreeSpeech.NET not pointing to my site?

Why am I still paying for RespectMyPrivacy service on my expired domain?

Can I create child name servers (glue records) within my domain?

What's the maximum number of years for which I can register a domain name?

What does the error "The name server modification failed." mean?

What is whois verification?

How I do I get the transfer code for a domain registered here?

Will you be adding additional top-level domains to register?

Where are the actions for editing my registered domain?

Do I need to put valid contact information on my domain registration?

What happens if my domain transfer fails?

Can you send the domain transfer approval to a different email address?

I have a bunch of domains to register/renew/transfer. Can you help?

How do I renew my domain name?

How long does it take to transfer a domain away from NearlyFreeSpeech.NET?

How do I transfer a domain registration away from NearlyFreeSpeech?

What top-level domains do you support for registration?

When should I renew my domain name?

How do I get rid of a registered domain I no longer want?

Why does domain registration have different Terms of Service than NearlyFreeSpeech.NET hosting?

Our domain registration services are provided under the auspices of a third-party company, Public Domain Registry. They are required by the various top-level domain registries and ICANN to impose various conditions on registration.

Public Domain Registry also resells web hosting and other services using a product they call "OrderBox." We are not resellers of the "OrderBox" services. They have a laundry list of terms and conditions for the use of those services that can be found in "Appendix A" of their Registrar-Registrant agreement, which you must agree to in order to register domain names through us.

Unlike our own Terms and Conditions of Service, theirs are fairly typical for the hosting industry, including a variety of prohibitions against controversial behavior that are highly inconsistent with our own. The contents of their "Appendix A" do not apply to your use of our hosting services.

The enforceability of their agreement is strictly limited to your use of their domain registration service. "Appendix A" applies to your use of their hosting (or other) services. Since you are using our hosting services, not theirs, its prohibitions are irrelevant to you and are superceded by our own Terms and Conditions of Service. Public Domain Registry has no authority or ability to interfere with your NearlyFreeSpeech.NET hosting services. No matter what you do, their sole remedy would be refusal to process your domain registration.*

To look at it another way, since we do not provide those services, you are not allowed to use their "OrderBox Services" at all, so the question of how you may use them is moot. It's unfortunate that they have chosen this "everything and the kitchen sink" approach to their agreement, but they did.

If you register a domain with an offensive or controversial component, you are at a certain level of risk of having your domain cancelled, but typically not from Public Domain Registry. Each top-level domain registry has different rules for what domain names they will allow, and no matter what registrar you choose, you will always be subject to those rules.

If this is a concern to you, do not register a domain name (anywhere) containing an offensive or controversial component.

Why did my domain transfer fail?

I renewed my expired domain. Why is it still parked?

Why does my domain registrar show as "external?"

What are the steps of a domain registration?

I deposited funds for my domain registration renewal but it hasn't been renewed. What's wrong?

What does the error "the contact information you entered was not accepted by the registry" mean?

I don't want to keep my domain. How do I stop receiving emails that it's going to expire?

When is RespectMyPrivacy enabled during domain registration?

Why doesn't the domain name I just renewed show up in the renewal monitor?

Why do I get "Invalid URL" when I click the email link to approve or cancel a domain transfer or verify a domain contact?

Does NearlyFreeSpeech allow managing DNSSEC (DS) records?

How do I update the public WHOIS contacts for a domain registered here?

What are ccTLDs, and why don't you support registering them?

How does manual registration of domains work for subscription members?