FatCow Web Hosting & Domain Names

Domain name registrar

A company authorized by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to register and manage domain names. Registrars are responsible for updating and maintaining the information in the Whois database.

Domain credit

An internal credit with a value of one domain year. A domain credit is required to transfer a domain to our registrar.

Domain transfer authorization code

A code required from your current registrar to initiate the transfer process

Domain expiration date

Domains are typically registered in 1 year increments. Domains can be transferred even after they've expired, but it's not recommended.
When you transfer your domain, the registration date of your domain stays the same but one year is added to your registration period.

Example: If your domain is due to expire on May 22, 2013, after the transfer your expiration date will be May 22, 2014.

Benefits of transferring your domain name

Transferring your domain name to FatCow's registrar provides you with the following benefits:

• Domain Nameservers (DNS) service for your domain names
• A single username to manage both your hosting and your domains
• FatCow's easy-to-use DomainCentral tool for managing your domains and including our Automated Domain Renewal Service to help ensure that your domain doesn't expire
• Option to add Domain Privacy to protect the personal information on your domains
• Customer support that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Substantial savings over many other registrars

Transfer your domain to our registrar (complete process)

1. Log into your hosting account control panel, and go to Domain Central.
2. Enter the domain that you want to transfer in the text box under "Add Domain Name".
   1. Select the "Add Existing Domain" radio button.
   2. Click the Add button.
   
   
3. The new domain will appear in the list of domains within Domain Central.
4. Click on the More Info link located next to the domain you just added in Domain Central.
   
5. In the menu that appears, enter in your authorization code into the text box.
   • Help finding your current registrar
   • Help getting the authorization code
   
   
6. Click the Transfer to FatCow button located just beneath the text box where you entered your authorization code.
7. An email from FatCow's registrar will be sent to the administrative email address that you have on file with your FatCow account. This email contains instructions for how to finish approving the transfer request. Follow the instructions to approve the transfer.
8. Your current registrar might also send you an email (most likely to the administrative email address associated with your transferring domain). This email will likely contain instructions for how you can confirm the transfer request at your old registrar. Follow their instructions and confirm the transfer with your old registrar.
9. The domain transfer will begin once you've provided your final approval via email. The transfer itself will take about 5 to 7 days under normal circumstances, so we ask you to be patient during the transfer process.
10. Once the transfer is complete, your domain's registration period will be extended for an additional year and it will be managed through FatCow. Congratulations!
    

Troubleshooting

If the domain that you're trying to transfer does not satisfy all of the requirements for registrar transfer, an error message will be displayed.

• Help understanding the registrar transfer requirements

Additionally, if you do not have a domain credit in your hosting account, you will be asked to purchase one to complete the domain transfer to FatCow.

1. In the Transfer tab for the specified domain, click Purchase Domain Credit. You will be guided through the purchase process.
2. When finished purchasing a domain credit, go back to DomainCentral.
3. Find your domain in the list, click the "+" icon to expand the domain settings menu, then select the Transfer tab.
4. Re-enter your authorization code, and click Transfer.

Find your domain registrar

1. Perform a Whois search at InterNIC
2. Submit your domain name
3. Look for the Registrar line - it lists the company to contact about your domain

 

Change/update the Administrative Contact on your domain

When the domain transfer process is initiated, the Administrative Contact on the domain will receive a verification email that requires an action. Without this action, the transfer process is terminated. Thus, you need access to the Administrative Contact email address associated with your domain to complete the domain transfer process.

1. Contact your current registrar.
2. Change or update the Administrative Contact information, so that you can receive the emails sent to the address on record.
3. Disable the Domain Whois Privacy before initiating the transfer

Note: Domain Whois Privacy cannot be transferred to our registrar and must be purchased separately.

Obtain the domain registrar transfer authorization code (required)

The table below shows how to contact most common registrars, their contact information, and the general process:

REGISTRAR	TO OBTAIN AN AUTHORIZATION CODE	CONTACT INFO	TRANSFER APPROVAL
Network Solutions	Call support and request Authorization Code; they will send it back to the ‘Admin’ contact on domain.	(888) 642-9675 Available: 24/7	Confirmation Email sent to the primary contact on record to approve transfer
Register.com	Within Account Management click on a Domain Name to view its details; the Authorization Code will be listed on the right.	(888) 734-4783 Available: 24/7	Link within the email confirmation to ‘Admin’ to approve transfer
Tucows	Authorization Code located in account within the Domain Details at manage.opensrs.net, username and password provided from reseller.	(800) 371-6992 Available: M-F 8am-8pm support@opensrs.org	Email to ‘Admin’ from Transfers@opensrs.org to approve transfer.
Verio	Email domreg@verio-hosting.com from ‘Admin’ contact email and they will send the Authorization Code.	(800) 438-8374 or support@verio.com	Email to ‘Admin’ to approve transfer.
MelbourneIT	Email das@melbourneit.com.au with Domain Name, Registry Key, and request Authorization code. Info will be sent to ‘Admin’	+61 38624-2300 www.melbourneit.co m.au/contacts/support .php	Email to ‘Admin’ to approve transfer.
eNom	Auth Code located on bottom of ‘whois‘ info for Domain Name located in the account management area.	(425) 274-4500	Auto-approval of transfer after approximately 5 days.
Bulk Register	Email domainsupport@bulkregister.com from ‘Admin’; if reseller is listed as ‘Admin’ contact, call reseller.	(877) 527-8869 Available: M-F 9am-7pm domainsupport@bulk register.com	Email to ‘Admin’ to approve transfer from transfer@bulkregister.com
Joker.com	(Pre-Approval Needed) Log into account and go to Service Zone; under advanced options click Proceed->Next; click Transfer and supply Domain Name. Email sent to ‘Admin’ and within 5 days pre-approval granted. 10 day window for transfer begins. Now, go to the Service Zone and click Status.	https://joker.com/? mode=support& support_type=intro No Phone Support	10 day window with preapproval required.
Stargate	Email online support from ‘Admin’ email provided in Contact Info heading.	www.stargateinc.com /us/contact.asp# No Phone Support	Auto-approval of transfer after approximately 5 days.
Names4Ever	Authorization Code for transfer is your account password.	Online Chat Support (877) 275-8763	Auto-approval of transfer after approximately 3 days.
AIT Domains	Send a transfer request via an online support ticket, and they will send the Authorization Code.	(877) 549-2881 aitdomains.com/ticke ts.htm	5 day waiting period, no approval, no email

 

Transfer your domain from its current registrar to ours

View Tutorial

I submitted a domain name transfer. Why is it still with my old registrar?

When a customer requests a registrar transfer, FatCow will initiate the transfer procedure:

Our registrar partner will contact you at the Administrative Contact email address of the requested domain. You need to follow their specific instructions, listed in this email, to approve the transfer. If you have not been contacted, check that your Administrative Contact email address is correct (See instructions in How To)

Upon approval, the transfer request will be submitted to your current registrar. Your current registrar will either allow or deny the transfer and may send an email to you asking for your approval of the transfer. You must follow their specific instructions to approve the transfer as well.

Here are a few standard reasons for denying a transfer:

1. ICANN Standard of 60 days after renewal or transfer.
2. Payment due for domain renewal.
3. A domain name that is already expired.
4. The domain name is locked at your current registrar.

 

 

Why is my domain locked?

Domain names are locked for a number of reasons. Many Registrars allow registrants to lock their domains to prevent unauthorized transfers. If this is the case you can simply make a request to your Registrar to unlock your domain. Some Registrars have tools at their websites that allow you to lock and unlock the domain name yourself.

Be aware that domains can also be locked by the Registrar for the following reasons and cannot be unlocked:

• Your domain name was registered or transferred within the last 60 days.
• Your domain name may be locked as the result of a dispute, currently under investigation.

Registrar transfer requirements

In order to transfer your domain name to FatCow, the following conditions must be met:

1. Your domain name has been registered with your current registrar for at least 60 days and is in good financial standing.
   
2. The domain name is not involved in a domain dispute and does not have a registry lock.
3. The Administrative Contact email address on file for the domain name is a valid working email address.
   
• Note: If you do not have access to this email address, please contact your current registrar for information on changing it before initiating a registrar transfer request. See How To above.
• If you have Domain Whois Privacy enabled, it must be disabled. Contact your current registrar to disable it.
4. A domain credit is available on your account. See How To above to purchase a domain credit. Or, you can verify that you already have one by going to DomainCentral in the control panel.
5. You must obtain an authorization code from your current registrar. See How To above for instructions.