Domain Registration README

Please Note: TZO Domain Registration does not include DNS, email, relay or web services. These services (especially DNS) are usually needed for a fully functional domain. Therefore when ordering Domain Registration we also suggest TZO Premiere DNS for that domain name.

If you wish to use DNS Nameservers other than TZO's you may configure this after your domain is registered. You may operate your own nameservers or use third-party DNS hosting with a domain registered at TZO, however our support can not cover management of third party DNS.

If you are using TZO Premiere DNS service with your TZO-registered domain name, you do not need to make any nameserver changes. The correct TZO nameservers will have been added in automatically.

A New Domain Registration at TZO will automatically configure the domain WHOIS with the correct TZO.COM nameservers. A renewal of Domain Registration will not change any existing Nameserver settings. Please note that a Domain Transfer to TZO will not cause any automatic change of Nameserver values (be sure to update this once the domain transfer has completed).

If you are using third-party nameservers, you must completely remove all TZO nameservers. Do not mix in third party ("foreign") nameservers with TZO nameservers.

ICANN rules specify the maximum length of time a Registry can require to complete domain transfers, delegation of Nameservers, or changing of contact information in the domain WHOIS. Depending on the top level domain (.com, .net etc.) and all the parties involved, this update process could complete almost instantly or it could require up to 10 days. In addition to this time frame, there is a natural "caching" of old records, and it could be 1-3 days before this new information propagates to WHOIS and DNS servers at various ISPs and locations. TZO will commit domain changes almost instantly and will not add significant delay, however we are bound by other Registrar delays if they occur.

Because of these delays, you should not attempt to transfer a domain to or from a Domain Registrar if the domain is in the final few weeks before renewal becomes due. Note that when you transfer a domain, the new Registrar will honor the domain registration's previous expiration date (unless the Registrar required a new Registration Renewal along with the Transfer, in which case the expiration date is pushed out by duration of Registration you just ordered). There is no benefit in waiting until the last minute to Transfer. If when beginning a Transfer if your domain has less than 10 (or even 30) days remaining, it is advised to first Renew with the current registrar, wait to verify that change went through, then initiate the domain transfer. If you allow your domain to Expire, you can lose the domain name or at the least it can be very expensive to regain control of it.

We are sorry to see you go; here is the standard process. The new Domain Registrar will initiate a Domain Transfer request. Unless the new Domain Registrar had the foresight to test your domain for 'Locking' before making the transfer request, this request will probably fail because your domain is 'Locked' by default. Locking is a standard safety feature, protecting against domain theft scams.

To permit the Domain Transfer request, login to your TZO account, go to Domains, 'Manage your Domain', and under 'Domain Locking' select Disable. Domain (Un)locking changes are instantaneous; once Locking is disabled you may ask your new registrar to re-try the Transfer.

Some domain name transfers require you to provide an 'Authcode' or 'Domain Transfer Authorization' code. Under the Domain management in your TZO Account, click the link 'Domain Extras'. If you have multiple domains registered at TZO, be sure you select the correct domain first so you can provide the correct Authcode. Once your new Registrar has the correct Authcode they can retry the Transfer Request.

IMPORTANT - ICANN rules require that all Domain Name records have valid and working Contact Information, which is made public in the domain name WHOIS database (if this is a privacy concern, please see Domain Privacy below).

It is important your domain's Contact Information is accurate and working. These are ICANN rules. If you enter fake information (or allow the Contact Information to become out of date), other parties could report this to ICANN. Non-compliant domains could be revoked by ICANN. Note that if there is a domain dispute or a technical problem with your domain registration (such as losing your domain registration password) then the contact information may be used by the domain system to help you regain control of the domain.

Domain Privacy replaces the domain's 'Contact Information' with that of a privacy-shielding proxy. With this optional service, communication addressed to your proxy address information will be processed without revealing your contact information. Depending on the type of contact detail, the message or communication is auto-responded with instructions, or the message is invisibly forwarded to you the domain owner. This shielding of user information essentially makes the domain owner "secret".

Domain Privacy is not available on any .US domains, due to NTIA (the '.US' Domain Registry) policy.

Note: Some third-party spam filters may use more aggressive spam filtering on emails from a domain which cloaks the contact information, as some portions of the anti-spam community view this configuration with suspicion. In general this does not cause widespread problems; this issue is mentioned in the interests of disclosure.