Frequently asked questions about domain names

How do I transfer my domain name to you?

To transfer a .uk domain name

Contact the ISP who registered your domain and ask them to change the IPS TAG for your domain to 123CONNECT. They may ask you to put this in writing.

To transfer a .com domain name

Contact the ISP who registered your domain and ask them to give you the Melbourne IT Registry Key. If they cannot give you this (for example, because they do not use Melbourne IT) then ask them to authorise a transfer request for your domain from 123CONNECT. They may ask you to put this in writing.

How do I transfer my domain name away from you?

Send a signed and dated FAX request (on company letterheaded paper, if applicable) for the attention of Your e Solutions to 01302 554996.

We will help you with the domain transfer. When the transfer is complete you or your new ISP will be able to change the nameservers.

For UK domain names (.co.uk, .org.uk, .ltd.uk)

We will start the transfer for you but it is your responsibility to check that the tag has changed.

Dear Your e Solutions,

Please transfer my domain name [YOUR DOMAIN NAME HERE] to my new
ISP whose IPS tag is: [PUT THEIR IPS TAG HERE]

Regards,
[NAME]
[SIGN]
[POSITION]

For international domain names (.com, .net, .org)

You will ask your new ISP to start the transfer. They will then ask us to authorise it. You will need to send the fax below to give us permission to do this.

Dear Your e Solutions,

Please authorise the transfer request of my domain name [DOMAIN NAME]
to my new ISP whose name is: [THEIR COMPANY NAME]

Regards,
[NAME]
[SIGN]
[POSITION]

How can I check if a domain name is available?

You can check domain name availability at http://www.hotchilli.com/domainnames.htm

Where is my certificate?

Paper certificates are not issued for .com, .net and .org domains.

For .co.uk, .ltd.uk and .org.uk domains registered after August 2003 you will not receive a paper certificate but instead will be sent a security code that you can use to update your details on Nominet's Registrant's Online service. See http://www.nominet.org.uk/RegisteringYourDomainName/PaperCertificates/ for more information.

For .co.uk, .ltd.uk and .org.uk domains registered before August 2003, Nominet should have issued a paper certificate to the address that the domain was registered to. However, this has not always happened.

Queries regarding your UK domain name? Call Nominet on 01865 332211.

How do I renew my domain name?

If you have a domain name registered with us we will send you an invoice a few weeks before the renewal is due and we will contact you to confirm whether you want to renew the domain.

You can check the registration status of your domain name by using Hotchilli's domain checking service.

Why did I get an invoice from Nominet?

Nominet is the organisation that looks after most UK domain names. Nominet may send you an invoice if your renewal confirmation of a UK domain name is left until last minute. Their charges are quite expensive as they usually deal with resellers like us and not directly with the domain owners. If you receive an invoice from Nominet, please contact us to check that we are renewing your domain name for you. (We in turn pay Nominet.)

I received a strange invoice. Do I have to pay it?

There are some companies, such as the Domain Registry of America, who are sending out invoices and transfer instructions to our customers. These are intended to look very official and confusing. Unless you really want to transfer to such a company, please contact us first!

Always read invoices carefully. If you receive anything concerning Internet services that you do not understand, please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Can I lose my domain name?

Some companies use scare tactics such as "act now or you could lose your domain name." They should be treated as such - scare tactics.

You can only lose your domain name if:

  • You do not wish to renew your domain name
  • Your domain name is not registered via us (you need to contact the ISP who is looking after your domain name)
  • We cannot get in contact with you because all contact details on our records have changed (please let us know if your contact details have changed)
  • We do not receive payment

How do I register a domain name?

Please see our domain name price list and use the Hotchilli domain checking service to check if the domain name you want is available.