Domain Name Expiration Notice: Scam or Legit?

Don’t “trash” that email quite yet…

We all get them sooner or later, a notice that your domain name is set to expire, and action is needed to protect it, or you risk losing it.  Just before you click delete or toss the mailing into the trash, the thought goes through your mind “Is this domain name expiration notice a scam or legit?  I don’t want to waste my time on non-sense, yet I don’t want to lose my domain name either.”  Slight fear sets in as you sigh.  “How do I find out?” you wonder.

We interviewed our own in-house Network Admin, Client Support Manager, and Web Developers to bring you a complete, easy-to-read article covering everything you need to know about renewing domain names, domain name expiration notice scams, and more. Let’s get started!

WebTek’s Domain Name Registration & Expiration Guide

Your domain name is the online address of where your website lives, much like your home residence has a physical address denoting to others where you live.  Without one, you might relate it to an un-tethered astronaut floating in outer space.

Since it’s true that a domain is necessary for every company’s digital structure, why isn’t information about it presented in a way that is easy for everyone to understand?

Some of the questions we get asked most often are, “How/where do I register domain names?”, “Do domain names expire?” and “Who renews my domain name?”.  With all your questions and just a short amount of time, here’s the summary version of what we’ll cover in this domain name registration and expiration guide:

• What is a domain name?
• Do domain names expire?
• I’m getting domain name expiration notice emails. What should I do?
• How do I find out when my domain name expires?
• What happens if my domain name expires?
• How do I find out who hosts my domain name?
• How do I pick the best domain registrar?

But first, let’s talk about the topic that probably brought you here today – those dreaded domain name expiration notice emails…

Is this Domain Name Expiration Notice Legit?

If you’ve ever gotten an email from a big-sounding company with an intense domain name expiration notice, it can feel like you have no other option but to pay the website name renewal fee and move on. But the majority of the time, this is not the case!

Oftentimes, emails about your domain name expiring are only partially factual. Crafty companies will devise a domain name expiration notice to tell you that your domain name is expiring (which is true), but they’ll neglect to tell you that it’s

not for a long time, and your best off renewing with the company you are currently with. One of the biggest offenders of this we see is Domain Registry of America (DROA). If you get notices from them and didn’t previously transfer to them, throw the notices away!

The companies deceitfully rush to be the first ones to notify you in an attempt to transfer your business to them instead of continuing with the relationships you already have.

Most people don’t even realize by paying them the small annual fee, you are agreeing to transfer everything related to your domain name to some strange/deceitful company you never heard of.  You are literally giving them the keys to your website address and creating a lot more work for you, your current provider and everyone involved by launching a transfer request!

How to Handle Domain Name Expiration Notice Scams

When one of these domain name expiration notices comes through your inbox, you want to be prepared.

The number one tip we can provide for people across the board is to only trust updates and emails from the company who actually manages your domain name.

If you have never even heard of the company emailing you, their “notice” is 95% of the time irrelevant and can be disregarded.

Domain names do expire, but a quick call or email to your domain company can tell you exactly when it does. Keeping that information on-file in your records can also be a helpful strategy when determining if the domain name expiration notice is a scam or legit.

Finding the Best Domain Registrar for You

Before we advise you on how to choose the best domain registrar, it’s important to know what exactly that is. In short, a domain registrar is a company who registers and renews your website name – and they handle every aspect of the domain name registration.

The best domain registrar has a history of being honest, offering open communication, and is knowledgeable. At WebTek, we’ve got your back – 100% of the time. With our team handling your domain name registration and renewals, you’ll never have to worry about what to do with those fear-inducing domain name expiration notices again, or wonder if your domain name is in jeopardy of being bought by one of your competitors. Unless we hear from you directly, we will continue to automatically renew your domain, year after year.

Experience the peace of mind that over 600 local companies already experience by entrusting WebTek to be your domain registrar. We’ll manage your domain name and take care of any necessary updates, renewals, and nameserver or DNS updates!  Domain names and secure web hosting go hand-in-hand: find out how WebTek can be your all-in-one team for everything you need!

Website Name Frequently Asked Questions

Whether you’re launching a brand new website or you’re simply interested in purchasing another domain name for your site, you probably have questions like, “Do domain names expire?” or, “How do I complete a domain name registration?” See our website name FAQ section below for quick answers to all your domain related questions:

Domain Name Registration Made Easy

Domain name expiration notices are nothing to be afraid of, but you should be aware of when our domain name is set to expire.  If you get those annoying notices, pay attention to the date it expires, then work with your current provider, or find a new domain registrar…, but don’t renew/transfer to a company trying to solicit you with deceit and fear.