Free Domain Policy - Getting Stiffed with Fees

[davet]

I've noticed an ongoing problem with offering free domain names and not sure if there is any way for WHMCS to protect us against what is happening.

 

The problem is free domains get automatically renewed even if a customer does not renew their hosting.

 

The problem does not occur if the domain registration expires the same day as their hosting since the $0 domain registration will be on the same invoice as their hosting. If they do not pay that invoice then the free domain does not get renewed.

 

But if the domain registration expires on a different day, other than the day hosting is up for renewal, the $0 domain registration gets renewed automatically… and it gets renewed 20 days ahead of time since we invoice 20 days before expiration of service.

 

We use enom.com

 

We offer 2 free domains with our hosting accounts. We invoice 20 days before the account is up for renewal and bill their credit card on file (if they have one) 10 days before their renewal date.

 

Let's say someone signs up for a 1 year account and transfer their domain from another registrar. It enters their domain registration into WHMCS as:

 

Registration Period: 1 Year

Recurring Amount: $0.00

 

The problem is the domain gets renewed 20 days ahead of time when the invoice gets created, gets closed immediately (cause it shows amount due as $0) and automatically renews the domain registration.

 

I've had many instances in which the domain registration was renewed for free but the customer then decided to not renew the last day (or a few days after) their hosting account is up for renewal. We were then stuck paying for an additonal year for the domain registrations even though the csutomer canceled the account.

 

I really don't see any way around this other than to start charging a small amount for the "free" domains. Even $2/year or something, This way the invoice would have to be paid for in order to be renewed.

 

Perhaps there is an option that can be added to WHMCS to only renew domain registrations on the day they are up for renewal if the invoice is for $0. Not sure if that is even possible.

 

Any ideas?

[WHMCS John]

When a domain + hosting plan are ordered on the same day, the Next Due Date would be the same and therefore they would be renewed together. As a result the domain would only be renewed when the hosting invoice is paid.

 

You'd need to investigate why the Next Due Dates are no longer the same.

[davet]

The due dates would not be the same if they transferred a domain to our system. We have enom synchronization setup within WHMCS so it updates the due date of the free domain names. Typically this is not the same day their hosting is up for renewal.

[WHMCS John]

In that case you'd need to consider disabling the Update Due Dates feature under Setup > Domain Registrars > Enom. Then when a transfer completes adjust the Next Due Date to match the hosting product. Or alternatively only offering free domains on new registrations.

[davet]

That's going to cause a lot of extra work if we have to update the due date on domain registrations manually.

 

Can't an option such as "Only Close $0 Invoices with $0 Payment 1 day before Due Date" be added to WHMCS?

At least the domain would be renewed closer to the actual due date rather than 20 days ahead of time.

 

Or perhaps "Do not close $0 Invoices with $0 Payment if there are other open invoices due". WHMCS could then close all $0 invoices once all due invoices are paid.

[othellotech]

That's going to cause a lot of extra work if we have to update the due date on domain registrations manually.

 

Just use some of the money you save on not renewing domains people aren't now getting free to pay someone to do it

 

You only have to manually "twiddle" the dates on incoming transfers on completion (all other dates and ongoing date chages are handled automagically)

 

However, if you're providing the domain for free with the hosting, you still want the date in WHMCS to match that of the *hosting*, not be that from the registrar