Domains, expired, redemption, etc.

[ScrltOTara]

How do you handle domain renewals? I have my WHMCS set to charge a late fee on past due invoices. It charges it on late domain renewals, too. However, there are no late fees from the domain registrar until you get into redemption.

 

So how do you have your domains set up? Do you charge a late fee immediately? How do you handle the redemption fee if it applies?

 

Tara

[Strother]

We have played with several different methods over the past five years, and finally decided to turn off automatic renewal.

 

We now send out domain renewal notices at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 days before expiry, with direct links to the domain renewal page:

 

Dear {$client_name},

 

{if $days_until_expiry}The domain(s) listed below are due to expire within the next {$days_until_expiry} days.{else}The domain(s) listed below are going to expire in {$domain_days_until_expiry} days. {/if} To ensure the domain does not expire, you should renew it now.

 

{if $expiring_domains}{foreach from=$expiring_domains item=domain}{$domain.name} - {$domain.nextduedate} ({$domain.days} Days)

{/foreach}{else}{$domain_name} - {$domain_next_due_date} ({$domain_days_until_nextdue} Days){/if}

 

To renew a domain: You can renew a domain by visiting StrotherWeb.Com/Renewals

 

To cancel a domain: You can cancel a domain by visiting StrotherWeb.Com/Cxl-Domains

 

If you allow the domain to expire, any web site or email services associated with it will stop working. Note that domain renewals are not usually included in credit card auto-pay subscriptions.

 

{$signature}

 

We find now that most people renew after that 12 day reminder. Some do allow them to lapse, at which point we manually send:

 

Dear {$client_name},

 

A registered domain on your account has expired and the domain has now lapsed. We sent several domain renewal notices to you prior to the expiry date, but the domain was not renewed.

 

Any websites & email accounts hosted under the domain name have stopped working.

 

Domain: {$domain_name} Expiry Date: {$domain_expiry_date}

 

It's not too late to renew this domain! Domains have a 30 days post-expiry period during which they can still be renewed. You can renew this domain now by visiting StrotherWeb.Com/Renewals.

 

Your login is {$client_email}. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it from the login screen.

 

This is the final email we will send you regarding the renewal for this domain. If you have not renewed this domain within 30 days of the expiry date , the domain will be made available to the public for purchase and you will lose all rights to it.

 

{$signature}

 

Most people who do want to keep a domain will usually renew the minute they see that, the rest were probably never going to renew anyway.

 

Last year we had two people try to renew after they had gone into redemption, so we just handled that directly.

[ScrltOTara]

That's great info, thank you! I think we'll switch to manual renewals. One issue, however, is that when a client goes to view his domains, under the domain options, he can set it to autorenew. Any way to shut that off?