In Step 1 of this 2 part series we described the steps necessary to change the registrar accounts on a domain purchased through IPower.  However, that will not update the credit card and billing information, which could prevent the domain from successfully renewing upon the expiration of the domain registration.  This step will address how to finish this process and establish the appropriate billing information securely within the IPower system.

The Hypothetical Example

Say you have a website covering the topics of home theater seating.  Maybe you purchased the domain with several others like it as part of a brain storming session when you were initially planning you web strategy. Now your site is in full swing and you no longer need this domain so you decide to sell it off for a certain amount of money.  This sale should be permanent.  The domain should not revert back to the seller in 6 months, and to achieve that with IPower you have to walk through an odd little process.

This process involves actions that will need to be performed by the seller and the buyer separately on the IPower site.

Conceptually, the seller needs to remove the domain from their account so that IPower can later reassign the account to the buyer

TIP!  this is why I like to do the Tucows step first, so that IPower can then see who really has purchased this domain!

 

Sellers Process for Transferring a domain at IPower

1. 1) Log into the Control Panel http://www.ipower.com/member with your username and password.
2. 2) Under Domain click on the option ‘Domain Central’.
3. 3) Click on the domain name.
4. 4) Click on ‘Remove’ button.

Buyers Process for Transferring a domain at IPower

First the Buyer will need to establish a Free domain parking account with IPower.  There is no charge for this, but to get to the point where the account is setup, the process is somewhat counterintuitive and the buyer may feel like they are going through a process that will ultimately charge them a fee, this is not the case.  There should be no reason to buy anything, but providing credit card information for the future auto renewal of the domain will be necessary.

To establish a domain parking account go to IPower.  Click on the Home button in the top left hand corner.

Then Navigate to Transfer under Domain Registration

Click on “Use an Existing Domain” (notice there is no fee for domain parking in the checkout basket).  or select Do Not Register a domain and then later add the domain to the account that you will

Complete your order, which will establish your user account.

 

 

 

If you opted for “Do not register a domain” above, you will now need to add your existing domain to your new and existing Ipower account.  In order to add the domain to the new owner account, please follow the steps given below:

1. 1) Login to Control Panel http://www.ipower.com/member with your username and password.
2. 2) Under Domain click on the option ‘Domain Central’.
3. 3) Click on ‘Add Domain to Account’.
4. 4) Enter the Domain name.
5. 5) Click on ‘Add Domain’ button.

 

Here is a copy of my full transcript on this issue

The following is a transcript of your chat session.

General Info

Chat start time

Jul 20, 2008 9:06:17 AM EST

Chat end time

Jul 20, 2008 9:46:22 AM EST

Duration (actual chatting time)

00:40:05

Operator

Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name

Chat Transcript

info: Thank you for contacting support.
Please be prepared to answer your Security Question when we begin chatting. To enhance our security protocols, we’ll need you to provide the answer to your Security Question at the beginning of our conversation. If you have not yet set your Security Question and Answer, please log into your account now to set it up. Thank you.
Please hold for the next available operator to respond.
info: You are now chatting with ‘Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name’
Yours Truly: Hi Rep with a Last Name for a First Name
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Hi Yours Truly. My name is Rep with a Last Name for a First Name, how are you today?
Yours Truly: I need to transfer the ownership of a domain on my account to a different person. How do I do that?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: While reviewing your account, I have noticed that you have not yet set the Security Question for your account. To set the ‘Security Question’ for your account, please follow the steps given below:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 1) Log into the Control Panel with your account username and password.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 2) Click on the link ‘Set Security Question’ under Account Information section.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 3) Click the ‘New Profile’ radio button.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 4) Enter First Name, Last Name, and set the Security Question and Answer.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 5) Click on the ‘Save’ button.
Yours Truly: I do in fact have a security question on my account
Yours Truly: I have had it there for quite some time.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: In order to assist you further, please set the Security Question for your account and provide us the answer for the Security Question.
Yours Truly: OK, done, so now I have a different (additional) problem. Why was my security information wiped out?
Yours Truly: This is not the first time, I’ve had to chat in regards to my account.
Yours Truly: I’ve been through the security question before.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: To protect your account from unauthorized changes, can you please verify for me the answer to the Security Question:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: What is the answer to your security question?
Yours Truly: My Answer to My secuirty question
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Thank you for the authentication.
Yours Truly: So why did my security question get wiped out?
Yours Truly: and how do I transfer the ownership on my account?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Due to some technical glitch.
Yours Truly: ok, so how do I transfer the domain registration and remove a domain from my account?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Could you please let me know whether you wish to change the ownership of the domain or account?
Yours Truly: I only want to change the ownership of the domain, my-own-domain.com and not the account nor any of the other domains on the account.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: In order to change the ownership of the domain, you need to change the contact e-mail address of the domain.
Yours Truly: will that create a new account then for my-own-domain.com?
Yours Truly: I do not want the new owner to have access to my other domains nor any of my credit or billing info.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: To change the contact information for your domain, please refer to the steps given below:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 1. Log into https://manage.opensrs.net/ with domain name, domain username and domain password.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 2. Click on the ‘Admin Contact’ link.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 3. Enter the new contact information. If you wish to apply the changes to Organization, Billing and Technical contact information too, check on the ‘Yes’ radio button available under the ‘Also Apply these changes to’ option.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 4. Click on the ‘Save Configuration’ button.
Yours Truly: OK, that raises 2 issues
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: No, it will not create new account.
Yours Truly: First, I’m very familiar with Tucows. I need my password there reset.
Yours Truly: After I make the change at Tucows, do I then update something in my account through domain central?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: I have sent the domain Login information to your domain Administrative e-mail address. Please retrieve the information from this e-mail address.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: No, it is not required to update in the Domain Central.
Yours Truly: thanks, got it and can access tucows now.
Yours Truly: So how does the billing change hands for the new owner?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: You’re welcome!
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Yes, you can access.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: If you wish to apply the changes to Organization, Billing and Technical contact information too, check on the ‘Yes’ radio button available under the ‘Also Apply these changes to’ option.
Yours Truly: Sure, but how will the new owner log in to IPower to setup their credit card later on so that you can then charge them when it comes time to renew the domain registration?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Can you please hold while I review your account and get back within 2 to 3 minutes?
Yours Truly: Sure.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Thank you for holding.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: You need to remove the domain ‘my-own-domain.com’ from your account ‘Yours Trulybum’ and add the domain to new owner account. In order to remove the domain, please follow the steps given below:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 1) Log into the Control Panel http://www.ipower.com/member with your username and password.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 2) Under Domain click on the option ‘Domain Central’.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 3) Click on the domain name.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 4) Click on ‘Remove’ button.
Yours Truly: Can I do that before I change the info at Tucows or after or does the order matter?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: In order to add the domain to the new owner account, please follow the steps given below:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 1) Login to Control Panel http://www.ipower.com/member with your username and password.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 2) Under Domain click on the option ‘Domain Central’.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 3) Click on ‘Add Domain to Account’.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 4) Enter the Domain name.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: 5) Click on ‘Add Domain’ button.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: You can do changes before or after removing the domain.
Yours Truly: So what if the new owner does not have an Ipower account (ergo this will be their first)?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: He needs to sign up for an account.
Yours Truly: Where could he do that?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: In order to sign up for an account, please refer the link given below:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: http://www.ipower.com/ipower/index.bml
Yours Truly: I do not see anything on that page to set up an account?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: You need to select ‘Buy Now’ option bottom of the plan.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: http://www.ipower.com/ipower/webhosting_starter.bml
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: In order to sign up for a Domain Parking account, please refer the link given below:
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: https://secure.ipower.com/register/registration.bml?masters=194
Yours Truly: Will this be considered ‘an existing domain’ then?
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Yes.
Yours Truly: OK, great, I think I have what I need on this account.
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: You’re welcome!
Yours Truly: Have a good day!
Rep with a Last Name for a First Name and a First name for a Last name: Is there anything else I can assist you with today?
Yours Truly: Nope, I’ll cover my other issues when I get back into the office. Thanks again.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 22nd, 2008 at 12:02 pm and is filed under Domain Strategies, iPower. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.