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Policy for restoring expired domain registrations from One Click Actions

Last update: November 6, 2024

One Click Actions has developed this Expired Domain Registration Recovery Policy (“Policy”) to comprehensively regulate the recovery and renewal procedures for domains after registration expiration. This Policy is based on the requirements of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the applicable legal requirements in Germany to ensure transparent handling of expired domain registrations.

1. purpose of the directive

The purpose of this policy is to provide customers with clear information and instructions on how to restore domain registrations that have expired. This will ensure that all domain owners have a fair opportunity to renew and secure their domains in a timely manner before they are permanently deleted and released for general registration.

2. notification procedure before the domain registration expires

One Click Actions is committed to informing domain owners early and repeatedly about the upcoming expiration date of their domain to remind them of the possibility of renewal. The notification process provides for several stages to ensure that domain owners have sufficient time to act:

  • First notification: 30 days prior to the expiration date, an email notification will be sent to the domain owner’s primary email address. This first notification informs about the upcoming expiration date and provides detailed instructions on how to renew the domain.
  • Second notification: 15 days before the expiration date, a new e-mail notification is sent to the domain holder, which serves as a reminder to renew and contains instructions on how to do so.
  • Third notification: 7 days before the expiration date, a final reminder will be sent to the registered e-mail address. This contains important information about the risk of deactivation of the domain if the renewal process is not followed.

Notifications are sent to the domain holder’s e-mail address stored in the system. Domain holders are responsible for ensuring that their contact details are up-to-date and correct.

3. expiration of the domain name and effects

If a domain registration is not renewed before the expiration date, the domain automatically enters the “Expired” status. This has the following effects:

  • Deactivation of the domain: The domain is temporarily deactivated, which means that all associated services – such as websites and email accounts – are no longer available.
  • Display of placeholder content: Typically, the expired domain is redirected to a placeholder page from One Click Actions that indicates that the domain has expired and provides recovery information, if applicable.

It is important that domain owners consider the loss of their services on expiry and renew in good time to avoid disruption.

4. grace period

After the expiration date, One Click Actions grants a grace period of 30 days during which the domain owner can renew the domain at the regular renewal cost. The grace period serves as an additional period of time during which domain owners can renew the registration before additional fees or restrictions apply.

  • Renewal option: During the grace period, the domain can be easily renewed at the regular renewal price without incurring additional fees.
  • Restricted access to the domain: Although the domain is not yet deleted in this phase, it remains deactivated. The services associated with the domain, such as websites and email addresses, will remain inactive.
  • Notifications during the grace period: During the grace period, the domain holder receives regular e-mail notifications reminding him of the renewal and pointing out the risks of non-renewal.

One Click Actions recommends renewing the domain within the grace period to avoid unnecessary fees or the permanent loss of the domain.

5. redemption grace period

If the domain is not renewed within the grace period, it enters the so-called “Redemption Grace Period”, which lasts a further 30 days. In this phase:

  • Restoration for a fee: The domain holder still has the option of renewing the domain, but additional restoration fees will be charged, which are higher than the regular renewal costs. This restoration fee covers the additional administrative costs associated with restoring the domain.
  • Continued deactivation: During the Redemption Grace Period, the domain will remain deactivated and all associated services, such as websites and email services, will be unavailable.
  • Notification of costs and losses: One Click Actions will send a notification to the registered e-mail address to inform the domain owner of the additional recovery fee and the imminent end of the deletion period.

It is strongly recommended to restore the domain before the deletion period expires in order to avoid the permanent loss of the domain.

6. deletion and release of the domain for general registration

At the end of the deletion period, the domain is automatically deleted and released for general registration. The original domain holder then loses all claims and rights to the domain.

  • Final deletion: The domain is removed from the registration databases and is no longer available until it is released for a new registration by a third party.
  • Availability for the general public: As soon as the domain has been deleted, it is released for general registration and can be registered by any third party. There is no guarantee that the original domain holder will be able to register the domain again once it has been released.
  • Re-registration option: If the original domain holder wants to get the domain back, he must go through the regular registration process, whereby the availability of the domain is not guaranteed, as third parties could already register the domain.

7 Fee structure and payment methods

One Click Actions charges various fees for the renewal and restoration of domain registrations, depending on the stage of the expiration process:

  • Regular renewal: The costs for regular renewal are listed in the current price list and apply to renewals made before the expiration date or during the grace period.
  • Restoration fee during the deletion period: The restoration fee is higher than the regular renewal fee and covers the additional administrative costs associated with restoring the domain. The exact amount of the restoration fee can be found in the price list.
  • Payment Methods: One Click Actions accepts various payment methods including credit cards, bank transfers and online payment services to provide customers with flexible payment. Payment must be made within the specified deadlines to ensure domain recovery.

8. notifications after expiry of the domain

One Click Actions regularly informs domain owners about the status of the domain even after the expiration date to give them the opportunity to restore it in good time:

  • First notification: 1 day after the expiration date with information on deactivating the domain and renewing it immediately.
  • Second notification: 5 days after the expiration date with a reminder of the renewal and recovery options.
  • Third notification: 25 days after the expiration date, highlighting the upcoming end of the grace period and the additional costs of the Redemption Grace Period.
  • Notification during the deletion period: A further reminder will be sent when the domain enters the deletion period to draw attention to the additional recovery fee and the imminent end of the domain registration.

These notifications ensure that the domain owner remains informed of the current status throughout the entire process and has the option of recovery.

9. responsibility of the domain holder

It is the responsibility of the domain owner to ensure that all contact details are correct and up to date. This includes the email address to which notifications are sent. One Click Actions accepts no liability for the loss of a domain due to missing or outdated contact details.