This document was last modified on October 22, 2024.
As a domain registrant, it's important to be aware of your rights and responsibilities under ICANN's policies. Together with the community, ICANN has developed a comprehensive set of Registrants' Rights and Responsibilities that outlines the key principles and guidelines protecting you as a domain name holder. We encourage you to review this document to ensure you are informed and confident in your domain registration.
1. Registration and Usage Terms
The registration and use of domain names is subject to acceptance of the present Domain Names Policy as well as the general Domain Registration Agreement, available here: https://whc.ca/legal/domains/domain-registration-agreement
Depending on the domain type (also referred to as TLD) requested, WHC Online Solutions Inc (WHC) may, at its own discretion, either register the domain directly as its sponsoring Registrar, or execute the registration through another duly authorized sponsoring Registrar. You can determine which Sponsoring Registrar was used to register your domain by performing a WHOIS verification on your domain name following its registration.
2. Availability and Registration
WHC can only register on your behalf domain names that have not already been registered and thus are deemed to be available. You can verify any domain’s availability on the WHC web site, using the Domain Names Search Tool. WHC makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of the results provided by the Domain Name Search tool. Once a domain has been found to be available, it can be reserved by completing the online order form on the WHC web site. Payment of a domain name registration does not immediately guarantee the registration of that domain. You will be sent a domain registration confirmation once WHC has confirmed your registration, normally within 24 hours of your order. In the unlikely event that WHC was unable to register a purchased domain, WHC's support team may assist you in finding an alternate available domain name, or refund your purchase.
3. Renewals
You are responsible for renewing your domain names with WHC before their expiration date. WHC will issue renewal notices and renewal invoices by email prior to your domain’s expiry date in order to facilitate the renewal process, and will attempt to renew domains on your behalf following receipt of payment. WHC will send you a confirmation email if the domain has been successfully renewed.
WHC will generate renewal invoices automatically for all your active domains at least 40 days prior to their expiration date. When we generate a new invoice, we'll send you an email with a copy of the invoice and will also make the invoice available in your Client Area.
Unless otherwise requested, WHC will attempt to charge the payment method on file 5 days prior to your invoice's due date. In the event that you do not wish to renew a domain, you can turn off that domain's auto-renewal from the Client Area at least 10 days prior to your service’s renewal date in order to avoid being charged for its renewal. Once executed, domain renewals are non-refundable.
You must maintain an active email address on file with WHC at all times in order to receive important account information, including invoices and expiry notices, and to comply with the Domain Registration Agreement.
By making any purchase by credit card or by adding a valid credit card to your account, you authorize WHC to automatically use this credit card for any due invoices on your account, until otherwise requested. You may manage your credit card information on file from your Client Area at any time.
In most cases, expired domain names can be renewed for up to 30 days following their expiration at the regular renewal rate; however, due to varying conditions based on the type of domain purchased (also known as Top-Level Domain, or “TLD”), WHC cannot guarantee the successful renewal of an expired domain name. WHC will make all reasonable efforts to secure a domain’s renewal once payment is received, but cannot guarantee any specific results. In the event that a paid renewal cannot be completed, paid renewal fees will be refunded.
Most domains that expire beyond a certain number of days can enter a special state called a “Redemption Period” in which they may not be transferred or renewed. The Client may reactivate a domain name in its Redemption Period at an additional cost, by contacting WHC or renewing the domain in the client area.
Details for the domain registration and renewal fees are displayed on our website at the time of registration. Details for Redemption periods and applicable fees are available on our website on the pages for each TLD. These can be found from our Domain Name Search page by clicking on “Show all domains” and selecting the TLD.
4. Domain Agent Authorization
By having your domain registered with Web Hosting Canada as of December 1, 2016, you are authorizing WHC to act as your Designated Agent and to authorize registrant contact information changes on your behalf, from your secure Client Area.
5. Refunds
Once registered, transferred or renewed successfully, domain names are non-refundable and are not eligible for refund. Paid domain name registrations, transfers, or renewals that could not be completed can be refunded following a written request submitted through the Client Area within 30 days of initial payment.
6. Limitation of Liability
WHC is not responsible for any losses caused directly or indirectly by errors resulting from incorrect configuration or handling of the domain name, beyond the initial registration, transfer, or renewal fees paid at the time of registration, transfer, or renewal.
7. DNS Records Modifications
You may configure your domain's DNS records (globally known as DNS Records, but often also referred to as CNAME, A, MX or PTR Record changes) using WHC's courtesy DNS Manager service through your secure Client Area. Incorrect configuration of your domain name's DNS Records may result in an inaccessible web site or email service. As such, you agree to make these changes or use this interface at your own risk.
8. Dispute Resolution Policy
Please refer to ICANN’s Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) for the official policies with respect to a complaint about the registration or phrasing of a domain name that may be infringing trademarks. In the case of .CA domains, please refer to CIRA’s CDRP Process. As a domain registrar, Web Hosting Canada cannot and will not directly intervene or pass judgement in domain disputes.
9. Registry-Specific Registration Policies
Each domain type (or TLD) is managed by a specific registry, which sets out its own terms and conditions of use. By registering your domain through WHC, you agree to abide by your TLD registry's rules and regulations.
TLDs are divided into 2 categories: general TLDs (or gTLD) that are available worldwide, such as .com, .net, and .org, and country-code TLDs (or ccTLD) such as .ca, .fr and .us, that are specific to a country and might have additional presence requirements
gTLD Domain Registration Policies (including .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .name, .mobi and .tv Domains)
gTLD Specific Policies are available at https://www.1api.net/legal/gtld-domain-registration-policy
.CA Domains
.CA domains must comply with CIRA’s terms and conditions: cira.ca/policy/rules-and-procedures/general-registration-rules.
Those wishing to register a .CA domain must comply with Canadian presence requirements, as described here: https://cira.ca/canadian-presence-requirements-registrants
For .CA domains registered by individuals, personal information is automatically hidden from the public WHOIS database, at no extra charge. If registering a .CA domain as a non-individual (such as a corporation or organization), personal information will be made available on the WHOIS database.
ccTLD Domain Registration Policies (including .fr, .us, eu, .be domains)
ccTLD Specific Policies are available at https://www.1api.net/legal/cctld-domain-registration-policy
10. Language
A French version of this document is available at https://whc.ca/mentions-legales/domaines.
11. Questions and Concerns
If you would like more information about WHC’s Domain Names Policy, please contact WHC via our helpdesk. We will deploy our best efforts to assist you.
