How to enable automatic payment for a .lv domain name?

The automatic payment for a domain name is a service that allows the domain name user (holder) to enable regular invoice payments for renewing the right to use the domain name without manual intervention by the domain name user. This service provides the user with the option to automatically extend the domain name usage rights for the next period, ensuring that regular invoice payments are not missed due to oversight or other reasons.

WHY IS AUTOMATIC PAYMENT FOR A DOMAIN NAME IMPORTANT?

1. Uninterrupted Online Presence: A domain name is like a business card in the digital world – it leads to your website, email, and other digital resources. An inactive or lost domain name can cause major issues, such as website downtime and lost clients. Automatic payment reduces the risk of losing your domain name if a payment deadline is missed.
   
2. Time Savings: There’s no need to remember and manually renew the domain name rights each year. This is especially useful if you have multiple domain names to manage.
   
3. Protection Against Domain Name “Hijacking”: If the domain name rights are not renewed, the domain becomes available for new registrations. Automatic payment eliminates this risk by keeping the domain name rights intact.
   
4. Payment Planning: The ability to activate regular payments helps plan annual expenses, which can be crucial for businesses with a limited budget or individuals.
   

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN USING AUTOMATIC PAYMENT?

Although automatic payment is convenient, it is recommended to regularly review your payment and associated credit card information, such as expiration dates. It’s also helpful to set a reminder in your calendar for upcoming invoices and their payment deadlines. This not only serves as a reminder for potential payments but also allows you to track and plan expenses.

NIC provides this service free of charge. Costs related to the payment services of the selected bank are in accordance with the bank’s pricing.

ENABLING AUTOMATIC PAYMENT FOR .LV DOMAIN NAMES

Automatic payment for domain names can be enabled individually for each domain name and only in the NIC Online System while logged into your profile:
- For individuals, only the respective domain name user can enable it;
- For legal entities, the administrative contact person associated with the domain name can enable it.

1. In the NIC Online System, go to “Recurring Payments” and select “My Cards”:
   

   

2. To enable automatic payment, you first need to link a payment card, so select “Add card”:
   

   

3. Next, a new tab will open where you need to enter your card details – card number, cardholder’s name, expiration date, and CVC or security code, which is located on the card and consists of three digits. Once all details are entered, click “SAVE CARD”:
   

   

4. Next, your bank’s website will open, informing you that you need to authenticate yourself by entering a PIN code on the device connected to the “SMART-ID” app. (You may also be able to authenticate using your bank’s app, depending on your bank service provider.)
   

   

5. Then you will be redirected back to the NIC Online System - your profile, where information about the newly linked bank card is displayed. Here you can perform the following actions:
   
   PASSIGN DEFAULT CARD STATUS: This allows you to automatically change the linked payment card for all domain names that previously had a card with default status assigned. (For example, if you manage 10 domain names with a payment card set to default status for automatic payments, and this card expires, you can simply add a new payment card and assign it default status. You don’t need to change the payment card for each domain name individually.)
   
   CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE CARD: This allows you to easily differentiate which of your cards you are using. (For example, link your salary card to one domain name and use a separate card for online purchases for the others.)
   
   DELETE CARD: Deleting the payment card will prevent automatic payments for any other domain names linked to it.
   

   

6. Next, select “AUTOPAY”:
   

   

7. Under “ASSIGNED CARD (VALID UNTIL)”, click “CHOOSE” and select the card (if multiple cards are linked) that you want to use for the specific domain name payment:
   

   

8. Once this is done, the date of the first automatic payment will appear next to “AUTOPAY”:
   

   

Congratulations! The automatic payment has been enabled!

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

First attempt at automatic payment is made 7 (seven) days before the domain name’s renewal invoice payment date.

1. If the payment is successful, you will receive an email notification confirming that the payment was successful:
   

   

2. If the payment fails:

• The payment attempt will be repeated daily until the invoice payment deadline. The domain name user (or the administrative contact person for legal entities) will receive an email notification after each attempt, indicating whether the payment was successful or not, along with a link to manually complete the payment.
  

After the invoice payment deadline has passed, if the automatic payment was unsuccessful, the invoice can only be paid through the usual methods: by bank transfer via internet banking, at a bank branch, or in the NIC Client Online System using the available payment options.

• After the payment period has ended, an email reminder will be sent stating that the payment has not been received. Seven (7) days after the reminder, the domain name’s technical records will be disabled, meaning that both the website and email will not function. The domain name user has 30 (thirty) days to make the payment and reactivate the domain name.
  

If you have any questions, please contact us by emailing dns@nic.lv or calling +371 67085858. We will be happy to assist you!