Frequently asked questions

Domains that are not renewed by their original owners, or are set to be deleted by the registry for other reasons, will be released at preset times or during specific timeframes. This release process is known as a domain drop. The exact release time varies depending on the domain extension. Domain drop catching is a fiercely competitive industry where advanced algorithms have a significant advantage. These algorithms are almost impossible to beat via manual registration unless you use a backordering service. Catch.Fast utilizes top-tier algorithms to help you start on the same line as other competitors, providing a fairer opportunity to secure premium domains. Our success rate ranks among the best in the industry, and we continue to invest heavily in optimizing our algorithms to maintain our strong competitive edge.

We currently focus on the ccTLD market, but we will also increase our investment in the gTLD market in the future, and we are continuously introducing new supported extensions. For the latest list of supported extensions, please visit: https://catch.fast/tlds/.

Our registration process is very simple and usually takes only 1 minute to complete. After registration, the system will send an activation email. Once you click the activation link, your account will be activated.

Typically, this happens because newly activated accounts have not yet submitted a default billing profile, which is required for us to issue future invoices. If you have already set up your default billing profile and still cannot participate in backorders or auctions, please contact us.

For new customers, we allow a maximum of 2 concurrent domain backorders and a $1,000 total auction budget by default. Once your first order is fully paid and confirmed, your limits increase to 10 concurrent backorders and a $5,000 total auction budget.

A backorder uses one slot while awaiting a catch result, including after its deadline. A successful direct allocation keeps that slot until payment in full is confirmed. A failed, redeemed or cancelled backorder releases its slot. When a caught domain enters a published auction, its backorder slots are released and the separate auction budget applies. Direct backorder fees do not use your auction budget.

Your auction budget is shared across auctions. Leading bids reserve your private maximum; unpaid auction wins reserve the winning price, excluding tax. Being outbid or paying an invoice in full releases that reservation. Maximum bids must be positive whole USD amounts.

Creating an order or invoice, returning from Checkout, or voiding an invoice does not release a payment reservation. Refunds and unresolved payment holds can reserve the allowance again until reviewed or the order is cancelled.

All transactions are charged in US Dollars (USD). We currently accept card payments through Stripe. Backorder prices and auction winning bids exclude tax; any applicable tax is added and shown on your invoice before payment.

We operate on a "no success, no fee" principle. An invoice will only be issued to you after a successful backorder or a winning auction.

Full card details are entered on Stripe’s hosted checkout. Catch.Fast does not store full card numbers or card security codes. We receive payment references, status and transaction information needed for invoices, delivery, refunds and disputes. See our Privacy Policy for details.

Applicable taxes depend on your billing location, customer status and the tax rules that apply to the sale. Any tax charged is itemized on your invoice before payment. Business customers can add their EU VAT number to their Billing Details for verification; reverse charge applies only where the relevant conditions are met. Catch Fast Limited remains the seller.

We require you to settle your invoices within 7 days of issue. Domains cannot be transferred to another registrar until payment is complete.

If an invoice remains unpaid for more than 1 week (7 days) after it is issued, you will not be allowed to place backorders or participate in auctions until payment is completed. If it remains unpaid for more than 2 weeks (14 days) after it is issued, your account will be banned.

If you intentionally refuse to pay, we may take further legal action, or we may retain or sell the domain. For auction domains, the domain may be offered to the next highest bidder, re-auctioned, kept in our domain inventory, or sold through other channels. We have a zero-tolerance policy for defaulters who try to "disappear" and will take legal action if necessary. In short, if you do not intend to fulfill your commitment, please do not bid or backorder.

You can search and backorder dropping domains at https://catch.fast/backorders/. Different domains and extensions have varying deadlines, but all backorders must be placed before the domain is released.

You can cancel a backorder before its displayed deadline. After that deadline it is committed under our normal service rules, subject to any mandatory cancellation or withdrawal rights. See our Terms of Use.

When an expired domain is successfully registered by the Catch.Fast system and there are multiple backorders for it, it will enter a public auction. At the end of the auction, the highest bidder wins the domain.

If the domain is successfully registered by the Catch.Fast system and you are the only user who backordered it, the domain will be delivered to you shortly after you complete the payment.

Domains that enter a public auction are open to all users, regardless of whether they placed a backorder. The starting price is the backorder price. If multiple users backordered at the same price, the user who placed the backorder first will be the leading bidder when the auction starts. Once the system confirms the domain will enter an auction, the auction begins immediately and concludes at 14:00 (UTC) on the 5th business day.

The minimum bid increment depends on the current bid. All amounts are in USD.

Minimum bid increments in USD

Current Bid (USD)	Minimum Increment (USD)
$99 and below	$5
$100 to $499	$10
$500 to $999	$25
$1,000 to $4,999	$100
$5,000 to $9,999	$250
$10,000 and above	$500

Proxy bidding allows you to set the maximum price you are willing to pay for a domain. The system will then automatically bid on your behalf—only bidding the minimum amount necessary to keep you in the lead—up to your maximum bid. Your maximum bid is kept strictly confidential and will never be revealed to other bidders.

A bid that changes the public price or leading bidder in the final 5 minutes extends the auction to 5 minutes after that bid. This can repeat. Raising only your own leading maximum does not extend the auction.

Under our normal auction rules, accepted bids cannot be reduced or withdrawn. A confirmed maximum bid commits you to pay the final winning price, up to that maximum, plus applicable tax if you win. Mandatory consumer cancellation and withdrawal rights remain unaffected; an online auction is not automatically exempt. See our Terms of Use for corrections, disputes and statutory rights.

If an invoice remains unpaid for more than 1 week (7 days) after it is issued, you will not be allowed to place backorders or participate in auctions until payment is completed. If it remains unpaid for more than 2 weeks (14 days) after it is issued, your account will be banned.

Unpaid invoices may be handed over to a collection agency.

After an award, you receive an invoice for the agreed price plus applicable tax, payable within 7 days. Once payment is confirmed and delivery is eligible, My Invoices shows a transfer code, a receiving registrar TAG form or the processing status. The domain remains held by Catch Fast Limited or a cooperating company until payment and the required transfer and holder-change steps are complete. Payment, viewing a code or submitting a TAG alone does not make you the holder.

No. Catch.Fast provides domain acquisition and delivery, not ongoing domain management or renewal. Domains are initially registered in our company’s or a cooperating company’s name. Transfer promptly after payment once delivery is available, and complete any required holder change. We send a reminder if a paid domain remains with us 60 days before expiry. There is no automatic renewal or indefinite holding service; an untransferred domain may lapse subject to our delivery obligations, any agreed extension and mandatory law. See our Terms of Use for full details.