WordFoneHelp and answers
Frequently asked questions
The practical details of searching, verifying, publishing, protecting, reporting, and renewing a WordFone identity.
What can I do for free?
Search and availability checks are free and do not require an account. Phone verification by SMS is also free, but it requires an account because we need to connect the verified number to the right member.
When do I pay?
Payment happens only at the claim and publish step. You can search first, then verify the phone number, then decide whether to publish the verified alias as a paid annual subscription.
When does an alias become mine?
An alias becomes live and exclusive in the directory only after phone verification and successful payment. Before payment, the alias may show as verified and ready, but it is not a permanent reservation and can still be claimed by someone who completes the full flow first.
How is the price tier chosen?
The app classifies aliases into Standard, Short, or Premium tiers. Standard names are usually longer or multi-word aliases, Short names are shorter or single-word aliases, and Premium names are very short, high-demand, or manually flagged by an administrator. The price is shown before you pay.
Is there a founding-customer discount?
There can be. If the founding discount is enabled and the configured cutoff has not been reached, the checkout can apply the current discount rules automatically. The app may support a first-year discount or a locked-in early renewal price depending on configuration.
Does WordFone replace my telephone number or register a domain?
No. Your telephone number remains the destination for a normal call. The name.tld format is a memorable directory format only; it is not a DNS or internet-domain registration.
Why do I need to verify a primary number?
Verification helps prevent somebody from publishing an identity for a number they do not control. A primary identity is resolvable only while it has passed verification and is published. We ask for re-verification periodically and whenever the primary number changes.
What happens after phone verification but before payment?
The alias is marked as verified but unpublished. It is ready to claim, but it is not visible as a live directory entry and should not be treated as yours forever until payment succeeds.
How do renewals, grace periods, and release work?
Published aliases renew annually. Auto-renew is enabled by default through the payment provider, and we send renewal reminders before expiry. If renewal fails, the alias enters the configured grace period; if it is still not renewed by the end of that grace period, it is released back to available status.
Will I receive a receipt or invoice confirmation?
Yes. After a successful publish or renewal, WordFone sends a payment confirmation email to the account email address. Stripe may also send its own receipt or invoice emails depending on the payment settings configured for the account.
Why are some countries or suffixes unavailable?
WordFone can launch country by country. If a country is switched off in the supported-country list, its suffix will not appear in normal claim and search choices until it is enabled.
What do private, public, and listed mean?
Private active identities show only that the WordFone is active but private. Public active identities can reveal the telephone number after confirmation and show registration, renewal, and verification details, but not the display name. Listed active identities show the same public details plus the display name.
Can I share a private identity without listing it?
Yes. The owner of a verified private identity can create private access links and share them directly. The link label is required and is prefilled with a random two-word phrase so the owner can recognise the link later. When the link is created, the page also shows a labelled QR code that can be downloaded immediately as SVG or PNG. A private access link can be revoked, can expire, can have a maximum-view limit, and can reveal the display name only if the owner enables that option.
Can I get a private access link again if I forget to copy it?
No. Private access links and their QR codes are shown once only. The raw token is not stored, so the original URL and QR code cannot be recovered later. Create a new private link and revoke the old one if you are not sure it was copied safely.
Can I see when a private link is used?
Yes. The Private links page shows total views and the last-used time. Each successful private-link view is also recorded in Recent account activity as Private link used: label, with the date and time, IP address, and device string.
What does a directory query show?
A query for an active public or listed identity can reveal the telephone number after a confirmation step to reduce automated lookups. Public results do not show the display name. Listed results show the display name, the first registration date, the last renewal date, and that the phone number is verified.
What is an address-style entry?
It is an entry beneath a published primary identity, such as sales@green-grocer.uk, that directs to another telephone number. Its destination number is not verified, cannot be edited after creation, and is labelled as unverified.
How do identity reports work?
Anyone can report a WordFone identity by entering the name.tld identity, choosing a reason, and adding relevant non-sensitive details. Reports can be linked to a claimed identity when it exists, but the report form does not expose private owner information.
How can I secure my account?
Verify your email address, use a strong unique password, and enable an authenticator app or passkey. Keep recovery codes offline and private. We record relevant account activity and send security notifications to verified email addresses.
Can I edit, cancel, or delete an identity?
You can change its display name, pronunciation hint, visibility, and primary number. A changed number needs verification again. You can delete an identity; its alias is held for the configured hold period before another member may claim it. Subscription cancellation and renewal handling depend on the payment provider state and the current lifecycle status.
How do moderation and appeals work?
Moderators can resolve reports, dismiss them, suspend identities with a reason, and consider an owner appeal. Account activity keeps an audit trail of moderation and appeal events.