Terms of Use
Effective Date: August 13, 2024
These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern the use of services provided by
Consumer Trust Advocacy, a DBA of Philo Council (a 501(c)(3)
organization). By accessing or using our website and services, you agree to
be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must
stop using our services immediately.
1. Overview of Services
Consumer Trust Advocacy provides a trust seal for businesses that have
undergone our vetting process, which includes background checks. Our
services help businesses showcase their credibility and trustworthiness to
consumers.
We charge a monthly membership fee based on the number of domains the
user wants to place our trust seal. The pricing is as follows:
• $29.99/month for one domain
• $49.99/month for up to five domains
• $99.99/month for unlimited domains
The membership fees cover ongoing vetting and monitoring services.
Business owners can place our trust seal on multiple websites if they operate
several businesses, as we vet the business owner, not the individual
company.
Please note: The membership fee only covers one business owner. If the
business has additional owners, each owner will be required to pay a
separate fee for vetting.
2. Background Check & Non-Refundable Fees
We charge a non-refundable background check fee of $75 as part of
the initial vetting process. This fee covers the cost of conducting thorough
background checks on business owners using Authenticate®, our thirdparty service provider. The background check will include verifying
employment, education, professional licenses, and other credentials, as well
as conducting a criminal background check.
If the business owner is not approved, any amount paid above the $75 fee
will be refunded.
3. Ongoing Monitoring
To ensure continued trust and security, we use Authenticate®’s Monitor
Users for Instant Risk Alerts service to continuously monitor our
members between the initial vetting and subsequent periodic checks. This
service tracks users in real-time for:
• Arrests, warrants, incarcerations, or bookings
• New sanctions, money-laundering alerts
• License suspensions, revocations, and other significant risk factors
The monthly membership fee pays for this continuous monitoring and
vetting to ensure businesses maintain the standards required for the trust
seal.
4. Additional Vetting Services
If a business owner wishes to add additional services or businesses to the
vetting process, we charge a minimum fee of $59 per additional service or
business. The fee may vary depending on the complexity of the vetting
required.
For businesses with multiple owners, each owner is required to go through
the vetting process and will be charged a separate background check fee.
5. User Responsibilities
By using our services, you agree to:
• Provide accurate, up-to-date information during the vetting process.
• Display our trust seal only on the approved domains for which you are
paying membership fees.
• Notify us immediately if there are changes in your business status,
such as legal actions, changes in ownership, or relevant background
changes.
• Use our services in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
6. Cancellation & Termination
• You may cancel your membership at any time. However, the
background check fee is non-refundable, and any prorated portion of
the monthly membership fee will not be refunded for the current
month.
• Consumer Trust Advocacy reserves the right to terminate your
membership and remove your seal if you fail to meet the vetting
requirements or violate these Terms.
7. Use of Third-Party Services
We use Authenticate® to perform background and criminal checks. By
agreeing to these Terms, you acknowledge and accept that Consumer Trust
Advocacy relies on the accuracy and timeliness of third-party services. We
are not liable for any errors or delays in the services provided by
Authenticate®.
8. Changes to These Terms
Consumer Trust Advocacy may update these Terms at any time. Any
changes will be communicated via email or posted on our website. Continued
use of our services after such changes indicates your agreement to the
revised Terms.
9. Disclaimer
Consumer Trust Advocacy provides services on an "as is" basis and makes
no warranties regarding the results of the vetting process. We are not
responsible for any business outcomes or consumer decisions made based
on the trust seal.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Consumer Trust Advocacy is not
liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from
the use of our services. Our total liability to you is limited to the amount you
have paid for our services in the preceding six months.
11. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these Terms, please contact
us at:
Consumer Trust Advocacy
A DBA of Philo Council (501(c)(3) organization)
contact@consumertrustadvocacy.org