Saw a Seal?

Click on it and verify that it properly links to SBTRUST.ORG.

Found an Invalid Seal?

Please report all bad seals.

Confirming Policies

Monitored web pages are captured and stored every day by SBTRUST. However, you can request that SBTRUST store any other page.

Why Firms use SBTRUST

Companies that use SBTRUST do so because they are confident in the legitimacy of their operations and thus do not mind a third-party monitoring their policies, assisting in disputes and gathering customer feedback. In short, firms use SBTRUST to promote trust between themselves and potential clients.

Using SBTRUST

Our services can be used to build a digital document trail containing the correspondence and policies associated with a dispute. Normally, if a formal complaint is lodged against a company, it is done with the office of the Attorney General of the State in which the company operates. SBTRUST will provide retrieval and authentication services free of charge to assist with putting together your complaint, should it be necessary.

  Home / Consumer Services / Seal Programs

February 2, 2004: SBTRUST Seal links should point to any of:
      http://www.sbtrust.org/rating.php
      http://www.sbtrust.org/privacy_validator.php
      http://www.sbtrust.org/validator.php

SBTRUST provides a number of Seals that subscribers can use to demonstrate that they use the SBTRUST services and to indicate that they are participating in one or more Seal Programs.

Read below to learn about each program and what it means to the consumer.

  SUBSCRIBER SEAL

When a web site displays this seal it indicates that they are a subscriber to SBTRUST. This means that customers and potential customers have several services available free-of-charge that they may use to help guarantee that all transactions are handled properly.

Clicking on the seal should result in a pop-up window that displays a summary of the company's SBTRUST Status.


  RATING PROGRAM SEAL

When a subscriber is displaying a rating seal it means that they are participating in the SBTRUST Rating Program. This program allows a company's customers to provide three ratings for a firm:
      1. Pre-order rating; for example, how the firm's web site displayed content and provided important information.
      2. Order Handling Rating; for example, did the transaction process properly; was a correct invoice sent; etc.
      3. Post-Order Rating; for example, was the expected product/service provided in a timely manner; how was post-order support; etc.

By clicking on the seal one can see how previous customers have rated the firm.

If you are a client of a company participating in this program then you will have an opportunity, after making a purchase, to submit your ratings.


  PRIVACY PROGRAM SEAL

When a firm is participating in the SBTRUST Privacy Guarantee Program they will display the above seal. If it is valid then the firm has agreed to the following:

     1. A customer has the right to remove their contact information from the firm's database(s). The firm is required to indicate how this can be done in their online privacy policy.
     2. If the firm reserves the right to sell or otherwise distribute personal and/or contact information then this is clearly stated in their online privacy policy.
     3. A consumer may opt-out of any and all marketing e-mail sent by the vendor by sending, from the e-mail address on record with the vendor, an opt-out request to the vendor.
     4. SBTRUST is permitted to log the firm's privacy policy every day to ensure that changes are tracked and registered independently.

Note, some companies may opt to have their privacy policy monitored but may not be participating in the compliance program. You can verify the program(s) in which the company participates by checking their status. For clarification of any online policy maintained by an SBTRUST subscriber, use the Policy Confirmation service.


  POLICY MONITORING PROGRAM SEAL

When a subscriber participates in the Policy Monitoring Program it means that they are allowing SBTRUST to capture, timestamp and store the online policy and that customers can request that SBTRUST authenticate the policy displayed on a web site for any given day. The purpose of this program is to allow companies to demonstrate to customers that they are having a third party monitor their policies. In these cases, customers should feel certain that the company will not pull a bait-and-switch or other such fraudulent action.


If you have questions regarding any of these programs and/or seals, please contact SBTRUST.