Paid Services & Payment Policy

Animaat -- Verification & Badges Policy
Effective Date: 20th December, 2025

This Policy defines the rules, eligibility requirements, documentation obligations, review procedures, and consequences related to Verification and Badge Issuance on Animaat. It supplements the Terms of Use and the Paid Services & Payment Policy and applies to Personal Accounts, Business Accounts, and Professional Accounts (when activated in later phases).

1. Purpose & Fundamental Distinction

1.1 Core Objectives: The Animaat Verification and Badge system serves distinct but complementary purposes designed to build trust, ensure authenticity, and enhance user experience within our community.

1.2 Verification – Purpose:
Verification serves to:

  • Confirm Authenticity: Establish that an individual or business is who they claim to be.
  • Prevent Impersonation: Protect the platform and community from fraudulent accounts and identity misrepresentation.
  • Build Foundational Trust: Enhance credibility in interactions by confirming the reality of the account holder.

1.3 Badges – Purpose:
Badges serve to:

  • Identify Attributes: Signal specific qualifications, capabilities, classifications, or ethical standings of an account (e.g., Pet-Friendly Spot, Shelter/NGO, Eco-Friendly, Cruelty-Free).
  • Enable Discovery: Support users in filtering, searching, and navigating the platform based on meaningful categories.
  • Communicate Values: Allow businesses to visibly align themselves with community-valued practices.

Important: Badges do NOT confirm identity; they confirm type or qualification based on submitted evidence.

1.4 No Endorsement or Partnership: Neither verification nor badges constitute an endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, or guarantee of quality by Animaat. They are visual indicators based on documentation review at a specific point in time.

1.5 Revocable Privilege: Verification and badge status is a revocable privilege granted at Animaat’s sole discretion, not a contractual right.

2. Badge Categories & Definitions

Animaat maintains official badge categories to ensure consistency and clarity. Applicants must provide verifiable documentation demonstrating they meet the specific, current criteria for the badge(s) requested.

2.1 Pet-Friendly Spot Badge

  • Purpose: Identifies physical establishments that openly welcome pets and have policies/facilities to accommodate them.
  • Eligible Entities: Cafés, restaurants, hotels, parks, co-working spaces, retail stores, rental properties, and any other location with a public-facing pet-friendly policy.
  • Core Evidence Required: Documentation may include photos of pet-friendly amenities/signage, website/social media pages stating the pet policy, business license for the location, and proof of address.

2.2 Welfare Partner Badge

  • Purpose: Identifies organizations whose primary mission involves active, direct support of animal welfare, rescue, rehabilitation, or advocacy.
  • Eligible Entities: Registered non-governmental organizations (NGOs), animal shelters, rescue groups, sanctuaries, and non-profit organizations with proven welfare activities.
  • Core Evidence Required: Official NGO/non-profit registration certificate, website/active social media demonstrating ongoing welfare work, and may require additional proof of active operations and impact.

2.3 Cruelty-Free Product Badge

  • Purpose: Identifies brands offering consumer products that are not tested on animals at any stage of development or production and adhere to recognized cruelty-free standards.
  • Eligible Entities: Manufacturers, distributors, and brands of cosmetics, household items, apparel, or other consumer goods.
  • Core Evidence Required: Valid certification from a recognized international cruelty-free organization (e.g., Leaping Bunny, PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies), official company policy statement, and commercial registration.

2.4 Green Leader Badge

  • Purpose: Identifies businesses or locations demonstrating verifiable, ongoing commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious practices.
  • Eligible Entities: Any business implementing measurable eco-friendly practices in operations, supply chain, or community impact.
  • Core Evidence Required: Relevant environmental certifications (e.g., B Corp, Green Key, ISO 14001), published sustainability report/policy, or documented evidence of specific green initiatives (waste reduction, renewable energy usage, conservation programs).

3. Types of Accounts & Eligible Requests

3.1 Personal Accounts

Personal users may request Identity Verification only. This provides a green verification tick which confirms SOLELY that:

  • The user is a real individual.
  • The submitted government-issued photo ID matches the account holder’s name.
  • The user has passed a live face verification check against the submitted ID.
    Identity Verification does NOT indicate: public figure status, celebrity, expertise, influence, or any qualitative endorsement.

3.2 Business Accounts
Businesses, brands, organizations, and public figures may request:

  • Verification (confirming the authenticity of the entity).
  • One or more applicable badges from the categories defined in Section 2, provided they meet the specific criteria.

4. Universal Eligibility & Qualification Requirements

4.1 Account Standing: All applicants must maintain an active Animaat account in good standing with a complete and accurate public profile.

4.2 Compliance History: Applicants must have no recent or severe violations of Animaat’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Use.

4.3 Public Presence: Applicants must have a verifiable public presence relevant to their account type (official website, active social media profile, physical location with online listing).

4.4 Document Authenticity: All submitted documents must be authentic, unaltered, current, and clearly legible.

4.5 Badge-Specific Adherence: Badge holders must demonstrate not only initial qualification but ongoing compliance with the badge’s defined criteria. The badge represents a current status, not a historical achievement.

4.6 Prohibited Entities: Animaat will not verify or award badges to accounts associated with illegal activities, industries violating our Payment Processor’s terms, entities promoting animal cruelty, fraudulent accounts, or accounts with a history of payment disputes with Animaat.

5. Mandatory Documentation Requirements

5.1 Submission Protocol: All documents must be submitted through the official Animaat verification portal. No other submission methods are valid.

5.2 Document Requirements by Request Type:

For Personal Identity Verification:

  • A valid, government-issued photo ID (Passport, National ID Card, Driver’s License).
  • A clear, recent selfie for live face match verification.

For Business Verification:

  • Official business registration, trade license, or incorporation certificate.
  • Proof of operating address (utility bill, bank statement, lease agreement no older than 3 months).
  • An official link to a primary website or active social media account.

For Badge Applications (IN ADDITION to Business Verification Docs):

  • Specific, verifiable evidence proving qualification for each requested badge (as outlined in Section 2).

5.3 Document Standards:

  • Authenticity: Documents must be genuine and unaltered. Digital forgeries or edits will result in permanent disqualification.
  • Currency: Proof of address and operational documents should typically be issued within the last 3-6 months.
  • Clarity: High-resolution scans or photos with all text fully legible.
  • Language: Preferably in English or Arabic. Documents in other languages may require a certified translation at Animaat’s request.

5.4 Consequences of Fraudulent Submission: Providing false, forged, or misleading documents constitutes a material breach of contract, results in immediate application rejection without refund, permanent account suspension, and may be reported to legal authorities.

6. Region-Based Requirements & Pricing Integrity

6.1 Binding Region Selection: Applicants must select their correct geographic region at checkout. Pricing varies by region based on operational costs and market factors.

6.2 Document-Region Consistency Imperative: The submitted business registration and proof of address must demonstrably align with the selected region. Animaat conducts rigorous checks for region-misrepresentation.

6.3 Zero-Tolerance for Mismatch: If documents contradict the selected billing region, Animaat will:

  • Reject the application immediately and permanently without refund.
  • Not offer resubmission under a different region for the same payment.
  • Flag the account for potential review of other activities.
    The user must initiate a completely new application and payment under the correct region.

7. Review, Approval & Discretionary Process

7.1 Sole Discretion: All verification and badge decisions are made at Animaat’s sole and absolute discretion. We are not obligated to provide detailed reasoning for rejections.

7.2 Review Process Stages:

  1. Automated Validation: System confirms payment completion and submission formalities.
  2. Administrative Screening: Team checks document completeness, format, and basic validity.
  3. Deep-Dive Verification: Authenticity of documents and applicant identity/legitimacy is assessed through internal and third-party validation tools.
  4. Badge Criteria Audit: For badge requests, submitted evidence is meticulously reviewed against published category criteria.
  5. Final Determination: Approval or rejection notification is delivered via in-app message and email.

7.3 Processing Timeline Framework:

  • Standard Timeline: 5-10 business days from complete submission.
  • Extended Timeline: Complex cases, ambiguous documentation, or high-volume periods may extend processing beyond 10 business days.
  • No Guarantees: Animaat does not guarantee specific processing times. Delays do not constitute a breach of policy or basis for refund.

7.4 Official Communication Channels: All status communications originate from within the Animaat platform or from contact@animaat.contact email addresses. Applicants should not respond to or provide information to unverified contacts.

8. Grounds for Application Rejection

An application may be rejected for any reason, including but not limited to:

  • Incomplete, invalid, unclear, or contradictory documentation.
  • Mismatch between selected region and documentary evidence.
  • Failure to meet eligibility criteria outlined in Section 4.
  • Past or present violation of Animaat’s Community Guidelines or Terms of Use.
  • Suspected fraud, deception, or misleading representation.
  • Association with prohibited activities or sanctioned entities.
  • Business model or practices conflicting with Animaat’s core mission and values.
  • Payment failure, reversal, or chargeback associated with the application fee.

CRITICAL REMINDER: REJECTED APPLICATIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY NON-REFUNDABLE. This term is non-negotiable and detailed in the Paid Services & Payment Policy.

9. Ongoing Compliance, Monitoring & Revocation

9.1 Continuous Obligation: Verification and badge holders must continuously maintain the standards that qualified them. This is an ongoing requirement, not a one-time checkpoint.

9.2 Duty to Disclose Changes: You must promptly update your Animaat profile and notify Animaat Support of any material change affecting your eligibility (e.g., business closure, change in practices, loss of certification).

9.3 Grounds for Revocation: Animaat may revoke verification or badge status immediately, without notice or refund, including for:

  • Material inconsistency in account information.
  • Business cessation or failure to maintain badge qualification criteria.
  • Discovery of misrepresentation in the original application.
  • Any violation of Animaat’s Terms, Community Guidelines, or this Policy.
  • Initiation of a chargeback or payment dispute.
  • Conduct damaging the integrity or reputation of Animaat’s trust systems.
  • Formal request from law enforcement or regulatory authority.

9.4 Reapplication After Revocation: If status is revoked, you may be permitted to reapply after a mandatory 90-day cooling-off period, subject to a new full application, documentation review, and payment of current fees. Reapplication permission is not guaranteed.

10. Strict Prohibitions Against Misuse

10.1 Absolutely Prohibited Conduct:

  • Claiming, implying, or suggesting an endorsement, partnership, or sponsorship by Animaat.
  • Selling, leasing, transferring, or sharing access to a verified account or badge.
  • Using Animaat’s verification tick or badge imagery on external platforms, products, or marketing materials without explicit prior written authorization (limited use in associated social media bios may be allowed).
  • Impersonating another verified entity or individual.
  • Any action that undermines community trust in the verification/badge system.

10.2 Severe Enforcement: Violation constitutes a material breach leading to immediate permanent revocation of all statuses, account termination, forfeiture of all fees, permanent ban from future verification services, and potential legal action.

11. Payment Integration & The No-Refund Principle

11.1 Policy Integration: The Paid Services & Payment Policy is fully incorporated here. Its terms regarding non-refundable payments, region-based pricing, and severe chargeback consequences are absolute and govern all transactions under this Policy.

11.2 Pricing Adjustments: Animaat may adjust verification and badge pricing due to changes in payment processor fees, operational costs, or regulatory requirements. Existing holders will be notified of price changes affecting renewals.

11.3 Payment Issues & Immediate Suspension: Failed payments, financial investigations, or chargebacks will trigger immediate suspension of all verification and badge statuses until resolution fully favoring Animaat. Reactivation is not automatic and may require a new application.

12. User Acknowledgement & Liability Framework

BY APPLYING, YOU EXPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT:

  • VERIFICATION CONFIRMS AUTHENTICITY; BADGES CLASSIFY ATTRIBUTES. NEITHER ARE QUALITATIVE ENDORSEMENTS.
  • THE SYSTEM IS PROVIDED “AS IS” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR FITNESS.
  • YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL CONSEQUENCES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR RELIANCE ON YOUR STATUS.
  • ANIMAAT’S MAXIMUM LIABILITY IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO THE FEE PAID FOR THE SPECIFIC APPLICATION, AS PER THE TERMS OF USE.

13. Policy Hierarchy & Updates

13.1 Governing Document Hierarchy: This Policy is subordinate to the Animaat Terms of Use and the Paid Services & Payment Policy. In any conflict, the Terms of Use prevail, followed by the Payment & Paid Services Policy.

13.2 Amendment Rights: Animaat reserves the right to modify this Policy, including badge criteria, pricing, and procedures. Continued use of verification/badge services after updates constitutes acceptance. Material changes will be communicated via platform notifications.

14. Contact for Policy Inquiries

For questions regarding this policy (not application status):
Animaat Verification Policy Support
Email: contact@animaat.com