Terms of Service

Last updated: April 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Credo's background screening services ("Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not access or use the Services.

These Terms apply to all users of the Services, including registered account holders, API consumers, and visitors using the free screening tool.

2. Description of Services

Credo provides background screening services that include:

  • Watchlist screening against OFAC, sanctions, PEP, and 80+ global databases
  • Fuzzy name matching with composite confidence scoring
  • Real-time screening results via API and web interface
  • Webhook-based asynchronous result delivery
  • Screening history and reporting dashboard
  • API access for integration with third-party applications

3. Account Registration

To use our Services, you must register for an account. You agree to:

  • Provide accurate, current, and complete information
  • Maintain the security of your API keys and account credentials
  • Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access
  • Accept responsibility for all activities under your account
  • Not share API keys publicly or commit them to version control

4. Acceptable Use

You agree to use the Services only for lawful compliance purposes, including:

  • AML/KYC compliance screening
  • Customer due diligence and onboarding
  • Employee background checks (where legally permitted)
  • Third-party risk management and vendor screening

You may not use the Services to:

  • Discriminate against individuals based on race, religion, gender, or other protected characteristics
  • Stalk, harass, or intimidate any person
  • Resell or redistribute screening data without authorization
  • Circumvent rate limits, quotas, or access controls
  • Reverse-engineer our matching algorithms or databases
  • Bulk-download, scrape, or systematically extract watchlist data
  • Use the Services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose

5. Data Processing

By using our Services, you acknowledge that:

  • We will process personal data as described in our Privacy Policy
  • Screening data is matched against publicly available government and international watchlists
  • You have obtained necessary consents from individuals being screened
  • You will comply with all applicable data protection laws (GDPR, CCPA, PIPEDA, etc.)

6. Fees and Payment

  • First Month Free: New accounts on the Starter and Professional plans receive up to 10 ID verifications and 10 background screenings at no cost during the first calendar month after registration. Unused free checks do not roll over. Standard per-use rates apply after the first month or once the free allocation is exhausted
  • Paid Plans: Billed monthly according to your selected pricing plan
  • Unused screenings do not roll over to the next billing period
  • You agree to provide accurate billing information and authorize charges
  • Prices are subject to change with 30 days written notice
  • You may cancel at any time; no refunds for partial billing periods

7. API Usage

  • API keys are confidential and must not be shared publicly or embedded in client-side code
  • Rate limits apply: 5,000 requests per 15-minute window per API key
  • We reserve the right to throttle or suspend accounts that abuse the API
  • API responses must not be cached for longer than 24 hours
  • You must handle webhook signatures to verify payload authenticity

8. Data Accuracy Disclaimer

Screening results are provided "as is" for informational purposes only. While we strive to maintain accurate and current data, we do not guarantee that screening results are complete, error-free, or up-to-date at all times.

Our data is sourced from publicly available government and international organization databases, including data aggregated by OpenSanctions. You are solely responsible for making compliance decisions based on screening results. A "no match" result means no match was found in our databases at the time of the search — it does not guarantee the person is not on any watchlist globally.

9. Intellectual Property

The Services, including the Credo name, logo, website design, API, and matching algorithms, are owned by Credo and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

Screening results may be used in your compliance workflows but may not be redistributed as a standalone data product.

10. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

11. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CREDOSCREENING SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES.

Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Credo and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the Services, violation of these Terms, or infringement of any rights of a third party.

13. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to the Services at any time for violation of these Terms, with or without notice. You may delete your account at any time by contacting support. Upon termination, your API keys are immediately revoked and your right to use the Services will immediately cease.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or a notice on our website at least 30 days before they take effect. Your continued use of the Services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

15. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved in the courts of Toronto, Ontario.

16. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Email: support@credoscreening.com
Website: credoscreening.com
Address: Toronto, Ontario, Canada