Dispute Resolution Policy
ETHICCRED DISPUTE RESOLUTION POLICY
1. Purpose
This Dispute Resolution Policy establishes the procedures for reporting, reviewing, investigating, resolving, correcting, restricting, suspending, or removing disputed records, certificates, recommendations, verification records, professional information, and other content maintained through the EthicCred Platform.
2. EthicCred's Role
EthicCred acts as a technology platform facilitating professional records, certifications, recommendations, verification services, and credential management. EthicCred is not an employer, a court of law, an arbitrator, a government authority, a law enforcement agency, or a professional licensing authority. EthicCred does not determine guilt, innocence, liability, criminal responsibility, or legal rights.
3. Eligible Disputes
Users may submit disputes relating to employment records, internship records, volunteer records, conduct certificates, experience certificates, recommendation letters, educational records, verification results, profile information, unauthorized records, duplicate records, or identity-related concerns.
4. Grounds for Dispute
A dispute may be submitted where a user reasonably believes information is incorrect, incomplete, misleading, outdated, fraudulent, unauthorized, duplicated, submitted by mistake, or attributed to the wrong individual.
5. Dispute Submission
A dispute request should include a description of the concern, the record being disputed, supporting evidence, contact information, and any relevant explanations. Submitting false or malicious disputes is prohibited.
6. Initial Review
EthicCred may conduct an initial review to determine whether sufficient information has been provided, the dispute falls within platform scope, or additional evidence is required. Incomplete requests may be rejected or returned for clarification.
7. Investigation Process
Where appropriate, EthicCred may review submitted evidence, audit logs, and system records, contact the issuing organization, and request additional information or supporting documents. EthicCred may use reasonable efforts to review available information but is not obligated to conduct formal investigations.
8. Issuer Response
Where a dispute involves an organization-issued record, EthicCred may provide the issuing organization an opportunity to respond. Organizations may submit explanations, corrections, supporting evidence, requests for modification, or requests for revocation.
9. Temporary Restrictions
During review, EthicCred may add dispute notices, restrict visibility, temporarily suspend records, limit verification access, or prevent public display. Such actions do not imply wrongdoing by any party.
10. Possible Outcomes
Following review, EthicCred may maintain the record, correct the record, update the record, restrict visibility, remove the record, revoke a certificate, add explanatory notes, or close the dispute without action. EthicCred retains discretion regarding platform actions.
11. Professional Opinions
Conduct certificates, recommendations, endorsements, evaluations, and professional assessments may contain subjective opinions. EthicCred may decline to remove records solely because an individual disagrees with an opinion, provided the record was properly authorized and does not violate platform policies.
12. Fraudulent Records
Where evidence suggests fraud, forgery, impersonation, fabricated credentials, unauthorized issuance, or other serious misconduct, EthicCred may suspend records, revoke certificates, restrict accounts, remove content, preserve evidence, and conduct additional review.
13. False Disputes
Users are prohibited from submitting knowingly false, fraudulent, abusive, or misleading dispute claims. Repeated abuse of the dispute process may result in warnings, restrictions, suspension, or account termination.
14. Audit Logs
EthicCred may maintain audit records relating to disputes, evidence submissions, communications, review actions, and administrative decisions. Such records may be retained for security, compliance, legal, and operational purposes.
15. Appeals
Where permitted, users may request reconsideration by providing substantial new information or evidence not previously reviewed. EthicCred is not obligated to reopen disputes absent new evidence.
16. Serious Professional Incidents
EthicCred may establish separate policies and procedures governing allegations relating to fraud, theft, harassment, violence, data misuse, financial misconduct, or regulatory violations. Additional evidence, review standards, and safeguards may apply.
17. No Legal Determination
EthicCred decisions are platform administration decisions only. Platform actions do not constitute legal findings, judicial decisions, employment rulings, criminal determinations, or regulatory determinations.
18. Limitation of Liability
EthicCred shall not be responsible for losses arising from disputed records, user submissions, organization submissions, verification outcomes, hiring decisions, employment decisions, or business decisions. Users and organizations remain responsible for independent due diligence.
19. Cooperation with Legal Authorities
Where required by law, court order, regulatory requirement, or lawful government request, EthicCred may cooperate with authorities and disclose relevant information as legally required.
20. Policy Changes
EthicCred may update this Policy periodically. Continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance.
21. Contact
Questions regarding disputes, appeals, investigations, corrections, revocations, or record management may be submitted through EthicCred's official channels.