The Online Code of Conduct

Due to the abundance of online unethical practices, both in the social as well as the business environments, webTRUST has set up the following Code and Certification for Philippine-based  Associations, Organizations  (NGO's and other non-profit organizations), Foundations, Businesses and Commercial web sites.

Code of Online Ethical Practices

Purpose

This Code of Online Ethical Practices is designed to be the basic Ethical Conduct to be observed by any online and electronic interaction between a webTrust Certified Entity and its web users, setting forth practices that will elevate the trust and confidence in all and every interaction between parties.

This code achieves this in the following ways:

1. This code provides an acceptable and generally desirable standard and self-regulation which is always in the public interest. We compel Certified Entities to comply with this Code precisely to elevate trust and confidence by showing that the entity has defined standards.

2. All entity that complies with the Code
agree to provide any information, practice Good will and resolve any dispute that may arise

3. Assure that all user will be attended to after whatever type of interaction, be it social or commercial.

(a.) Entities that agree to the Code demonstrate their commitment to the Code of Standards by
displaying the "webTRUST" seal on their
website.

(b.) All guidelines may be adapted as long as the Principle of “Good will” is maintained.

Principles regulating the Entity-User Interaction

The following principles are the basis for the Code of Online Ethical Practices.

These principles should be read carefully by all subscribers and upon any confusion or doubt, the reader should contact webTRUST in order to clarify the situation.

Principle of Disclosure of Identity, Ownership and Transaction:

An Online webTRUST Certified Entity must disclose to their users or customers detailed information
about the entity and its services.

Information provided to the users/clients/customers must meet the following standards:

	Social/Legal name which the company uses to conduct business.
	Information that the legal registrant of the website where transactions are made must match the business name or company owner unless explicitly stated in the privacy statement and terms and conditions.
	Physical address and location from where the entity operates, specifying: Street, City , Country, Post Code, Telephone # & Contact person

Online entities that conduct unsolicited email marketing campaigns must supply all recipients with the ability to request that they not be contacted in the future or provide an "Unsubscribe" link or opt-out botton. 

As a general practice, Certified Entities are not permitted to collect any personal identifiable information of any user.

Principle of Honest, Truthful and Accurate
Communications: The information provided by the entity must always be clear and only serve to inform the user and never be deceptive, misleading nor confusing

Customer Service, Care and
Satisfaction: Certified Online entities must endeavor to ensure that their customers are satisfied by
responding to and answering questions and/or enquires.

Certified Online Merchants

Online merchants must resolve complaints
and disputes as soon as possible.

They must  provide a mechanism on their website in order for a customer to contact them to issue feedbacks, complaints and/or disputes.

In the case that a dispute can not be
resolved promptly the merchant must offer a
refund of the purchase amount or offer a
dispute resolution by means of a third party.

Protection of Minors and Children
a Certified Online entities must take special care
and precautions when marketing or providing
content to children under the age of 16.

• Any information requested from website users under the age of 16 must be supplied with the full consent
  of the child’s parent or legal guardian.

• As a general rule children under the age of
  18 can not purchase any goods or services.

Terms|Conditions

a.) Online Entity: A person or entity which
either solicits donations, funds or any mode of solicitation or offers goods and/or services online, accepting payment for such solicitation, goods and/or services.

b.) Web User: Any person who accesses a web site and uses its facilities and/or subscribes to their newsletter or requests any type of transaction.

c.) Online Transaction: A broad term meant to cover all types of internet solicitation and contracts such as, but not limited to, reservations, purchase of goods, purchases of services, buy and sell, bartering, etc.

Failure to agree to or accept the provisions of this Code and Terms will originate the unilateral termination of services on the part of webTRUST.

webTRUST maintains a blacklist (right column) of all entities which do not comply, or have not continually complied with this Code and Terms. Web users are requested to access the listing with frequency (once a month) as any entity could be blacklisted due to failure to comply with the standards and our Terms.