Validity Check

Feature Snapshot

Summary:
TrustedForm Validity Check is a feature that programmatically verifies whether a TrustedForm certificate URL is valid—confirming that the certificate is current and not expired.

Key Benefits:

• Prevents attempts to process outdated, invalid, or non-existent certificates
• Automates certificate validation across high volumes of leads
• Provides clear diagnostic details when a certificate fails validation

Typical Use Cases:

• Validating a lead’s certificate before purchasing or processing the lead
• Integrating certificate validity checks into automated lead management systems
• Troubleshooting certificate issues by identifying expired or malformed certificates

How the Validity Check works

TrustedForm Validity Check operates by having you submit a TrustedForm certificate URL to the Validate API. The API examines the certificate by checking its creation date and correct formation. If the response returns an outcome of “success”, the certificate is confirmed as valid; if it returns “failure”, the accompanying reason explains issues such as the certificate being more than 90 days old or never having existed, providing valuable diagnostic insight.

Step‑by‑Step Instructions

1. Obtain Access:
   Ensure you have an ActiveProspect account with a TrustedForm subscription that grants you access to the Validate API.

2. Receive the Certificate URL:
   When a lead is generated, capture the TrustedForm certificate URL provided by the lead vendor or embedded by TrustedForm Certify.

3. Make an API Request:
   Use the Validate API as documented in the TrustedForm API Documentation. Include the captured certificate URL in your request to initiate the validity check.

4. Review the API Response:
   The API responds with a JSON object containing an outcome field and a reason field.
   – A valid certificate returns an outcome of “success” with an empty or explanatory reason.
   – An invalid certificate returns “failure” with a reason such as “Certificate is more than 90 days old.”

Expected Result:
For a valid certificate, you should receive a JSON response like:

{
  "outcome": "success",
  "reason": ""
}

For an invalid certificate, an example response might be:

{
  "outcome": "failure",
  "reason": "Certificate is more than 90 days old."
}

Troubleshooting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I get access to TrustedForm Validity Check?
A: Any ActiveProspect account with a TrustedForm subscription has access. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up for one via ActiveProspect’s registration portal.

Q: Will Validity Check allow me to view and retain TrustedForm certificates?
A: No. Validity Check is solely used to verify if a certificate is valid; to view or store certificates, you must own the originating domain or use the TrustedForm Retain product.

Q: How much does it cost to use Validity Check?
A: It is completely free—there are no separate costs associated with checking certificate validity.

Q: Can I perform a Validity Check in LeadConduit?
A: Yes. Instead of making a direct API call, LeadConduit offers an operator that checks if the certificate URL format is valid and not expired.

Q: Do I need to perform a Validity Check before using other TrustedForm products?
A: Not necessarily. While it is most useful for verifying certificates from resellers who do not retain them, users of other TrustedForm products receive notifications about certificate status as part of their broader feature set.

Glossary