Terms of Use
Effective June 30, 2026
These Terms of Use (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Checkfmtwebsite, API, and MCP server (together, the “Service”), operated by Checkfmt(“we”, “us”). By accessing or using the Service, or by generating or using an API key, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.
1. The Service
Checkfmtis a developer API (and MCP server) that validates the format and checksums of IBAN and BIC/SWIFT codes, relays EU VAT lookups to the European Commission’s official VIES service, and decodes VIN values via the US NHTSA vPIC database. Results are returned on demand.
2. Not a guarantee, and not professional advice
A valid format, checksum, or lookup result confirms only that an identifier is well-formed or, for VAT/VIN, what the upstream registry returned at that moment. It does not guarantee that any account, business, or vehicle exists, is active, is solvent, or belongs to any particular person. You must not rely on the Service as the sole basis for any financial, legal, onboarding, anti-fraud, tax, or compliance decision. The Service is informational and is not legal, tax, or financial advice.
3. API keys & your responsibility
You are responsible for keeping your API key confidential and for all activity under your key. Do not share it publicly. Notify us promptly of any unauthorized use.
4. Acceptable use
You agree not to use the Service to:
- harass, defraud, unlawfully profile, or discriminate against any individual or business;
- process identifiers in violation of applicable data-protection law (e.g., GDPR/CCPA) for the data you submit;
- exceed, evade, or interfere with rate limits or quotas, or place an unreasonable load on the Service or on the upstream VIES or NHTSA systems;
- resell or redistribute the raw API as your own substantially similar product;
- violate any applicable law or the usage terms of the upstream registries.
5. Plans, quotas & billing
The Service offers a free tier with a monthly request allowance and paid plans with higher limits. Paid plans are billed through Stripe on a recurring basis until cancelled; you authorize those recurring charges. Quotas and rate limits apply per plan and may change. Fees are non-refundable except where required by law.
6. Third-party services
EU VAT validation depends on the European Commission’s VIES service and VIN decoding on the US NHTSA vPIC database; both are operated by third parties and are periodically unavailable. When an upstream is down, the API returns a clear error to retry on rather than a false result. Billing uses Stripe. We are not responsible for the availability, content, or accuracy of these third-party systems.
7. Data & privacy
We store the account email and API-key metadata needed to authenticate requests, enforce quotas, and bill paid plans. Identifiers you submit are validated or relayed to the relevant upstream to produce your result and are not retained by us afterward. We do not sell your data.
8. Intellectual property
The Service, including the site, documentation, and software, is owned by us. Subject to these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use the API.
9. Disclaimers
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. We do not warrant that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or that any result will be accurate, current, or complete.
10. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, we will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits or data, including any loss arising from reliance on a validation result. Our total liability arising out of or relating to the Service will not exceed the greater of the amounts you paid us in the twelve months before the claim or US $100.
11. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify and hold us harmless from any claim or demand arising out of your use of the Service, the data you submit, or your violation of these Terms or any law or third-party right.
12. Termination
You may stop using the Service at any time. We may suspend or terminate your access if you violate these Terms, abuse the Service, or create risk or legal exposure for us. Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive.
13. Changes
We may modify the Service or these Terms. If we make material changes, we will update the effective date above and, where appropriate, provide notice. Your continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.
14. Governing law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the state in which the operator is principally located, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules, and you submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located there for any dispute arising under them.
15. Contact
Questions about these Terms? support@checkfmt.com.