How does identity verification work?

Broadway Babysitters works with Stripe to conduct identity verification online. Stripe builds technology that’s used by millions of companies around the world such as Amazon, Google, and Zoom. Stripe helps with everything from accepting payments to managing subscriptions to verifying identities.

We use Stripe Identity for identity verification and other business services. Stripe collects identifying information about you and the devices that connect to its services, including via cookies. Stripe uses this information to operate and improve the services it provides to us, including for fraud detection, authentication, and analytics. You can learn more about Stripe, Stripe Identity, and read its privacy policy

Stripe helps Broadway Babysitters confirm your identity by conducting the following checks:

1. Stripe captures images of the front and back of your government-issued photo ID and reviews it to make sure that the document is authentic. They’ve built an automated identity verification technology that looks for patterns to help determine if an ID document is real or fake. This process is like a bank teller checking your ID document to confirm that it’s real.
2. Stripe captures photos of your face and reviews them to confirm that the photo ID belongs to you. They’ve built automated identity verification technology that uses distinctive physiological characteristics of your face (known as biometric identifiers) to match the photos of your face with the photo on the ID document. This process is similar to a bank teller confirming that the photo on your ID document is you based on your appearance—but it’s a higher-tech and more accurate way to identify you as a unique person.
3. Stripe collects your name, date of birth, and government ID number, and validates that it’s real. They’ll check this information against a global set of databases to confirm that it exists.

Stripe will ask for your consent before collecting and using your biometric information. They’ll only use your verification data in accordance with the permissions you grant before starting the verification process, and based on their Privacy Policy.

Learn more about how Stripe is storing and handling your data.

Broadway Babysitters does not receive, process, or store any biometric data or uploaded files in connection with your identity verification. We only use a unique identifier to retrieve the outcome of the verification. You can also ready more in the Broadway Babysitters Privacy Policy.

What are the best practices for a successful verification?

Before starting the verification process, here’s what you need:

• A valid government-issued photo ID document. Not a photocopy or a picture of an ID document. Ensure that the ID document isn’t expired.
• A device with a camera, if possible, use a mobile device. Cameras on mobile devices typically take higher-quality photos than a webcam.

The quality of the images captured affects success rates dramatically. Below are a few best practices to help make sure that your verification succeeds:

• Capture a clear image. Make sure that the images aren’t too dark or bright, and don’t have a glare. Hold steady and allow your camera to focus to avoid blurry photos.
• Don’t block any part of your ID document in the image. Ideally you can lay it flat to take the photo.
• Don’t block any part of your face. Remove sunglasses, masks, or other accessories.
• Find a location with ambient lighting. Avoid spaces with strong overhead lights that cast a shadow on your face or ID document. Avoid sitting directly in front of a bright light which can wash out your face and add a glare to your ID document.

Who has access to my verification data?

Both Broadway Babysitters and Stripe have access to the information that you submit through the verification flow. We rely on Stripe to help store your verification data. Stripe uses access controls and security standards that are at least as stringent as those used to handle their own KYC and payments compliance data.

Learn more about how Stripe handles and stores your data.

Why am I asked to verify my identity?

To keep both families and sitters safe and comply with various federal and state laws, we now require that all users verify their identity.

Why did my verification fail?

Here are some reasons an identity verification may fail:

• The provided identity document has expired.
• The provided identity document did not contain a picture of a face.
• The captured face image did not match with the document’s face.
• Stripe couldn’t verify the provided selfie.
• The captured face image was manipulated.
• Stripe couldn’t verify the provided identity document.
• The provided identity document isn’t one of the session’s allowed document types.
• A user didn’t provide the necessary consent to have their data processed.

Users are provided with a reason for the failure, but if you have questions, you can contact us and we will happy to help where we can!

How can I access or delete my verification data?

Please see this Stripe article with more information about how they manage and store your data. If you would like us to delete any information on your behalf, please contact us and we will be happy to help.