1. LEGAL INFORMATION AND SCOPE OF APPLICATION
1.1. The Provider
The Very Véritable service is published and operated by:
Sarah SCHAFFNER EI
Sole trader operating under the French micro-enterprise regime
Trading name: Very Véritable
SIREN number: 993991603
Establishment number (SIRET): 99399160300016
Business address: 28A rue du Martincamp 59320 Radinghem-en-Weppes
Contact email: [email protected]
Business telephone: 06 95 96 42 42
(Hereinafter referred to as ‘Very Véritable’ or the ‘Provider’)
1.2. Purpose and Scope
These Terms and Conditions of Sale and Use (the ‘Terms’) govern the entire contractual relationship between Very Véritable and any professional (hereinafter the ‘Client’) wishing to use the service for verifying luxury items based on photographs (hereinafter the ‘Service’).
1.3. Service Reserved for Professionals (B2B)
The Service is strictly reserved for professionals (resellers, consignment shops, experts, concierge services, etc.) acting for the purposes of their professional activity. By accepting these Terms, the Client declares that they act in a professional capacity and, where applicable, are authorised to bind the business they represent. The Client provides accurate identification and billing information, keeps it up to date and, upon a justified request, supplies evidence enabling their professional status to be verified. The Service is not offered to consumers. These Terms do not, however, deprive the Client of any mandatory provisions applicable to them, including certain protections under the French Consumer Code where the conditions for those protections are met.
1.4. Acceptance and Applicable Version
The version of the Terms applicable to an order is the version brought to the Client's attention and accepted when that order is placed. The Client must be able to read the Terms and retain a copy before entering into a binding commitment. Subsequent amendments apply to new orders and do not retroactively alter the terms of services already ordered, unless the parties agree otherwise or a mandatory legal provision requires it.
1.5. Contractual Documents
Specific terms expressly accepted by the parties, including a quotation or a pricing schedule specific to the Client, prevail over these Terms in the event of a conflict. The characteristics and commitments expressly agreed for the order remain applicable. The mere transmission of the Client's purchasing terms does not constitute their acceptance by Very Véritable, subject to the legal rules applicable to the exchange of general terms and conditions.
2. SERVICE DESCRIPTION AND OBLIGATION OF MEANS
2.1. Nature of the Service
The Service consists of a visual technical analysis based on digital photographs submitted by the Client, with the aim of providing an independent professional opinion on the authenticity of a luxury brand item. Where a conclusion can be reached, this opinion is documented in a digital attestation (PDF), also referred to as a ‘certificate’ within the Service. It concerns the characteristics visible in the photographs and the information examined at the date of the analysis. The Service described in these Terms does not include a physical examination of the item. Any separate engagement must be covered by a written agreement specifying its scope.
2.2. Obligation of Means
Very Véritable is subject to an obligation of means (obligation de moyens under French law). The Provider undertakes to apply all its expertise and know-how to the analysis of items. The Client nevertheless acknowledges that analysis based on photographs inherently involves technical limitations compared with a physical examination, and that the risk of error cannot be entirely excluded. These limitations do not relieve Very Véritable of its duty to conduct a diligent analysis, request additional information or issue an inconclusive finding where the available information does not support a sufficiently substantiated opinion.
2.3. Scope of the Opinion and Independence
A finding of conformity or non-conformity expresses Very Véritable's assessment of the item's authenticity in light of the information examined. It is neither an official certification issued or approved by the luxury brand concerned nor a court-ordered expert assessment. Very Véritable acts independently of the brands mentioned. The Service does not include a valuation or verification of ownership, lawful provenance or the item's overall physical condition. It does not guarantee the item's future condition. The Client remains responsible for their obligations as a professional seller and for checks falling outside the scope of the engagement entrusted to Very Véritable.
3. PLATFORM ACCESS AND SECURITY
3.1. Client Account
Access to the Service requires the creation of a professional account. The Client is responsible for safeguarding their credentials, keeping them confidential and managing the access they authorise within their organisation. The Client informs Very Véritable without delay of any unauthorised access of which they become aware. Records of operations performed through the account may be used as evidence, subject to the Client's right to challenge them and the applicable rules of evidence. These obligations do not relieve Very Véritable of its own security obligations.
3.2. Right of Suspension and Termination
Very Véritable may suspend access to the Service to a proportionate extent in the event of non-payment, serious suspicion of fraud, a security risk, seriously abusive behaviour or non-compliance with these Terms. Except in an emergency or where a legitimate reason prevents prior notification, the Client is informed of the grounds and given a reasonable period to remedy the breach. Termination for a sufficiently serious breach takes place after formal notice specifying the time allowed and the possibility of termination if the breach is not remedied, unless the law permits an exception to that notice requirement. The Client is notified of the termination and its grounds. Services performed remain payable; amounts relating to services not performed are dealt with in accordance with these Terms and the applicable rules. These provisions are subject to the rules governing the termination of an established commercial relationship.
3.3. Platform Availability and Use
The Client uses equipment and a connection suitable for the Service and refrains from disrupting its operation, bypassing authorised access controls or extracting data in breach of applicable rights. Very Véritable takes reasonable measures to ensure access to the platform and remedy incidents. Interruptions may occur for maintenance, security or technical reasons. An interruption does not release the Provider from its obligations concerning accepted orders; its consequences are dealt with under Articles 5 and 8.
3.4. Account Closure
The Client may request closure of their account using the contact address given in Article 1.1. Account closure does not cancel orders already placed or immediately erase data whose retention remains justified. The Client may retain certificates already downloaded; account closure does not, in itself, revoke those certificates. If Very Véritable decides to discontinue the Service, the Client is informed with notice appropriate to the circumstances and legal obligations, so that ongoing orders can be dealt with and the documents to which the Client is entitled can be retrieved.
4. ORDER PROCESS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
4.1. Ordering and Submission of Information
The Client selects an available category and brand, provides the requested information and prepares the file. While a request remains a draft, the Client may correct or delete it. Final submission constitutes an order for an analysis on the terms and at the price or according to the calculation method previously communicated and accepted. The platform confirms that the request has been registered. This confirmation does not prejudge the technical quality of the submitted materials or the conclusion of the analysis. A request outside the scope of the Provider's expertise or the categories offered may be refused before the analysis begins; the Client is informed and any sums paid for that unperformed service are refunded.
The Client undertakes to upload photographs they have taken or commissioned and for which they hold the necessary rights and permissions. Submitting links to third-party websites or photographs of a different item is strictly prohibited. The photographs must be clear and comply with the platform's instructions. They must depict the same item in its condition at the time of the request, without editing or omissions likely to distort the analysis. The Client supplies any relevant information known to them, including repairs, alterations or replacement components. The Client remains responsible for the accuracy of the information supplied.
4.2. Unusable Photographs
If the photographs submitted are insufficient, Very Véritable will request additional photographs. If the Client fails to supply the requested materials or again submits unusable materials, Very Véritable may close the request after informing the Client of the missing materials, the reasonable period allowed for supplying them and the consequences of failing to provide a usable response. Where closure results from a breach by the Client, charges corresponding to work actually performed may be retained, up to the price of the service, provided that the basis for those charges and their calculation method were communicated and accepted before the order was placed. Otherwise, no specific closure charge is payable. Any remaining balance of a sum paid in advance is refunded. This provision does not prevent remedies based on a breach by the Provider.
4.3. Inconclusive Finding
If the photographs meet the quality requirements but the item has characteristics that are too complex or ambiguous for Very Véritable to issue a sufficiently substantiated opinion, an ‘Inconclusive’ finding will be issued. In that case, the service will be refunded in full if already paid for, or will not be invoiced otherwise. No certificate will be issued. This result constitutes neither a finding of authenticity nor a finding that the item is counterfeit.
4.4. Licence to Use Photographs
The Client retains any rights they hold in the photographs they submit. The Client grants Very Véritable a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to reproduce those photographs and make the technical adaptations necessary for the analysis, issuance of the certificate and retention of the file. This licence also permits the photographs selected for the certificate to be displayed on it, on the public verification page and in the Service's sharing tools. It applies for the periods necessary for those purposes and the defence of the parties' rights, in accordance with Article 9. It does not, by itself, authorise the use of the photographs for advertising. Any other use must have an appropriate authorisation or legal basis and be accompanied by the required information.
4.5. Cancellation at the Client's Request
The Client may request cancellation of an order by contacting Very Véritable and quoting its reference. If the analysis has not begun, cancellation is accepted without charge and any sums paid are refunded. Once the analysis has begun, cancellation is subject to the Provider's agreement; charges corresponding to work performed may only be retained on a basis and according to a calculation method accepted before the order, up to its price. A completed service remains payable, including where the conclusion is not the one the Client hoped for, subject to Article 4.3 and remedies based on a breach by the Provider. This Article does not restrict any right of withdrawal or other legal remedy applicable to the Client.
5. PROCESSING TIMES
5.1. Indicative Timeframes
Very Véritable aims to process requests within 24 working hours (Monday to Saturday inclusive), starting when the file is confirmed to be complete and usable. The initial review of the file is carried out within a reasonable period. The processing timeframe is indicative and excludes time spent awaiting additional materials requested from the Client. Any deadline expressly agreed as binding in specific terms applies in accordance with those terms.
5.2. Delay
A reasonable overrun of this timeframe, including due to illness, a technical fault or the complexity of the item, does not, by itself, give rise to automatic cancellation, a refund or compensation. The Client's remedies for a breach of the Provider's obligations remain subject to the applicable legal rules and these Terms.
5.3. Force Majeure
A party prevented from performing an obligation by an event meeting the conditions for force majeure under Article 1218 of the French Civil Code informs the other party as soon as possible and takes appropriate measures to limit its effects. The affected obligation is suspended for the duration of a temporary impediment, unless the delay justifies termination of the contract. A permanent impediment gives rise to the consequences provided for by law, including any restitution due. A breakdown, unavailability or illness does not automatically constitute force majeure.
6. PRICES AND PAYMENT TERMS
6.1. Prices
Prices are stated in euros (€), unless another currency is expressly agreed. The applicable price or its calculation method, any reductions and taxes are communicated to the Client before the order, on the Pricing page, in the pricing schedule sent to the Client or in accepted specific terms. The Client must be able to verify the total amount payable or the information needed to determine it. Where the French VAT exemption scheme (franchise en base de TVA) applies, VAT is not charged and the corresponding statement appears on the invoice: ‘VAT not applicable, Article L. 223-3 of the French Code of Taxes on Goods and Services (Code des impositions sur les biens et services)’. The tax treatment of transactions is determined under the applicable regulations; any change in tax regime is reflected in the pricing information, without unilaterally altering an already agreed price excluding tax.
6.2. Payment Arrangements
Services are invoiced monthly. Invoices are payable by bank transfer or bank card, in accordance with the instructions and payment methods provided by Very Véritable. The due date appears on the invoice and is no later than 30 days after its issue date. Each invoice lists the services charged and any reductions. The Client reports any discrepancy and pays undisputed amounts by the due date, without prejudice to their legal rights. No discount is granted for early payment unless expressly agreed.
6.3. Late Payment
In accordance with Article L.441-10 of the French Commercial Code, any amount unpaid by its due date accrues late-payment penalties from the following day, without a prior reminder, at an annual rate of 3 times the statutory interest rate applicable to professional claims. A fixed recovery-cost charge of 40 euros is payable for each invoice paid late. If the recovery costs incurred exceed that amount, additional compensation may be claimed upon supporting evidence. These provisions are subject to mandatory rules, including those governing insolvency proceedings.
6.4. Individual Pricing Terms and Services Charged
Specific pricing terms, which may include volume discount tiers, may be agreed individually with the Client. The thresholds, prices, reference period and method for counting services, together with the way the tiers are applied, are specified in the pricing schedule or agreement communicated to the Client and accepted before their order. Those terms apply to the Client concerned for the agreed period. Language versions and downloads of the same certificate are not additional services. A correction or replacement needed to remedy an error attributable to the Provider does not give rise to a new charge. Any charges without issuance of a certificate remain governed exclusively by Articles 4.2 and 4.5.
6.5. Price Changes
A price change applies to new orders after the new terms have been communicated. It does not retroactively alter the price or calculation method accepted for an ongoing order, even if the certificate is issued or invoiced later. Specific terms relating to a pricing period or a fixed-term commitment are honoured in accordance with their provisions.
7. DELIVERABLE
7.1. Content and Format
Where a finding of conformity or non-conformity is issued, the Service results in the delivery of an attestation in PDF format. No paper document will be sent. The attestation is written in the language selected by the Client. In the event of a discrepancy between translations, only the French version of these Terms prevails. The certificate identifies the request and the item described, sets out Very Véritable's conclusion and a selection of photographs, and includes a unique reference and a link or QR code to its verification page. It does not necessarily reproduce the entire analysis file.
7.2. Verification and Traceability Information
The verification page allows the recorded status of the certificate to be checked, including any revocation or replacement. Presenting a PDF or QR code is not sufficient to establish that an item presented by a third party is the item that was analysed: the recipient must compare the characteristics and photographs with those of the item concerned. A PDF already downloaded does not update automatically when the certificate's status changes.
Digital fingerprints, timestamps and, where available, blockchain anchors associated with the file provide traceability information about the data to which they relate. Their significance depends on the materials actually covered and the checks carried out. They do not, by themselves, prove the authenticity of the physical item or the accuracy of the opinion. The mere presence of these mechanisms does not guarantee any particular legal status.
7.3. Use in a Claim or Dispute
The Client may submit the certificate and its verification page in support of a complaint, refund request or dispute file, together with other relevant evidence, including photographs, invoices and correspondence relating to the item. The certificate is a private opinion that may be discussed and challenged. Its admissibility and evidential weight depend on the applicable rules, the circumstances and the assessment of the authority considering the matter; its conclusion is not binding on third parties or the court. Very Véritable does not guarantee its acceptance by a platform, insurer, brand or seller, the obtaining of a refund or a favourable outcome. The price of the Service does not include legal assistance, representation or participation in proceedings. This does not prevent the handling of complaints concerning the Service or compliance with legal disclosure obligations.
7.4. Challenges, Reassessment and Status Updates
The Client may submit a reasoned challenge to [email protected], quoting the certificate reference and providing any new or conflicting evidence available. Very Véritable examines the complaint and may request relevant information. A third party's disagreement alone is not sufficient to establish an error. If an error or new information justifies a revision, Very Véritable may correct, replace or revoke the certificate and informs the Client of the reason. Such an update does not prevent the Client from producing the previous version and other materials from the file in support of their rights. No amicable process provided for in this Article constitutes a waiver of a remedy or, by itself, suspends the statutory time limits for bringing a claim.
7.5. Retaining the PDF and Maintaining Verification
The Client is encouraged to download and retain the certificate PDF. The associated public verification page is maintained for as long as Very Véritable remains in operation, including after closure of the Client's account, subject to the temporary interruptions referred to in Article 3.3 and restrictions imposed by law or a competent authority. If a certificate is revoked or replaced, the corresponding status is displayed, without any guarantee that all information initially published will remain available. In the event of a planned cessation of operations, Clients are informed in advance under Article 3.4 so that they can retrieve their certificates. Continued availability of the page after the permanent cessation of those operations is not guaranteed. This availability commitment does not constitute an ongoing analysis of the item and remains separate from the internal data retention periods specified in the Privacy Policy. Any examination of a new item or of materials requiring a new engagement is subject to prior agreement on its scope and price.
8. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
8.1. Cap on Damages
If Very Véritable incurs contractual liability towards the Client, the total damages payable in respect of a single analysis service are, subject to Article 8.6, limited to the price paid or payable by the Client for that service. This cap applies to all claims by that Client relating to the same analysis, regardless of the number of grounds of complaint, language versions, downloads or media through which the certificate is distributed. It does not limit restitution of the price required by law or refunds expressly provided for in these Terms.
8.2. Recoverable Losses and Specific Exclusions
Subject to Article 8.6, only losses that are direct, certain and foreseeable when the contract is entered into, and that result from an established breach by Very Véritable of its obligations, may give rise to compensation, within the cap set out in Article 8.1. Indirect losses are excluded.
Also excluded, subject to the same qualification, are losses of anticipated profits or trading margins, losses of resale opportunities, losses of customers and damage to image or reputation, whether claimed as direct or indirect losses. This exclusion does not extend to the loss of the item's purchase price solely because the item was intended for resale.
8.3. No Guarantee of the Transaction or the Item's Value
Very Véritable is neither a party to the sale of the item nor a guarantor of the seller's or buyer's commitments. Issuance of the certificate does not create any commitment to buy back the item, refund its purchase price or guarantee its market value. The mere occurrence of a dispute, rejection of the certificate by a third party or a refund granted by the Client to their own buyer does not, by itself, give rise to any obligation for Very Véritable to pay compensation. Any claim based on a breach attributable to the Provider is governed by the conditions of this Article.
8.4. Matters Attributable to the Client or a Third Party
Very Véritable is not liable for losses caused exclusively by substitution of the photographed item, its modification after the analysis, alteration or misleading use of the certificate by the Client or a third party, or inaccurate, incomplete or misleading information or photographs whose defects the Provider could not reasonably detect within the scope of its engagement. Where such matters contribute to the loss together with a breach by Very Véritable, their effect on liability and compensation is assessed according to their causal role, in accordance with the applicable rules.
8.5. Claims and Cooperation
The Client reports any challenge under Article 7.4 within a reasonable period after becoming aware of it and provides the information needed for its examination. To the extent that they are in the Client's possession or control, the Client preserves original photographs, correspondence and documents relating to the item and the alleged loss. Examining a complaint, reassessing a file, correcting a certificate or making a goodwill gesture does not, by itself, constitute an admission of liability. The Client may not make commitments to a third party on behalf of Very Véritable without its written agreement; this rule does not affect the Client's own obligations towards their buyers. The amicable process is not a prerequisite for exercising a legal remedy and does not, by itself, alter the statutory time limits for bringing a claim.
8.6. Mandatory Legal Exceptions
The caps and exclusions in this Article apply only to the extent permitted by law. They do not apply in cases of wilful misconduct (dol) or gross negligence (faute lourde) attributable to Very Véritable, or where they would deprive an essential obligation of the Provider of its substance or conflict with a mandatory provision. Gross negligence is assessed by reference to the seriousness of the Provider's conduct; a breach of a contractual obligation alone is not sufficient to establish it.
9. PERSONAL DATA AND INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE ATTESTATION
9.1. Data
The data collected is processed for account management, performance of the Service, invoicing, security and the defence of the parties' rights, on the legal bases corresponding to those purposes. Retention periods are determined by category of data and purpose; they are distinct from the period during which a certificate can be viewed publicly. The analysis file may include the submitted photographs, information about the item, the conclusion, traceability information and correspondence relevant to processing the request. The applicable retention periods, or the criteria used to determine them, are set out in the Privacy Policy. Retention justified by a dispute may continue for as long as necessary to resolve it and exercise the related rights, with access restricted to authorised persons. Under the conditions set out in the GDPR, the Client and data subjects have rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection and portability, and the right to lodge a complaint with the CNIL. Details of how to exercise these rights are given in the Privacy Policy available on the website; requests may be sent to [email protected].
9.2. Information on the Attestation and Public Verification Page
The Client is informed that their legal business name or trading name appears on the attestation issued by Very Véritable and on the public verification page, identifying them as the party requesting the analysis. A reference to a ‘holder’ on the certificate does not establish ownership and does not identify successive holders of the item. The verification page is accessible without signing in to anyone with the link or certificate reference. It may display descriptive information about the item, the conclusion, date and status of the certificate, and the photographs selected for publication. The Client takes care not to submit unnecessary third-party personal data and to inform the persons concerned where required to do so. Sharing the certificate or its link enables recipients to view this information.
9.3. Confidentiality of Non-Public Information
Each party protects non-public information received from the other whose nature or the circumstances of its disclosure indicate that it is confidential, including specific commercial terms and materials from the file not intended for publication. Each party uses such information only to perform the contract, comply with its obligations or defend its rights. Disclosure is limited to persons who need it and are subject to an appropriate confidentiality obligation, and to authorities entitled to obtain it. This obligation does not apply to information that is lawfully public, already known without a confidentiality obligation or lawfully obtained from a third party. It continues after the relationship ends for as long as the information remains confidential, without itself extending the retention period. Information intended for the certificate and the public page remains governed by Article 9.2.
9.4. Personal Data Responsibilities
Very Véritable acts as data controller for the purposes it determines, including management of its client accounts, invoicing, and analysis and verification files. The Client fulfils the obligations incumbent on them for their own processing activities and the lawful transmission of third-party data. If a separate engagement requires Very Véritable to process data exclusively on behalf of and on the instructions of the Client, the parties enter into the required data processing agreement beforehand. These roles depend on the operations actually performed and are not altered merely by the title of a contract.
10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
10.1. Ownership of Rights
Intellectual property rights in the elements specific to the Service, including text, logos, graphic designs, software and attestation templates, belong to Very Véritable or are used under the necessary authorisations. The ‘Very Véritable’ trademark has been filed with the INPI under national number 5199225. Luxury brands' trademarks, photographs submitted by Clients and components belonging to third parties remain subject to their respective owners' rights. Their presence in the Service does not create any affiliation with or approval by those third parties.
10.2. Prohibited Uses
These Terms do not transfer any intellectual property rights to the Client. The Client is nevertheless authorised to download, retain, print and transmit the certificate in its entirety, and to use the links, visuals and sharing tools provided by the Service, for the item actually analysed. Modifying, altering or falsifying attestations issued by Very Véritable is strictly prohibited, including by removing or concealing the Provider's logo, caveats, conclusion or verification QR code. The certificate must not be associated with a different item or presented as an official certification by a luxury brand. The Client checks its status before sharing it in support of a transaction. If the Client learns that it has been revoked or replaced, they cease presenting the previous version as valid, update the media they control and inform the relevant recipients they can reasonably identify. Any breach may result in legal proceedings.
11. METHODS AND KNOW-HOW
Very Véritable retains its rights in the tools it develops and protects its know-how and the confidential elements of its analysis methods. The Client must not reproduce, exploit or disclose without authorisation any such confidential elements to which they have access. This protection does not give Very Véritable an exclusive right over facts, item characteristics or knowledge in the public domain. It does not prevent the disclosure of documents needed to exercise a party's rights, to comply with a legal disclosure obligation or to respond to a request from a competent authority.
12. SUBCONTRACTING
The Client authorises Very Véritable to entrust all or part of the services to persons with the necessary skills, including independent experts or specialist analysts. Very Véritable remains responsible towards the Client for the proper performance of the services entrusted to them. Those persons have access only to the information necessary for their assignment and are subject to appropriate confidentiality and data protection obligations. Using such persons does not exempt Very Véritable from any information, contractual or authorisation requirements applicable to the processing of personal data.
13. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
13.1. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by French law.
13.2. Competent Courts
Where all parties have contracted in the capacity of traders (commerçants) and the conditions of Article 48 of the French Code of Civil Procedure are met, exclusive jurisdiction is conferred on the courts for the area in which Very Véritable's business establishment specified in Article 1.1 is located, including in cases involving multiple defendants or third-party claims, subject to applicable mandatory rules. In all other cases, the ordinary rules of jurisdiction apply.