Organisations must be accredited in order to become an ENUM registrar.  We manage the accreditation process based on a series of accreditation requirements agreed with the UK ENUM Consortium (UKEC).

Accreditation takes place at first application and annually on contract renewal.  In addition a registrar may be asked to provide details of compliance if we receive a complaint about its actions during the term of the contract.

The accreditation process

During the application process to become an ENUM registrar, the applicant is asked to provide evidence of how each requirement is met.  This may be in the form of a URL to the page where this information is currently displayed or, if publication is pending approval, the applicant can give full details of how they will meet the requirements.  If the applicant does not meet the accreditation requirements, the application will not proceed.

If a registrar subsequently fails to meet some or all of the requirements, accreditation may be revoked.  This will have the effect of terminating a registrar’s ‘accredited’ status.  However, our contract with the registrar requires us to act reasonably when deciding what to do, and consider factors such as the registrar’s history, what the problem is, and what would be a sensible approach.  Wherever possible our approach is to work with the registrar to address the problem.

The accreditation requirements

The registrar’s contact with the registrant

It is important that the registrant is well informed, and that they understand the service levels they can expect and all relevant charges.  Therefore the registrar must:

• Make the registrant aware of the charges associated with ENUM registration and renewal.
• Give details of the related services provided, which are relevant to the customer, information on how to invoke the service, any charges payable and how long the registrar will take to carry out the service, e.g. transfer of the ENUM service.
• Make the registrant aware of changes to these charges.
• Detail the method, availability and cost of customer service provided.
• Act quickly upon receiving a request from the registrant to take some action for them.
• Provide telephone and email customer support.  Telephone support must not use the premium rate 09xx or 08xx numbers.

The registrant needs to understand the terms of their contract. Therefore the registrar must:

• Make registrants aware of the current version of their Terms and Conditions before the contract is made and at the renewal of the contract.
• Clearly state how registrants will be made aware of changes to the terms.

There should be clarity regarding resellers.  Therefore the registrar should be aware that:

• If the registrar operates a reseller programme we consider the registrar to be responsible for the actions of its resellers.  If a reseller breaches the Contract, then we would take steps as if the registrar has breached the Contract.
• The Contract makes the actions of resellers the registrar’s responsibility, so it becomes the registrar’s responsibility to stop the reseller doing anything that would breach the registrar agreement or accreditation requirements or to stop them being one of its resellers.

In the event that a problem arises, registrars must have an appropriate level of insurance cover.  Therefore the registrar must:

• Provide evidence of appropriate professional indemnity insurance in place.  This should be cover of at least £500,000.

The registrar’s relationship with the registry

• Your customer needs to understand the relationship between the registrar and the registry.  Therefore the registrar must not do, or allow someone else to do for it, anything that might reasonably mislead the public or its customer about the registrar’s relationship with the registry.
• To ensure that all registrars have a good understanding of the technology and business processes involved in registrations, a new registrar will be asked to complete a course to demonstrate a basic understanding of the ENUM registration and maintenance process.
• All registrars are required to publish a code of practice outlining a complaint handling and dispute resolution process in the event that a complaint is made.
• The registrar must provide details of any relevant litigation or regulatory enforcements, e.g. details of any OFCOM fines, any outstanding court judgments or details of any ongoing legal actions.
• The registrar must supply a copy of their Data Protection Act registration certificate and, in addition, must not do anything which could put the registry in breach of the laws on data protection (in particular the Data Protection Act 1988) and the protection of personal information, or allow the registry to be put in this position because of the registrar’s inaction.

Accreditation logo

As a Nominet accredited ENUM registrar you are also encouraged to display the ENUM accreditation logo on your web site and printed materials.