HOATT Registration Verification and Photo Guidelines

Why Identity Verification Is Required

HOATT exists to serve the residents, homeowners, and legitimate organizations of Trinidad and Tobago. To protect the integrity of the platform, safeguard users, and maintain trust within the community, all registrations are subject to identity verification.

Verification helps us to:

Prevent impersonation, fraud, and misuse of the platform
Protect users from harassment, scams, and false representation
Ensure discussions and advocacy remain grounded in real, accountable participation
Comply with reasonable data-protection and platform safety standards

Because HOATT is location-specific and community-driven, additional verification steps are required beyond a standard username and email address.

Individual Member Verification (Residents and Homeowners)

Upon successful account registration, individual users must complete identity verification by submitting a private message to the official HOATT account.

Required Submission

Users must send one clear photo showing:

Their face clearly visible
Their valid national identification, held next to their face

Accepted Forms of Identification

Any one of the following is acceptable:

Trinidad and Tobago National ID Card
Valid Driver’s Permit
Passport

The identification must be current and legible.

Ensure text on ID is also readable. (This example was blurred deliberately for the individual’s privacy)

Important Notes

The name on the ID must reasonably match the account name.
The face in the photo must clearly match the face on the ID.
Blurred, cropped, partially obscured, or edited images will not be accepted.

Deadline and Enforcement

If verification is not submitted shortly after registration:

The account may be temporarily suspended
Platform access will remain restricted until verification is completed

This process is not punitive. It is designed to protect verified members and maintain a trustworthy community environment.

Organizational and Company Accounts

Organizations, companies, NGOs, community groups, and other non-individual entities must verify that the account holder is a legitimate representative of the organization.

Required Proof of Representation

Acceptable documentation may include one or more of the following:

Certificate of Business Registration or Incorporation
NGO or nonprofit registration documentation
Official letter on company letterhead authorizing the representative
Business registration number with verifiable public records
Any other reasonable proof consistent with industry standards

Submission Method

Documents must be sent via private message to the HOATT account
Images must be clear, complete, and readable

Approval Process

Organizational accounts are reviewed manually
Verification may be expedited if approved directly by an authorized HOATT representative
HOATT reserves the right to request additional clarification if documentation is insufficient

Direct Verification by HOATT Representatives

In limited and clearly defined circumstances, identity verification requirements may be satisfied through direct verification by an authorized HOATT representative.

This pathway exists to accommodate situations where a user is already personally known, professionally vetted, or formally introduced through established HOATT channels, including community leadership, partner organizations, or verified institutional contacts.

Conditions for Direct Verification

Direct verification is granted only when all of the following apply:

The recommending individual is an authorized HOATT representative
The representative has personally verified the individual’s identity through offline, professional, or institutional means
The representative accepts accountability for the verification decision
The verification is logged internally by HOATT for audit and governance purposes

This process does not eliminate verification. It replaces document submission with representative accountability.

Accountability and Oversight

To maintain fairness, transparency, and trust:

All direct verifications are recorded internally
HOATT reserves the right to re-request documentation if concerns arise
Direct verification may be revoked if misrepresentation or abuse is later discovered
Repeated misuse of this privilege by any representative may result in its removal

No verification pathway confers permanent exemption from HOATT’s standards.

Equal Standards, Flexible Methods

HOATT applies one standard of identity assurance, while allowing multiple verification methods.

Whether verification is completed through:

User-submitted identification, or
Direct confirmation by a HOATT representative

The objective remains the same:
a real, accountable person or organization, verified to an acceptable standard, operating within Trinidad and Tobago.