Verify your identity
After you complete checkout, Ody asks you to verify your identity — a photo of a government ID plus a live selfie, handled securely by Stripe — before your workspace and phone number go live.
This is a required, one-time check per workspace. It exists to comply with carrier anti-spam rules, and it takes about a minute.
Step-by-step
After your payment (or trial card check) succeeds, you land on the welcome page. Click Verify your identity to get started.
Stripe's verification opens right in the page. Follow the prompts: photograph your government ID, then take a live selfie. On a desktop without a camera, Stripe hands off to your phone with a QR code.
When you submit, the page moves to one last check — Confirm your mobile number — where Ody texts a 6-digit code to your mobile (details). Once that's verified you'll see Congrats, you're all set; click Get started to enter the app. Stripe reviews asynchronously — "in review" counts as done, and the result lands automatically while you carry on.
If Stripe's check opens in a separate page instead of inside Ody (this happens on some browsers), you're brought back to the same all-set screen when you finish.
If you leave the welcome page without verifying, the app shows the Verify your identity screen instead of your workspace — click Verify with Stripe there to run the same check. You can also re-verify later from Settings → Numbers (the identity verification card).
During a free trial
Verification is what lets your trial convert. While it's pending:
- We email you a few reminders across the 7 days — the first about an hour after your trial starts, then on days 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. They stop as soon as you submit your ID (the Verify button in each one opens the app, which takes you straight to the check).
- If the check still isn't submitted one hour before the trial ends, Ody closes the trial automatically and your card is not charged. You'll get an email confirming that nothing was billed. Your account and settings stay — pick a plan again whenever you're ready and verify to keep the new trial.
See How the free trial works for the full trial timeline.
Before you start (for teammates)
Only workspace owners and admins can run the verification. If you're a member, you'll see a note that the owner needs to complete it — you get access automatically once they do.
Troubleshooting
- "The identity check wasn't completed" — the window was closed before submitting. Click Verify with Stripe and finish the flow; verification is the only way forward.
- The check failed or needs another attempt — re-run it from the identity screen or Settings → Numbers. Make sure the ID is well-lit and the selfie is captured live (photos of photos are rejected).
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Frequently asked questions
Why does a phone service need my ID?
Carrier anti-spam rules require it — verifying who operates each number keeps Ody's numbers trusted and out of spam filters. It's required once per workspace.
Does Ody store my ID or selfie?
No. The check is handled end-to-end by Stripe Identity; Ody never stores your ID.
My check says it's in review — can I use the app?
Yes. Submitting is enough — Stripe's review usually finishes within minutes, and you can carry on in the app while it does.
What happens if I don't verify during my free trial?
Your trial is closed automatically one hour before it ends and your card is never charged. You'll get an email confirming it; you can start a new trial any time and verify then.