One of the more straightforward requirements in the Organization Validation process is Telephone Verification. Do you have a telephone number listed? Is it verifiable by a third-party directory? Boom. Done.

What is Telephone Verification?

In order to satisfy the Telephone Verification requirement, you must have an active telephone listing that’s verifiable by an acceptable online telephone directory. The listing must display the exact same business name and physical address as you’ve already had verified.

To check this, the first place the CAs will go are the Online Government Databases. If your number is listed and the organization name and address match up, you’re good to go—you’ve satisfied this requirement.

Unfortunately, the majority of government databases don’t display the phone number. This complicates things a bit for the CA, but not for you, as long as your organization does have a number listed.

Alternative Methods

If the Online Government Database doesn’t have your organization’s phone number listed, you still have other options:

• Third-Party Directory – The CAs can use an existing or new telephone listing from an acceptable third-party directory. Examples of these accepted directories include the Yellow Pages, Scoot, 192.com, etc. But keep in mind, the business name and physical address must be exactly the same.Note: Comodo will no longer accept third-party directories for this requirement, failing a search of an Online Government Database, Comodo will only accept POLs, Dun & Bradstreet reports or BBB listings.
• Legal Opinion Letter – The other option is a Legal Opinion Letter (also called a Professional Opinion Letter or POL). Legal Opinion Letters can satisfy four of the five requirements for Organization Validation, including this one. Just print the POL form from your CA, get it signed by an attorney or accountant (they must be in good standing) and you’re good to go.

Any of these methods will satisfy the Telephone Verification requirement.

Keep in mind though, your telephone listing must be up to date, and your organization must – even if just temporarily – display the listing publically.