Registration FAQ

1. What do you need my email address for?
2. How long does it take before I can use the services?

1. What do you need my email address for?

   We need your email address to complete the registration. We will send a message to the address you enter, and you need to prove that you received that message in order for your registration to be accepted.

   We also use your email address as a way of identifying where you come from, and whether you're likely to be classed as an academic or commercial user. So please use the email address that corresponds to your company, university, or institution, rather than a private email address (such as a hotmail account). If you use an email address we don't recognise, then your application will have to be checked manually and will take longer to process.

   If you forget your password, you can ask for your password to be reset. Again, we will email the registered address for confirmation.

   The above precautions are designed to stop other people registering in your name, or changing your password.

2. How long does it take before I can use the services?

   Once you have filled out the form, and filled in the magic key we sent you to validate your application, you're registered in our database of users. Setting you up to access individual services is done separately.

   It takes a little while to create accounts on our computer system, and a little time to set up an account for you on our financial system if you wish to place an order. This will only be done during working hours (9am - 5pm Monday-Friday in the UK, excluding bank holidays) and may take a few hours. You will be sent an email when your account has been created.

   You can help the process move speedily along by entering full and accurate data on the registration form. In particular, if it's obvious from both your email address and your postal address that you're of academic status, it will be very quick. If it isn't clear, we will have to make further checks and that can slow it down a lot.