sign-me

We will be pleased to assist you with any questions you may have regarding sign-me. Would you like to know about the sign-me requirements for your system environment? Or perhaps about the sales partners who you can contact? Then you have come to the right place. We can also offer you useful tips, security information and details of the sign-me software.

General Information about the remote electronic signature with sign-me

You can use a digital signature to sign a document (e.g. a loan agreement) online and without paper. This accelerates processes and saves costs. The EU‑wide eIDAS Regulation provides the legal framework for this It defines the legal effect of electronically signed documents and their probative value in court.

You can use sign-me for simple, advanced and qualified signatures. The qualified electronic signature has the highest level. Contracts, such as employee leasing, consumer loans or disposal certificates, are typical cases in which the qualified signature is used. The qualified signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature and thus replaces the written form on paper. Simple and/or advanced signatures are used for most company form and approval processes as well as for formless agreements.

Sign‑me allows you to trigger an electronic signature without a signature card or card reader. All you need is an Internet-enabled device. sign‑me can be used in many different way – be it for contract management or online loans, digital insurance services or even for electronic public tendering or to promote the electronic patient file. The sign‑me service cannot be used to sign e-mails.

Register and identify yourself once directly on our portal: www.sign‑me.de. After you have registered and confirmed your registration e‑mail, you will receive a start credit of 10 coins which you can use to create two qualified signatures. You must first identify yourself in order to be able to use this start credit. You can currently do this free of charge on the portal using the online ID function of your ID card. All other identification methods via our service provider identityTM require a signature credit of 50 coins.  You can top up your coin credit through our partner ReinerSCT. Different packages are available to meet different signature needs. Once you have identified yourself, you can upload a document on the portal for signing. After confirmation using a second factor, an SMS‑TAN, you can download the signed document again and send it to your business partners. After you have used up your signature credit (coins), you can purchase new credit at any time in the online shop of our partner REINER SCT.

Would you like to use digital signatures at your company or public authority? If so, contact us directly or send an e‑mail to vertrieb [at] d-trust.net. Once a contract has been concluded, your application will be connected to sign‑me. Instead of your own application, you can also use a workflow/document management system from one of our partners in which sign‑me is already integrated. After your employees, partners and customers have been identified once, they too can sign documents directly using this system.

Interested in trying out our product directly? Create a sign‑me account today and get to know the functions provided by our solution. Find out how identification and registration with sign‑me works, for instance, in our demonstration video.

The login/registration portal can be reached at: www.sign-me.de

Remote signature with sign-me

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Registration and identification

You can register and identify yourself at: www.sign‑me.de. Simply proceed as follows:

  1. Open the www.sign-me.de website in your browser.
  2. Click Register.
  3. Enter your data in the registration form and click Continue to confirm. You will immediately receive an e‑mail with a confirmation link. Note: Please enter your personal data as shown in your ID card.
  4. Open the e‑mail with the confirmation link in your personal e‑mail box and click the link to complete your registration. Note: If you do not receive an e‑mail from us, please check your SPAM folder.

You are now successfully registered and can log on to www.sign‑me.de to identify yourself in the second step.

The identification process is as described below:

  1. Log on to www.sign-me.de
  2. Click ‘Identification’. Note: We recommend that you use the free online identification function of your ID card. To use this, you will need:
    - A notebook and a card reader or an NFC-enabled smartphone
    - AusweisApp2 must be installed – it must also be started on the notebook
    - The online identification function of your ID card activated and your PIN
  3. You can also opt to use Video-Ident, Giro-Ident or the eID method offered by our partner identityTM. Please note that each of these three methods costs 50 coins. To opt for this, select ‘Other identification’. You will need the following for video identification:
    - A notebook with a microphone and camera or a smartphone
    - Your ID card or other means of identification, e.g. a passport
    - Follow the instructions provided by our partner identityTM

Note: : The Video‑Ident method can only be used with the following Windows, Android and iOS browsers: On a desktop PC, these are, in particular, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Chrome, Edge and Opera. Unfortunately, it is not possible to use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. On mobile devices, only Chrome can be used for Android and Safari for iOS devices. For more information about the Giro‑Ident and eID methods of our partner identityTM, please follow the instructions provided during the identification process.

To register, please provide the following information:

  • First name
  • Family name
  • Mobile phone number (including the country code)
  • E‑mail address
  • Password
  • Consent to the Privacy Policy

Please ensure that you enter all personal data as shown on your ID document. Further data, such as academic title, nationality and home address, are added during the identification process.

Following registration with sign-me, one-time identification will be performed. We offer the following methods of identification:

  1. VideoIdent: You will need a desktop PC, laptop, smartphone or tablet for the VideoIdent procedure. All devices must be equipped with a camera and microphone. You will also need a stable Internet connection and your valid ID document at hand. If you wish to use a device other than your smartphone to identify yourself via VideoIdent, you will still need a mobile phone to receive an SMS-TAN. The identity check will be carried out in a video conference with our partner identity TM in which you and experienced VideoIdent agents will take part. The VideoIdent procedure has been evaluated for eIDAS conformity and its security has been confirmed. Your personal data will be fully protected during this procedure.
  2. Online ID function (eID) of your ID card: For identification, you will need:
    - Your valid ID card with the eID function activated and your PIN.
    - AusweisApp2 must be installed on your preferred device. This app is provided free of charge by the federal government at the following link: https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de/download/windows-und-mac/. This app must also be started on the desktop PC/laptop before use. When using a smartphone/tablet, the installed AusweisApp2 will start automatically when used.
    - If you want to identify yourself using a smartphone/tablet, this must have an NFC-enabled interface. A list of compatible devices can be found at the following link: https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de/mobile-geraete/.
    - If you want to identify yourself using a desktop PC/laptop, you will need a card reader for the ID card (alternatively, the smartphone/tablet can be used to directly read the data via NFC). Details of how this is coupled with the PC/laptop can be found at the following link: https://www.ausweisapp.bund.de/ausweisapp2/handbuch/1.14/de/Windows/settings-pairing-with-remote-reader.html).
  3. GiroIdent: GiroIdent is an identification procedure in which an identity that has already been verified in line with the Money Laundering Act (e.g. a user with an active online banking account) is used to verify a new identity. For sign‑me, GiroIdent can be used with an active online banking account with TAN procedure at participating financial institutions (currently: German savings banks (Sparkassen), Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken (co-operative banks)). Go to the identification page and check whether your bank supports GiroIdent. The process is as shown below:
    - The bank is selected from the list.
    - The user is forwarded to the online banking portal of the participating bank followed by login.
    - The identification data to be transmitted to sign-me is displayed.
    - This data is confirmed and released by generating and entering a TAN
    - Transmitted data is checked and forwarded to sign‑me.
  4. POS Ident: POS Ident is a method that can be easily adapted to different application areas and is suitable for mobile use. For you as a company or authority, the following criteria must be met in order to use POS Ident:
    - The company/authority has concluded an agreement with identity TM as a D‑TRUST customer
    - The POS software must be installed on the identifier’s device
    - The identifier has completed face-to-face or online training and has been additionally identified
    - The user requires a mobile phone

As a rule, POS Ident can be completed in a few minutes. To do this, the identifier logs into the identity TM portal via the POS software. The identifier collects the user’s personal data and takes a photo of the user's ID card. The user checks the data collected and consents to further processing with SMS‑TAN. The identifier compares the photo on the ID card with the user and then transmits the verified data of the user, which the user confirms with an SMS‑TAN. identityTM again verifies the data captured and then confirms successful identification of the user.

Note: Please remember that the identification methods provided by our partner identity TM (i.e. Video-Ident, Giro-Ident and eID) cost 50 coins in each case. Using the online ID function, you can identify yourself directly and free of charge on the sign-me portal ‘Online with ID card (eID)’ (not: ‘Other identification’). For information concerning cost structures and the PoS method, please contact our partner identity TM directly.

Other questions

Identification remains valid as long as the card used is valid, but for at least two years. You can see the validity of identification in the web portal under the menu item ‘identification’. The validity period of the certificates depends on the type of identification. You will automatically receive a notifiaction via e-mail prior to expiration of your certificates containing further information regarding exact date of expiration and further information on re-issuance of certificates. Due to legal requirements, we are obliged to inform you by e‑mail when new certificates are issued.

sign‑me can be used via a company's website, e.g. for loan contracts, insurance policies, temporary employment contracts or applications to public authorities. The service is typically free of charge for the signatories, both for signing and identification, and is billed to the companies or authorities. If you want to use sign‑me as a private user, all you have to do is register with sign‑me. After you have registered, you will receive ten sign‑me coins. However, you will have to identify yourself before you can use sign‑me to sign. You can do this free of charge on the sign‑me portal using the online ID function. Please remember that each of the identification methods provided by our partner identityTM (i.e. Video-Ident, Giro-Ident and eID) cost 50 coins. You can then sign with qualified (five coins per signature), advanced (two coins per signature) and simple (free) signatures. More information related to using the different signature levels (qualified, advanced or simple) can be found here in the FAQ section or via our partner shop ReinerSCT.

To top up your coins with sign‑me, please login to your sign‑me account. Then click the ‘Top up’ link in the menu or go directly to the shop of our partner REINER SCT. Please enter your user name (sign‑me e‑mail address) here. You can then select a package, for instance, sign‑me signature credit with 500 coins (100 qualified signatures) or sign‑me signature credit with 25 coins (five qualified signatures). The package price also includes one-time identification including the issuance of one certificate each for simple, advanced and qualified signatures. After completing the purchase, the coins will be available in your sign‑me account. The company REINER SCT handles ordering, processing and billing.

You can change your personal data any time in the ‘Personal data’ section of your personal sign‑me account. If you have already been identified and if your personal data (including your mobile phone number) changes, you are required to identify yourself again (this may be subject to payment of a fee). Only then will you be able to sign again. To do this, select the ‘Identification’ menu item after you have saved your changed personal data, and follow the instructions. If you forget your password and send a request, we will also be forced to block your certificate and to have you identified again.

When you register for your sign-me account, you are required to accept the Privacy Policy because we will need to process personal data in order to identify you. The data collected and used will be limited to the data required in line with the applicable legal regulations in order to confirm your identity. Identification service providers will delete the data after seven days.

In your sign‑me account, go to ‘Settings’ and select the ‘Repository’ menu item. Click the checkbox ‘Publish signature certificates in the future’ in order to decide whether or not you wish to have your future signature certificates published in D‑TRUST’s repository service. Interested parties, including those who are not sign‑me partners, who wish to have a signature from you can view the repository service to see which signature certificates you have. This repository contains information about each signature certificate issued (just like a telephone directory for signature certificates). Even without publication, sign‑me can be used to the full extent.

As part of the process of creating your sign‑me account (registration, identification), user consent is required for the following documents:

  • General terms and conditions
  • Export conditions
  • Certificate Policy (CP)
  • Certificate Practice Statement (CPS)
  • PKI user information for qualified certificates
  • Subscriber agreement

In addition, you must accept the Privacy Policy of D-Trust and, if applicable, of identity TM, and you must consent to the generation of signature certificates for using sign‑me. After you have registered and identified yourself, you can access all the documents that you have noted, agreed to and accepted at any time in your sign‑me account under the ‘Use documents’ menu item.

D‑TRUST is a qualified trust service provider according to the eIDAS regulation and is listed in the European Trusted List. The accreditation body in charge is the Federal Network Agency, the conformity assessment body is TÜV IT and the certificate can be found here.

The usual Windows, Android and iOS browsers are supported, these are, in particular:

  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Safari
  • Opera

Note: With a view to browser use, special terms apply when identification is carried out through our identification service provider identityTM (see FAQs – ‘How can I identify myself for sign‑me?’).

As a user of the sign-me remote signature, log in to your sign-me account. Select the corresponding certificate in the sign-me account under ‘Signature certificates’. Now select ‘Revoke’. You do not need to re-identify yourself after your certificates have been blocked for reissuance. You can reuse your previous and still valid identification.  To create new certificates, please go to the ‘Identification’ menu item and follow the instructions.

Your sign‑me account can only be deactivated by D‑TRUST's Call and Support Center. In this case, please send an e‑mail to support [at] d-trust.net and enter the username of your sign‑me account as the sender.

Certificates for which the online ID function, Giro-Ident or PoS-Ident were used for identification are typically valid for a two-year period. You will be notified in time by e‑mail that your certificate is due to expire. You are not required to do anything at this point in time. As long as your ID document is still valid, your existing identification data will be used so that as soon as your current certificates expire, new certificates will be automatically issued to replace them.

Signature certificates based on identification with the Video-Ident method are short-term certificates that are valid for one signature process. A new signature certificate is automatically generated during each new signature process. Due to legal requirements, we are obliged to inform you of this by e‑mail.

Only PDF/A files with a maximum size of 10 MB can be signed on the sign‑me web portal.

It is not possible to upload and sign an encrypted document in the sign‑me web portal. For your safety, please note: The temporary uploading of the PDF file in the sign‑me web portal is TLS‑encrypted. What’s more, the PDF file is also uploaded to the sign‑me server in the D‑Trust security area. Only authorized administrators can access the sign‑me system.

Following identification with the VideoIdent method, the online ID function of your ID card, GiroIdent or at a PoS, you can sign with simple, advanced and qualified signatures. If you have any further questions regarding the different identification options, please refer to the FAQ: ‘What identification options are available and what do I need for this’.

When using sign‑me via the web portal, the PDF documents must be uploaded. When connecting via the API to your own workflow or a partner's workflow, it is also possible to upload only one hash value for signing.

An embedded qualified time stamp is used both for the signature via the web portal and via connected workflow systems. This time stamp enables long-term validation of the signature.

Open the signed PDF document in a PDF viewer that supports eIDAS validation, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader DC with Windows and iOS. Alternatively, you can also use the digiSeal reader from secrypt. After opening the signature window, you will see that

  • the issuer is an eIDAS-qualified trust service provider from the EU Trusted List, such as D‑Trust
  • the signatures are ‘qualified’,
  • these are combined with qualified time stamps, where appropriate, and
  • that the signatories are the persons stated.

More detailed information can be found in the Solutions & Products section.

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