docs: reorganize Account section sidebar into priority order

.github/workflows/pr-checks.yml

@@ -5,6 +5,18 @@ on:
     branches: [main]
 
 jobs:
+  table-alignment:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          node-version: 22
+
+      - name: Check markdown table alignment
+        run: node scripts/fix-table-alignment.js
+
   worker-unit-tests:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:

account/billing-portal.md

@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 ---
 title: Billing Portal
-sidebar_position: 10
+sidebar_position: 6
 ---
 
 For heightened security, Market Data uses an independent third-party billing system to process your transactions. We do not store your credit card information and we do not have access to your billing details. Customers can manage their own subscriptions and billing details via the [Billing Portal](https://cc.payproglobal.com/Customer/Account/Login). 
 
 ## How to Access the Billing Portal for the First Time
 
+:::note
+The Billing Portal is only available to **paid customers**. A billing portal account is created automatically when you make your first purchase. If you have a free or trial account and want to subscribe, you can do so directly from the Market Data [Customer Dashboard](https://www.marketdata.app/dashboard/).
+:::
+
 To access your billing information for the first time, follow these steps:
 
 1. Visit the [Billing Portal](https://cc.payproglobal.com/Customer/Account/Login).

account/cancellations.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: Cancellations
-sidebar_position: 11
+sidebar_position: 8
 ---
 
 Your Market Data account can be cancelled at any time. 

account/data-policies/account-verification.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+---
+title: Account Verification Policy
+sidebar_position: 6
+---
+
+Market Data verifies the identity and employment information of all paid subscribers. This is a requirement of the exchanges whose data we distribute: before we can activate real-time data on an account, we must classify the subscriber as either a professional or non-professional user and certify that classification to the exchange.
+
+See [Professional Status Policy](/docs/account/data-policies/professional-status/) for details on what the classifications mean and the consequences of misclassification.
+
+## Information We Collect
+
+| Contact Information | Employer Information |
+|---------------------|----------------------|
+| Name                | Company Name         |
+| Address             | Address              |
+| Email               | Job Title            |
+| Phone Number        | LinkedIn Profile URL |
+
+Subscribers employed by banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions are subject to a more thorough review.
+
+## Verification Process
+
+After sign-up, we verify that the information you provided matches third-party databases, including LinkedIn. We also review FINRA BrokerCheck to determine whether you hold any active securities licenses. The outcome of this review determines your professional or non-professional classification.
+
+Profiles with missing or incomplete information cannot be classified. Your account will not be activated for real-time data until verification is complete.
+
+### Missing or Mismatching Information
+
+All fields are required and must match third-party databases. If your profile contains missing, incomplete, or mismatched information, we will request additional documentation — such as a CV, employment letter, or other materials that clarify your job function.
+
+### Verification Timeframe
+
+We will complete verification within 1 business day of you providing the required information.
+
+## Annual Review
+
+Once per year, we will ask you to confirm that your information is still accurate. You can do this by logging into your account and responding to the prompt that appears after one year has passed since your last verification.
+
+If your employment or professional registration has changed in a way that affects your classification, you are required to update your information and notify us. See [Professional Status Policy](/docs/account/data-policies/professional-status/) for more details.
+
+## Privacy
+
+The information we collect is used solely to verify your account and comply with exchange regulations. We do not sell your information to third parties. We are required to share it with the exchanges, who review it periodically for accuracy.

account/data-policies/data-redistribution.md

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+---
+title: Data Redistribution Policy
+sidebar_position: 5
+---
+
+Market Data's self-service plans are personal licenses that allow you to access and use market data for your own purposes only. Redistribution of that data — in any form — is not permitted under these plans.
+
+## What Counts as Redistribution
+
+Redistribution includes any method of making Market Data's data available to others, including:
+
+- Selling, reselling, or retransmitting data to third parties
+- Exposing data through your own API or data feed
+- Distributing data in bulk export files shared with others
+- Sharing API access or account credentials with other users
+- Embedding live or recent data in a product or service accessible to others
+- Sharing a spreadsheet or workspace that pulls live data from Market Data with collaborators
+
+The single-IP restriction is one enforcement mechanism for this policy. See [Single IP Address Policy](/docs/account/data-policies/single-ip/) for details.
+
+## Commercial Redistribution
+
+Redistribution is permitted, but it requires a license granted directly by the exchanges — not by Market Data. Market Data cannot authorize redistribution on behalf of an exchange. If your use case involves distributing data to others, contact our sales team and we will connect you with the appropriate exchanges to get the required licenses in place.
+
+## Violations
+
+Redistribution of market data without a commercial license is a breach of your exchange agreements and Market Data's [Terms of Service](https://www.marketdata.app/terms/), and will result in immediate account termination.

account/data-policies/exchange-agreements.md

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+---
+title: Exchange Agreements
+sidebar_position: 1
+---
+
+Market Data is an authorized vendor for the exchanges listed below. When you access market data through Market Data's API or other services, you agree to the subscriber agreement of each exchange whose data you receive. Your use of market data through Market Data's services is subject to Market Data's [Terms of Service](https://www.marketdata.app/terms/) and the applicable exchange agreements below.
+
+## UTP Plan
+
+The **Unlisted Trading Privileges (UTP) Plan** provides consolidated stock market data for NASDAQ-listed securities, including quotes, last sale prices, and trade data.
+
+[UTP Plan Subscriber Agreement](pathname:///docs/exchange-agreements/utp-subscriber-agreement.pdf)
+
+## OPRA
+
+The **Options Price Reporting Authority (OPRA)** is the exclusive provider of consolidated options market data in the U.S., including last sale prices and current quotations for all listed options.
+
+[OPRA Subscriber Agreement](pathname:///docs/exchange-agreements/opra-subscriber-agreement.pdf)
+
+## IEX
+
+The **Investors Exchange (IEX)** is a registered national securities exchange providing real-time stock quotes and trade data.
+
+[IEX Controlled Data Recipient Agreement](pathname:///docs/exchange-agreements/iex-controlled-data-recipient-agreement.pdf)

account/data-policies/free-accounts.md

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+---
+title: Free and Trial Account Data Policy
+sidebar_position: 2
+---
+
+Free Forever and trial accounts are limited to data that is at least 24 hours old. This restriction arises from two independent requirements: exchange rules on user identification and exchange rules on free trials.
+
+## User Identification Requirement
+
+Before an exchange permits a vendor to distribute real-time or intraday delayed data to a subscriber, the subscriber must be identified and their professional status determined. Free and trial account holders have not completed this process.
+
+Market Data is required by the exchanges to collect, verify, and report the identity of all subscribers who receive real-time or intraday data. Until your account is verified and you have signed the required [exchange agreements](/docs/account/data-policies/exchange-agreements/), Market Data can only provide data that is at least 24 hours old, which is not subject to the same identification requirements.
+
+See [Account Compliance](/docs/account/data-policies/account-verification/) for details on the verification process.
+
+## Exchange Restrictions on Free Trials
+
+Separately from identification requirements, the exchanges place limits on which subscribers may receive real-time or intraday data at no charge:
+
+- **Non-professional subscribers** are not permitted to receive real-time or intraday data through a free trial under any circumstances.
+- **Professional subscribers** may be eligible for limited free trial access from some exchanges, but this is not universally permitted across all exchanges.
+
+Because Market Data serves a broad base of non-professional subscribers, and because free trial access to real-time or intraday data is prohibited for non-professionals regardless of plan, all free and trial accounts are limited to 24-hour delayed data.
+
+## Accessing Real-Time and Intraday Data
+
+To access real-time or 15-minute delayed data, all of the following are required:
+
+1. **A paid subscription** — real-time and intraday data are not available on free or trial plans.
+2. **Account verification** — your identity and professional status must be confirmed by Market Data before exchange data can be enabled. See [Account Compliance](/docs/account/data-policies/account-verification/).
+3. **Signed exchange agreements** — you must sign the subscriber agreement for each exchange whose data you wish to receive. See [Exchange Entitlements](/docs/account/entitlements/).

account/data-policies/index.md

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+---
+title: Data Policies
+sidebar_position: 9
+---
+
+Market Data distributes financial data under agreements with stock and options exchanges. These policies explain the obligations those agreements impose on subscribers and how they affect your access to data.
+
+## Policies
+
+- [Exchange Agreements](/docs/account/data-policies/exchange-agreements/) — The subscriber agreements for UTP, OPRA, and IEX that govern your use of exchange data
+- [Free Accounts](/docs/account/data-policies/free-accounts/) — Why free and trial accounts are limited to 24-hour delayed data
+- [Single IP Address](/docs/account/data-policies/single-ip/) — Why each account may only connect from one IP address at a time
+- [Professional Status](/docs/account/data-policies/professional-status/) — Self-service plans are for non-professional subscribers only; certification and misclassification obligations
+- [Data Redistribution](/docs/account/data-policies/data-redistribution/) — What you may and may not do with the data you receive, and how to obtain redistribution rights
+- [Account Verification](/docs/account/data-policies/account-verification/) — Market Data's policy of verifying all paid subscriber identities and employment for exchange classification

account/data-policies/professional-status.md

@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+---
+title: Professional Status Policy
+sidebar_position: 4
+---
+
+All Market Data self-service plans are available to **non-professional subscribers only**. Exchange rules require vendors to classify and certify the status of every subscriber who receives real-time market data. It is your responsibility to subscribe under the correct classification. Business use of market data is only available under a commercial plan.
+
+For a full explanation of how the exchanges define professional status and how to determine your own classification, see [Professional Status Explained](https://www.marketdata.app/education/stocks/professional-status-explained/).
+
+## Self-Certification Requirement
+
+After purchasing a plan, all subscribers must complete a **Data Use Interview** — a self-certification process in which you confirm that your use of market data meets the non-professional criteria set by the exchanges. Your account cannot be fully activated for real-time data until this process is complete.
+
+Non-professional certifications must be renewed once per year. You will be prompted to re-certify annually to confirm your status has not changed.
+
+## Obligation to Update Your Status
+
+If your employment, registration, or data use changes in a way that affects your classification, you are required to notify Market Data. Continued use of a non-professional plan after becoming a professional user is a breach of your exchange agreements and this policy.
+
+## Consequences of Misclassification
+
+If Market Data determines that a subscriber has incorrectly self-certified as non-professional:
+
+- The account will be reclassified as professional
+- Exchange fees will be assessed retroactively from the date of the incorrect certification
+- The account may be suspended or terminated without refund
+- Market Data reserves the right to pursue all remedies available under the [Terms of Service](https://www.marketdata.app/terms/)
+
+Refunds are not available on the basis of unexpected classification outcomes. All classifications are made according to exchange rules based on the information you provide.
+
+## Unverified Accounts
+
+If Market Data is unable to confirm your non-professional status — for example, because your profile is incomplete or your information cannot be verified — your account will be restricted to delayed and historical data until verification is complete. See [Account Compliance](/docs/account/data-policies/account-verification/) for details on the verification process.

account/data-policies/single-ip.md

@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+title: Single IP Address Policy
+sidebar_position: 3
+---
+
+Each Market Data account may only access the API from one IP address at a time. This policy is a direct requirement of the exchange agreements under which Market Data distributes market data.
+
+## Why This Policy Exists
+
+The exchanges that license their data to Market Data prohibit unauthorized redistribution. When you sign an [exchange agreement](/docs/account/data-policies/exchange-agreements/), you agree to use the data solely for your own personal or business purposes and not to share or redistribute it to others.
+
+Allowing a single account to be used from multiple IP addresses simultaneously would make it impossible to enforce this restriction, because it would allow one subscriber to feed data to multiple people or systems at once. The single IP policy is how Market Data enforces the exchange's per-subscriber distribution rules.
+
+## What Is and Is Not Permitted
+
+**Permitted:**
+- Switching from one device or IP address to another (e.g., moving from your laptop to a cloud server, or reconnecting after your IP changes)
+- Using a VPN, provided requests consistently originate from a single IP at any given time
+
+**Not permitted:**
+- Connecting simultaneously from more than one IP address
+- Sharing your API token with other users
+- Redistributing market data received through your account to any third party
+
+## How the Restriction Is Enforced
+
+Market Data monitors for patterns that indicate simultaneous access from multiple IP addresses. A single IP change is permitted. However, if requests alternate back and forth between two IP addresses within a five-minute window — a pattern consistent with two active devices — your account is temporarily blocked for 5 minutes.
+
+If your account has been blocked, see [403: Multiple IP Addresses](/docs/api/troubleshooting/multiple-ip-addresses/) for resolution steps.
+
+## Commercial Use and Multi-Device Access
+
+The single IP policy applies to all standard subscription plans. If your use case legitimately requires API access from multiple IP addresses simultaneously — for example, distributed systems or serving data to multiple users — this constitutes redistribution and requires a commercial license. Please contact sales to discuss licensing options.
+
+## Violations
+
+Attempting to circumvent this policy by sharing accounts or redistributing data will result in permanent account suspension.