"Got ID?" Is A Question Many More Businesses Will Be Asking Soon

[KYBOSH]

Your driver's license could start getting worn down a lot starting in December . That's because a whole bunch of businesses will soon be required to ask you for your ID, everyone from your dentist to your car dealer.

 

It's a mandate from Federal "Red Flag Rules" intending to stop identity theft before it starts by requiring customer ID at a range of businesses and services.

 

Which ones? Well, basically any company that performs a service and then gets payment after the service is complete. This includes but is not limited to: utilities, health care providers, law firms, your cellphone company, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and car dealers.

 

If the business helps arrange any kind of credit, they will also have to ask for ID.

 

Put into place by a 2003 law, enforcement of the Red Flag Rule has been delayed 5 times as various types of businesses have lobbied to limit its scope, most recently pushing back a June 1st 2010 date to December 31.

 

FTC Extends Enforcement Deadline for Identity Theft Red Flags Rule [FTC]

[KYBOSH]

FTC Extends Enforcement Deadline for Identity Theft Red Flags Rule

At the request of several Members of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission is further delaying enforcement of the “Red Flags†Rule through December 31, 2010, while Congress considers legislation that would affect the scope of entities covered by the Rule. Today’s announcement and the release of an Enforcement Policy Statement do not affect other federal agencies’ enforcement of the original November 1, 2008 deadline for institutions subject to their oversight to be in compliance.

 

“Congress needs to fix the unintended consequences of the legislation establishing the Red Flags Rule – and to fix this problem quickly. We appreciate the efforts of Congressmen Barney Frank and John Adler for getting a clarifying measure passed in the House, and hope action in the Senate will be swift,†FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said. “As an agency we’re charged with enforcing the law, and endless extensions delay enforcement.â€

 

The Rule was developed under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, in which Congress directed the FTC and other agencies to develop regulations requiring “creditors†and “financial institutions†to address the risk of identity theft. The resulting Red Flags Rule requires all such entities that have “covered accounts†to develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs to help identify, detect, and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities – known as “red flags†– that could indicate identity theft.

 

The Rule became effective on January 1, 2008, with full compliance for all covered entities originally required by November 1, 2008. The Commission has issued several Enforcement Policies delaying enforcement of the Rule. Most recently, the Commission announced in October 2009 that at the request of certain Members of Congress, it was delaying enforcement of the Rule until June 1, 2010, to allow Congress time to finalize legislation that would limit the scope of business covered by the Rule. Since then, the Commission has received another request from Members of Congress for another delay in enforcement of the Rule beyond June 1, 2010.

 

The Commission urges Congress to act quickly to pass legislation that will resolve any questions as to which entities are covered by the Rule and obviate the need for further enforcement delays. If Congress passes legislation limiting the scope of the Red Flags Rule with an effective date earlier than December 31, 2010, the Commission will begin enforcement as of that effective date.

 

In the interim, FTC staff has continued to provide guidance, both through materials posted on www.ftc.gov/redflagsrule, and in speeches and participation in seminars, conferences and other training events to numerous groups. The FTC also published a compliance guide for business, and created a template that enables low risk entities to create an identity theft program with an easy-to-use online form (www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/redflagsrule/get-started.shtm). The FTC staff also has published numerous general and industry-specific articles, released a video explaining the Rule, and continues to respond to inquiries from the public. To assist further with compliance, FTC staff has worked with a number of trade associations that have chosen to develop model policies or specialized guidance for their members.

 

As was the case previously, this enforcement delay is limited to the Red Flags Rule and does not extend to the rule regarding address discrepancies applicable to users of consumer reports (16 C.F.R.§641), or to the rule regarding changes of address applicable to card issuers (16 C.F.R.§681.2).

 

For questions regarding this Enforcement Policy, please contact Naomi Lefkovitz or Pavneet Singh, Bureau of Consumer Protection, 202-326-2252.

 

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,800 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s Web site provides free information on a variety of consumer topics.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Office of Public Affairs

202-326-2180

(Red Flags May 2010)

Edited June 9, 2010 by KYBOSH

[thelowpriceleader]

I'm really edgy posting this as I feel like I'm going to go into politics here, but given the number of times this has been delayed... and under vastly different political powers... we'll see.

[lolipop]

Which ones? Well, basically any company that performs a service and then gets payment after the service is complete. This includes but is not limited to: utilities, health care providers, law firms, your cellphone company, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and car dealers.

I thought those things are just the norms.

[Grizzly Bear]

Your driver's license could start getting worn down a lot starting in December . That's because a whole bunch of businesses will soon be required to ask you for your ID, everyone from your dentist to your car dealer.

 

It's a mandate from Federal "Red Flag Rules" intending to stop identity theft before it starts by requiring customer ID at a range of businesses and services.

 

Which ones? Well, basically any company that performs a service and then gets payment after the service is complete. This includes but is not limited to: utilities, health care providers, law firms, your cellphone company, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and car dealers.

 

If the business helps arrange any kind of credit, they will also have to ask for ID.

 

Put into place by a 2003 law, enforcement of the Red Flag Rule has been delayed 5 times as various types of businesses have lobbied to limit its scope, most recently pushing back a June 1st 2010 date to December 31.

 

FTC Extends Enforcement Deadline for Identity Theft Red Flags Rule [FTC]

 

Not true. Read the FAQs

Edited June 9, 2010 by Grizzly Bear

[lolipop]

How is showing ID card making it worn down?

[Need More RWHP]

Oh boy, what is this world coming to :\

[BBQ123]

This is a little bit different...

 

It seems that they would ask you for ID initially (so when you drop a car off for service), not when you go to pay via credit card. This law would mean cash customers would need to initially show ID.