FAQs

• Why Register?
  Organizations must register in order to be assigned a company ID or Security Feature ID for use in interoperable verification. These IDs are used to ensure efficient routing of transactions between parties.
• Who should register as a Validator?
  Any organization that may submit a Get Mark Information or Validate Marks request to a Verification Authority must register as a Validator.
• Who should register as a Verification Authority?
  Any organization that will maintain reference information on account’s use of security marks, and/or will respond to Get Mark Information or Validate Marks requests must register as a Verification Authority.
• What if my service doesn’t have any customers yet?
  You may still register. However, in order to renew your registration (two years after the initial registration), you must have at least one customer to maintain active status.
• What if my feature or service doesn’t comply with the standard yet?
  You may still register. By doing so you are indicating that you will add support to comply with the standard within a reasonable timeframe (expected to be about 6 months). In order to renew your registration (two years after initial registration), you must comply with the standard.
• Where can I obtain a copy of the standard?
  The standard is available for purchase through the ANSI Store. This link will take you directly to the standards.
• Who do I contact if I don’t understand something in the standard?
  You can contact the Registration Authority (RA) or the Registration Management Group (RMG). Contact information for both, including an option for submitting your question directly via this website, is available on the Contact Us page. The RA is the right contact for procedural issues regarding applications, obtaining copies of files, and all other questions not regarding clarification of the contents of the standard or ANSI/X9 policies. If you have a question regarding the contents of the standard or any policy questions related to ICSFs, you should contact the RA who will forward the comment to the RMG.
• Who do I contact if I want to propose a change to the standard?
  The Registration Management Group. Contact information is on the Contact Us page, as is the option to directly submit a suggestion/request.
• Who do I contact if I want to propose a change to a reference table?
  The Registration Management Group. Contact information is on the Contact Us page, as is the option to directly submit a suggestion/request.
• Why must applications be submitted on paper?
  At this time we are required to obtain a written signature for our records. This signature, and our follow-up procedures, ensure that only authorized company agents can register information for their companies. The signature also authorizes us to include your information in the ICSF Registry.
• What does it cost to register?
  There is no cost to the applicant for registration at this time. The Registration Authority does reserve the right to charge a reasonable fee to recover its costs in the future.
• How long does the application process take?
  The approximate time from submission to inclusion in the ICSF Registry is expected to be about one month.
• Is expedited processing available?
  Not at this time. Applicants are encouraged to apply well in advance of any actual need for inclusion in the ICSF Registry.
• How can I obtain a copy of a specific past version of the Registry?
  Please contact the Registration Authority via the Contact Us form. We maintain a complete history of all versions of the Registry and XML schemas.
• The Registration Authority did not accept my application. What can I do?
  The Registration Authority (RA) will generally only refuse to accept an application because certain objective information was either not provided or did not meet the minimum criteria for inclusion in the ICSF Registry. The RA will notify an applicant of the specific reason(s) for their refusal to accept the application. These will usually be easy to fix, such as through providing missing information.
  
  In the event that the RA does not accept an application and the applicant believes that the RA action is incorrect, then the applicant may appeal directly to the Registration Management Group. Appeals may be filed through the Contact Us form on this website.
• The Registration Management Group did not accept my application. What can I do?
  The Registration Management Group (RMG) will provide a written basis for any refusal to accept an application. Applicants may dispute this reason with the RMG and/or provide additional information to the RMG, which may change their decision. Decisions of the RMG are final.
  
  If the applicant believes that the RMG failed to follow ANSI or X9 policies or in some way violated the conditions of the DSTU, then the applicant may bring this to the attention of X9. The contact information is listed on the Contact Us page. Please note that in this case, the applicant cannot use the Contact Us form and must contact X9 directly. X9 will work with the RMG to ensure that all policies and standard requirements are properly followed.
• Some of my information changed. How do I get it updated?
  At this time, you are required to update your application. Only changed information needs to be supplied. If you do not have an electronic copy of your completed application, the Registration Authority can provide it to you. Submit your request through the Contact Us page.
• Why are periodic renewals required?
  The DSTU requires periodic renewals for two reasons. First, it will help us ensure that our information is current, and therefore useful. Second, it will allow us to manage the status of registered companies.
• What gets done with the information I provide in an application?
  Three things. First, the Registration Authority permanently keeps a copy of the application form in its files. Second, information from the application form is used to process your application and to populate the ICSF Registry and include your company contact information on this website. Third, the information on the application is provided to the Registration Management Group for their use in approving the application. Neither the Registration Authority nor Registration Management Group will use your information for purposes outside those required to support the Standard and promote adoption of the use of ICSFs to reduce check fraud.
• What is an RTFL?
  RTFL is an acronym for Routing Transit Feature List. This is a listing, made available by or on behalf of a Verification Authority, of the Routing Transit numbers and specific security features supported by that Verification Authority. The RTFL specifies the security features that a VA supports for any given Routing and Transit number.
  
  RTFLs are made available to Validators and to other Verification Authorities to minimize the possibility of misdirected requests and to maximize the efficiency of the validation process.
• Do I need a copy of RTFLs?
  Only Validators and Verification Authorities will directly benefit from having a copy of Routing Transit Feature Lists.
• Where do I obtain the RTFLs?
  At this time each Verification Authority is responsible for distribution of its own RTFL.
• Who is on the ICSF Registration Management Group?
  Curt Hunsicker, Federal Reserve Banks (Chair)
  Scott Meloun, Wachovia
  Kevin Crockett, Wells Fargo
  Luis Sanchez, Harland Clarke
  David Hunt, BancTec
  
• Who is the ICSF Registration Authority?
  The ICSF Registration Authority service is provided by PaymentsNation under a memorandum of understanding with Accredited Standards Committee X9.