We absolutely hear you on this. We would really prefer to not have to do it. One, it's a pain for our bidders, especially for trustworthy bidders like yourself. Two, it is extremely time-consuming for our team to verify the ID matches the account information.
More of the governments we serve want/require more assurance and accountability for bidders. Unlike you, there are people who bid and do not honor their winning bids (defaulting bidders) across all of these online providers. Without verifying ID's, we have no way of truly knowing if these people are who they say they are, even when verifying credit card information. As you may know, there are a lot of scammers out there.
When we have defaulting bidders, it causes problems for our good bidders. These unidentified people bid against the honest bidders, then do not follow through. In this case, the selling agency will typically go to the next highest bidder or relist the item. This is a negative situation for everyone involved - the good bidder who lost, the selling agency, and us.
Our competitors, whether indirect or direct, are all moving to this as well. In addition, many live auctioneers are moving to digitally capturing IDs whether online or at the auction site. Governments have been switching to Municibid from other providers because we have this in place.
For example, if we have a defaulting bidder, we need to be able to access the ID in the event we need to provide this information to the government seller, or as part of legal proceedings. There have been times where either the selling agency or Municibid have needed to take legal action against these defaulting bidders or scammers, and we have needed to provide a legal, state-issued ID to the police.
Again, we know how much of a pain this is, and how intrusive submitting your ID can feel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I bid if I only have my driver’s license number but not the physical ID?
No, you need to upload the full, physical ID to have your identity verified accurately, including your name, expiration date, date of birth, and address. Following verification, you will be eligible to bid.
Do I need to add a credit card immediately after verifying my ID?
No, you can wait to add a credit card until you're ready to place a bid, allowing flexibility in the process.By following these instructions, you'll be eligible to participate in a safe and verified bidding environment.
Submission Methods
You have multiple ways to submit your ID for verification:
Upload it through Municibid's dedicated ID upload link.
Email a copy to Municibid at support@municibid.com, ensuring to include your registered account email address.
Text a copy to Municibid, also including your registered account email address.
Verification Requirements
The ID you provide must clearly show your name, expiration date, date of birth, and address. A complete copy of the physical ID is required; partial information, such as just a driver’s license number, will not qualify for verification. After your ID is verified, adding a credit card to your account will be required before you can participate in bidding. This step ensures that the bidding process is seamless and secure.