A federal judge shut down an information broker accused of selling confidential phone records on consumers without their knowledge or consent. Accusearch, doing business as Abika.com, will forfeit nearly $200,000 in profits and must notify those whose data it sold. The defendants were accused of advertising on their Web site that they could get anyone’s confidential phone records, including details of outgoing and incoming calls. They used “false pretenses, fraudulent statements, fraudulent or stolen documents or other misrepresentations, including posing as a customer,” to get phone companies to give up the confidential records, the FTC said.
On January 26, 2008, U.S. Customs and Border Protection was scheduled to implement an Automated Commercial Environment update to enable electronic in-bond requests filed via the Automated Broker Interface message QP1 to update a shipment that is reported in a truck ACE e-manifest with a shipment release type of Pre-Arrival Processing System (PAPS2).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued its Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2007 which contains certain performance data concerning CBP's progress in achieving, among other things, the six strategic goals that are set forth in CBP's Strategic Plan for FYs 2005-2010.
In Arthur C. Schick, III and Schick International Forwarding, Inc., v. U.S., the Court of International Trade ruled it had no authority to grant relief to Arthur Schick under 19 USC 1641(g) (Triennial reports by customs brokers) on the claim that his Customs broker's license was revoked without the observance of the proper procedures. On the remaining claims filed on behalf of the Plaintiff, the CIT cited the court's lack of jurisdiction on the subject matter.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have decided to postpone consideration of the employee-driver mandate in their Clean Air Action Plan due to questions raised by the Federal Maritime Commission and the Maritime Administration. (JoC, dated 01/07/08, www.joc.com)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection previously issued a general notice announcing that the 2008 annual user fee of $138 assessed for each customs broker permit and national permit held by an individual, partnership, association, or corporation is due by February 15, 2008.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the Port of Chicago has issued a Pipeline to Customhouse brokers, importers, and others which explains its local procedures for processing defense articles controlled by the State Department.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued a proposed rule that would amend its regulations at 19 CFR Parts 4, 12, 18, 101, 103, 113, 122, 123, 141, 143, 149 and 192 to require Security Filing (SF) information from importers and additional information from carriers (10+2) for vessel (maritime) cargo before it is brought into the U.S.
CBP Launches CSMS - A New Information System (to Replace ABI Messages, Etc. Effective February 11th)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has posted a notice and press release to its Web site announcing its launch of a new means of delivering information on its Automated Commercial Trade Interface Systems.
The World Customs Organization has posted its 2008 training calendar for the private sector to its Web site. The WCO will be offering the following training opportunities for importers, exporters, manufacturers, customs brokers, and other specified participants at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium: