Serious Concerns About MYOB’s New Verification Requirement
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I am extremely concerned about MYOB’s recent policy requiring businesses to provide personal identification and trust documents simply to continue using invoicing—even when we do not use online payment services.
Here are the key issues:
Sensitive Information in Emails
MYOB included my Payments Client ID, Serial Number, and Business Name in an email. Email is inherently insecure and should never be used to transmit sensitive identifiers. This raises serious questions about MYOB’s commitment to privacy and data protection.
Lack of Legal Justification
MYOB claims this requirement aligns with “minimum standards” for confirming beneficial ownership, yet provides no reference to any specific legislation or compliance framework. Why should businesses that only use traditional invoicing be subjected to intrusive verification?
No Alternative for Long-Standing Customers
MYOB admits communication was inadequate but insists verification cannot be bypassed. For businesses that have never used online payment services, this is unreasonable. There should be:
- An opt-out option for Secure Invoicing.
- A traditional invoicing path without mandatory identity checks.
Competitive Disadvantage
Other major accounting platforms do not impose such requirements for basic invoicing. If MYOB’s logic were applied broadly, companies like Microsoft would demand personal ID to use Word or Excel—an absurd scenario that highlights the flaw in this approach.
MYOB currently holds about 17% market share in Australia. Continuing with policies that disregard customer concerns will inevitably reduce this share even further. A fact that the management should seriously consider if they want to continue in business!
My Position
This verification requirement is unacceptable. Even if MYOB provides clarifications or assurances, I will not comply. It is unnecessary, intrusive, and sets a dangerous precedent. If MYOB cannot offer a solution that respects customer privacy and operational needs, I will migrate to an alternative platform.
I encourage other users who share these concerns to speak up. If MYOB does not address this issue promptly, escalation to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) may be necessary.
MYOB should show the utmost respect to its clients—because we are the ones who keep MYOB in business.
