The Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users (Aspec) pointed out that consumers should not provide their ID number when making a purchase in a commercial establishment, a request that is considered illegal and is widely practiced, even if the payment is in cash.
“When a consumer buys a product in a commercial establishment, even if he pays in cash, at the checkout they almost always ask him to provide his ID number. Normally the consumer agrees to said request which is illegal”, said Crisologist Cáceres, president of Aspec.
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Why should the DNI not be given when buying?
When providing the DNI in a store, it may be used for other purposes and without the authorization of the clients to be sold to, for example, profiling companies for segmented advertising or marketing, Big data or for telemarketing (contact centers) , creation of personal databases or even worse for criminal acts.
In this sense, the consumer has the right to keep his identity confidential and, as such, is not obliged to provide his DNI or RUC number.
In what cases if it is necessary to give the DNI?
There are two exceptions where consumers must give their ID number to whomever requests it: when they make purchases over S/700 or so that those purchases can be deducted from the Income Tax payment.
“Consumers are not required to provide their ID number to any supplier, except when the amount of the purchase exceeds S / 700 in accordance with Resolution 007-99 of the Sunat, numeral 3.10”says Crisologist Cáceres.
The consumer has the right to keep his identity confidential and, as such, he is not obliged to provide his DNI or RUC number, except when the total amount of the purchase exceeds the amount of S/ 700.
This according to art. 8th, numeral 3.10 of Superintendence Resolution No. 007-99/Sunat, which provides for the need to record the identification data (names, surnames and DNI) of the client.
On the other hand, fourth or fifth category workers, who consume in hotels, bars or restaurants and want to deduct up to 15% of said consumption from the payment of Income Tax, will also necessarily have to provide their identity number.
What to do if the seller forces you to give him your ID?
- Never provide your ID number if the purchase is in cash and less than S/ 700.
- If you buy with a credit card, in that case it is mandatory that you provide that number.
- If the cashier insists and tells you, for example, that for what system works you must give your number, do not accept that excuse because it is an illegal practice.
- If the insistence continues, ask for the complaints book and state that the establishment is not providing you with an ideal service.
