Maryland's consumer protection division announced it reached a $20,000 settlement with payment processor MAP LLC for allegedly failing to properly dispose of consumers' personal information.
The state claims that the company, formerly doing business as Mid Atlantic Processing, threw out 77 boxes containing consumers' Social Security numbers, cancelled checks and other sensitive information in dumpsters when closing its Owings Mills, Md. office a year ago.
State law requires businesses to take reasonable steps, such as shredding, to protect consumers' information when destroying records.
MAP and two officers, Martin A. Taylor and Rony Natanzon, denied liability, but agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty and to properly dispose of the documents police had recovered. State officials said no one's personal information is believed to have been compromised.
Company officials could not be reached for comment.
