HUD Mortgagee Letter 2002-06 announces two changes to the FHA Connection user ID maintenance policy:

• Users will be required to change their FHA Connection password every 21 days.
• Users will be locked out if an incorrect password is entered three consecutive times.

For users of ECHO ConnectionPlus (ECP) we clarify that:

• Both change requirements will be in effect starting May 27th, 2002 .
• ECP users will not be locked out after three incorrect attempts but will receive the following error messages:
  
  "Invalid user ID and password," or
  "Your FHA Connection password has expired. Change password every 21 days"

For your convenience, we have added a shortcut "FHA Password Change" to your ECP Cabinet under the ECHO Intranet. ECP users now have one-step access to the FHA "password reset screen." We recommend that you modify your password prior to the expiration date following these steps:

• Connect to ECHO, then select the "FHA Password Change" option in the ECHO Intranet.
• Enter your current HUD user name and password to gain access to the FHA Connection password change screen.
  Enter your new password, confirm it, and select Send.
  Your new password must be exactly 6 characters, and must have at least one numeric character.
• If your password has already expired, upon entering your current HUD user name and password, you will be forwarded to the FHA Connection password change reset screen.

Once you have changed or reset your FHA password, remember to also change your HUD password in the ECHO Identification Screen as follows:

• Click View on the ECP main toolbar and select Settings. Click on the Identification Tab and enter your new FHA Connection password in the HUD Connection Info section.

If you need a two-minute training to reset your password the first time, please call ECHO at (888) 711-2500. An ECHO representative will be happy to help you.