Signup no-age-gate and duplicate-contact login handoff policy

DEC-0056 - Signup no-age-gate and duplicate-contact login handoff policy

Context

Stage A still had two unresolved auth-friction points: age gate scope and duplicate-contact behavior when user enters an existing contact during signup.

Decision

Signup baseline:

• Do not apply age-gate check in DOL English Web V2 signup.

Existing-contact handoff:

• If signup detects contact already exists, route user directly to login step with a clear notice.
• Keep contact prefilled in login step.
• Do not create a separate duplicate-resolution branch.
• Handoff enters standard login contracts (password-first with OTP fallback).

Operational assumption (locked):

• Duplicate-contact detection does not auto-send OTP by default; user continues from login step and chooses normal auth path.

Decision Value

• Keeps signup friction low while still preventing accidental duplicate-account creation flow.
• Simplifies auth flow graph (one login path, no extra duplicate branch).

Rationale

This policy aligns with outside-in low-friction entry and avoids introducing extra branch complexity before user intent is clear.