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Court Says California Stores Can't Ask Customers For ZIP Codes
Hugh Pickens writes writes "CNN reports that the California Supreme Court has ruled that retailers in California don't have the right to ask customers for their ZIP code while completing credit card transactions, saying that doing so violates a cardholders' right to protect his or her personal information, pointing to a 1971 state law that prohibits businesses from asking credit cardholders for 'personal identification information' that could be used to track them down. 'The legislature intended to provide robust consumer protections by prohibiting retailers from soliciting and recording information about the cardholder that is unnecessary to the credit card transaction,' the decision states. 'We hold that personal identification information ... includes the cardholder's ZIP code.' In her lawsuit, Jessica Pineda claimed that a cashier at Williams-Sonoma had asked for her ZIP code during a purchase — information that was recorded and later used, along with her name, to figure out her home address by tapping a database that the company uses to market products to customers and sell its compiled consumer information to other businesses."
The credit card company is assuming the risk, not you. Since when did Master Card have the power to deputize you and turn you into a mini police detective? They set up a system, it's their responsibility to ensure that their business model works. For that they earn billions of dollars, and you don't.
While it would be nice if that was the case, it isn't. If someone walks out of my store with a $500 laptop computer paid for with a stolen credit card, I'm out the merchandise and the revenue when the actual card owner issues a chargeback. Think all I have to do is provide a signed charge slip to get my money back? Then you probably have never experienced the joys of attempting to do battle with a credit card company. Part of the reason that they earn billions of dollars and I don't is because they have entire departments dedicated to putting the burden of risk on the merchant and not the card issuer.
When I am forced to give my zip at a terminal, I ALWAYS hit random numbers. My card has never been refused.
I know one of the stores here in Australia, use the Zip (Post Code here) to decide whether it's worthwhile building stores in new areas. If enough people are willing to travel 50ks to shop there, then more will shop local if it's available.
# cat
Damn, my RAM is full of cats. MEOW!!
I have - right after a move, I forgot whether or not I had updated that particular card and guessed wrong. The machine bounced the card and locked into a "See attendant to complete transaction" mode. I drove up to the next machine and swapped cards just to be sure.
Why is fraud such a problem in the US? Is it because credit card companies are lax with their security? I'm being devil's advocate a little here because I have been a victim of fraud an identity theft in N. American, and now having moved to Europe, I see how pathetic standards and security is in N. America.
It's a pain in the arse visiting the US and not being able to use my credit card easily to fill up my rental car because the pump requires a zip code to accept the card. Nowhere else I've been does this. Why?
You could always use the U.S. standard.
"I'll just need your name and address."
"Sure! Jonathon Shade, 1060 W Addison St., Chicago, IL 60613."
Which, for anyone who doesn't know is the address for Wrigley Field in Chicago, famously used by Elwood Blues on his driver's license in The Blues Brothers. Subsequently used by thousands of geeks when they just wanted to buy some electronics parts from Radio Shack, et al. for cash without giving their name and address.
I'm not sure what the U.K. equivalent would be. The only address I could find for Wembley Stadium didn't have a numeric address that might throw people off the scent. Using the garage over the road at 11 S Way wouldn't have the same effect.