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Hotels taking laser cards

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  • 16-06-2008 10:51pm
    #1
    SJ2008
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20 ✭


    I stayed in a hotel a couple of weeks ago (its a well known chain of hotels throughout Ireland) and on check was asked for either a credit or debit card, I didnt have my cc with me so produced the laser card. The young girl then writes down my laser card details on the registration card . I asked her why she did this, but unfortunately could not understand me and why I questioned her.

    At checkout the following morning, I asked to speak to the manager, she also wondered why there was a problem with writing down my card details on a piece of paper. She explained that they can not take a pre-auth on a debit card, I would have been more than happy to pay the full amount on check in if I was asked.
    I then asked for the registration card as I did not want my details lying around. In the end she ended up crossing out the card details.

    Surely this is illegal, writing details down on a piece of paper for God knows who to have access to???


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    #2
    Keano
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 12,802 Mod ✭✭✭✭Keano


    Name and shame?


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    #3
    mcaul
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭mcaul


    Nothing wrong with it at all.

    Every time you use a laser / credit card with any retail company / hotel / retaurant etc, they keep the full details of the card. Name on card, card number, Expiry date, and in many cases your address. - One way is the machine printing it, the other way is a staff member taking details down.

    The receipt you recieve will only have the last 4 digit on it, but this is so that you can discard the receipt without fear of the number being copied. A retailer must keep all credit / laser card receipt for 18 months.


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    #4
    axer
    Registered Users Posts: 5,517 ✭✭✭axer


    Just make sure you do not give ANY pin numbers.


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    #5
    BC
    Registered Users Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭BC


    Its not illegal but there is an obligation on the retailer to ensure adequate protection of the card details.


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    #6
    jimi_t
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,579 ✭✭✭jimi_t


    BC wrote: »
    Its not illegal but there is an obligation on the retailer to ensure adequate protection of the card details.

    Which unfortunately is often not the case.


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    #7
    Doctor DooM
    Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 25,868 Mod ✭✭✭✭Doctor DooM


    One company I worked for gave a formal written warning to a colleague who lost a batch of visa slips. It's usually considered quite a serious thing to do.


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    #8
    dudara
    Registered Users Posts: 33,518 ✭✭✭✭dudara


    BC wrote: »
    Its not illegal but there is an obligation on the retailer to ensure adequate protection of the card details.

    This is a key point. On computerised systems, the staff members can enter numbers, but are then not able to see the digits afterwards, thus providing you with security.

    Writing your laser card no on a piece of paper, is just not acceptable.


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    #9
    LolaDub
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,181 ✭✭✭LolaDub


    Is it not illegal under data protection?


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    #10
    mcaul
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭mcaul


    LolaDub wrote: »
    Is it not illegal under data protection?

    No - A retailer MUST keep a full record of transaction details for 18 months.

    You as a customer, can query a creditcard payment for up to 12 months after you received a statement.

    If you query a payment, the retailer is given the date, transaction amout, cardholder name & card number. The retailer must then match that information with their signed written slip or signed printed slip. Where a signature is not given (phone / internet orders) a copy of order & delivery signature would be required.

    The retailer must give a copy of this to the credit card company who then verifies the signature.

    Same with people saying that someone has asked for their bank account number - this is printed on the bottom of every cheque you write.

    The signature / pin number is your security.


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    #11
    englander
    Registered Users Posts: 205 ✭✭englander


    Wynns hotel on Abbey street did this with me.

    I have kept a very close eye on bank details since.

    Surely this shouldn't be allowed.

    They had all of my details except the PIN.
    I even had to sign right next to these details on registration card.


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    #12
    Doctor DooM
    Moderators, Music Moderators Posts: 25,868 Mod ✭✭✭✭Doctor DooM


    LolaDub wrote: »
    Is it not illegal under data protection?
    englander wrote: »
    Wynns hotel on Abbey street did this with me.

    I have kept a very close eye on bank details since.

    Surely this shouldn't be allowed.

    They had all of my details except the PIN.
    I even had to sign right next to these details on registration card.

    You remember when companies just took carbon copies of the entire front of your credit cards and got you to sign a slip, right? Even that is still legal.

    The company needs the correct details or they will not recieve payment for the transaction.


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    #13
    craichoe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,706 ✭✭✭craichoe


    Yeh,

    If you buy Train Tickets over the phone in Kent station they write it down in pen first and then type in the number later.

    Also the Applecase and the Applestore for example, they take down details on paper and then process the transaction later.


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    #14
    the_syco
    Registered Users Posts: 37,301 ✭✭✭✭the_syco


    englander wrote: »
    Wynns hotel on Abbey street did this with me.

    I have kept a very close eye on bank details since.

    Surely this shouldn't be allowed.

    They had all of my details except the PIN.
    I even had to sign right next to these details on registration card.
    If you had signed "Joe Duck" on it, and, when you got the visa bill, said to visa company that you "never paid the hotel, please check the receipt", you could then refuse it, as it "clearly has Joe Duck written on it, and not my name"...

    One of the boardies pulled that scam (writing Donald Duck on the reciept, and getting the money back rom the CC company) in an offie for a few weeks some years back, and the pub had to pull the system, and accept cash only, as they were losing money on it.


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