Laser and Credit Card Receipts

Quatre Mains

Hi
I used to be fairly carefree with these receipts until I saw that Prime Time report about credit card fraud. They exposed some African guy who apparently went thru bins looking for card numbers, then ordered up crates of champagne and other stuff off the net to different addresses around Dublin. Turns out any scumbag can make a rake of cash just by going through the bins at common receipt throwaway points such as garages etc. I always assumed that the receipt printers blocked out most of the numbers but this appears to be the exception rather than the rule in Ireland, even with big name shops such as Tesco's and Statoil.
Does anyone know why shops don't have these security measures in place, or if there are plans to introduce mandatory partial number blanking on receipts or if we need to keep hording these receipts for the fireplace?

Kobie

I've never understood why they're allowed print your credit card details on the receipt. I've always burned mine, but we really shouldn't have to.

byte

I've wondered about this myself. I would've thought that the only numbers that should show are the last four digits, but many of receipts I get contain the entire number and expiry date. I usually throw them in my pocket and burn them in the fire when I get home or else tear it up into little pieces.

Dun

I've only ever really used my credit card locally in Donegal and Derry, and have never ever seen my credit card reproduced on a receipt. Saying that, when I worked in a petrol station while I was at uni, their credit card machine did print it on the receipt, but I'd thought that maybe that had changed since then.

Guy:Incognito

the receipt you get is supposed to only have the last four digits, but the shops copy has all the details, i assume thats the banks doing in case anything has to be checked so that they have a full a/c of the details with a signature.

Seraphina

i work in tesco's and on your receipt four of the numbers are replaced by star keys. on the copy we keep all the numbers are there for obvious reasons. its a bit silly, but ffs, is it so much effort to keep an eye on your receipts?

ive worked in other places before where all the numbers were printed on your receipts and people were so bloody careless with them it was ridiculous. loads of people would just leave them on the counter or whatever, and tbh if you're that careless with important documents like that its your own bloody fault if someone commits fraud with your card.

dudara

I have shoe boxes at home filled with the damn things. Some day I will clear them out and burn the older ones. Just keep a shoe box somewhere within easy reach and empty your pocket into it every so ofen.

Most shops give receipts that show full details, which is reckless and dangerous, but it is up to you to safeguard your card.

Quatre Mains

QUOTE]Originally posted by Seraphina
tbh if you're that careless with important documents like that its your own bloody fault if someone commits fraud with your card. [/QUOTE]

- i dont agree TBH. look at the other posts on the thread - people stressing about shoeboxes full of receipts and having to horde and burn them all, that's a bag of crap IMO. Thats not the way cashless spending is supposed to work. Not having the machines blank out the numbers is pure laziness on behalf of the retail sector

(IMO there should also be a few nos blanked out on the monthly receipts too BTW, credit card mail is easy enought to distinguish)

ANy losses to the cc card companies as a result of claims made are just passed back to the consumer anyway so its something that really should be looked at by the govt - 1. it is an easy fix 2. It would ease the workload on the cops 3. it would save a lot of pain and stress to cardholders and shops (according to the PT show listed above the shop had to fork out for the crate of champagne, not the cardholder, as it was a phone order). Yes people should be careful but that doesn't always happen and this is a real opportunity for scummers to make a killing.

Makaveli

My Spar blocks all but the last 4 digits.
It is stupid for them to print the entire number, there is no need to do it at all. It's not a question of looking after your receipts.
Why should they increase security risks!

mudflapgirl

i've always burnt them just in case...paranoia on my count though

kahlua

You have to be paranoid in this day and age really, otherwise you're going to get screwed eventually.

Hell_en_earth

Well it's been in built in me that you alway's keep receipt of any kind and rip them up! Sure you can't even use an atm without have to make sure that it's clean these day's!! I got to be careful with anything you use!!! I have insurance on my card so if something does happen I'm covered!!!!