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Thursday, July 19, 2007
Courts - "Credit card receipts could be costly"
Andy Grimm reports in the Gary Post-Tribune today about suits being brought in Indiana and Illinois federal courts against Indiana merchants:
HAMMOND-- Sixteen digits could add up to a six-figure lawsuit for dozens of businesses in Chicago and Northwest Indiana.About 20 Indiana businesses are among those being sued for printing out receipts that show more than five digits of customers' credit card numbers, said attorney Daniel Edelman, who is representing Gary resident Kelvin Goods in a total of eight lawsuits filed in the last two months against Indiana businesses, including Bass Pro Shops in Portage.
Federal law that took effect in December says cash register receipts cannot show more than five digits of the 16-digit credit card account number, nor the expiration date, data that could be used by identity thieves, said Edelman, whose Chicago law firm is representing Goods and seven other plaintiffs in identical suits filed in U.S. District Court in Indiana and Illinois.
"It's a fairly elementary precaution that really should've been done earlier. The law gave them three years to change their equipment and software (ending in December)," Edelman said. "Most people comply, about 2 percent don't. We have sued about three dozen that don't."
Posted by Marcia Oddi on July 19, 2007 08:31 AM
Posted to Courts in general