Is it legal to have my full account number printed on the portion of a receipt kept by the vendor?

Question

I'm in the State of California and when I signed a charge slip at a local store, my full account number was printed on their portion of the receipt. I wanted to scratch out all but the last four digits of the account number and they refused to give me my purchases if I did so. The charge had already been approved electronically and was pending in my account. Is this legal? What do they do with the signed charge slips?

Answer 1

OC1999 gave you the correct law, but interpreted it (or your question) wrong to say what they are doing is illegal. The law applies only to the receipt that they give you, not their copy. Business must have a copy of the account number, otherwise we could never respond to a disputed charge.

Answer 2

It the receipt was printed by the machine or register then most likely it is ILLEGAL. If it was handwritten then it would be legal.

"SB 802, Simitian. Debit cards.Existing law prohibits a person or business that accepts credit cards forthe transaction of business from printing more than the last 5 digits of thecredit card account number or the expiration date upon any receiptprovided to the cardholder, except as specified.This bill would further prohibit that disclosure with regard to debitcards.The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 1747.09 of the Civil Code is amended to read:1747.09.

(a) Except as provided in this section, no person, firm,partnership, association, corporation, or limited liability company thataccepts credit or debit cards for the transaction of business shall print morethan the last five digits of the credit or debit card account number or theexpiration date upon any receipt provided to the cardholder.(b) This section shall apply only to receipts that are electronicallyprinted and shall not apply to transactions in which the sole means ofrecording the person’s credit or debit card number is by handwriting or by an imprint or copy of the credit or debit card."


I don't know if there is anything you can do. But I would not shop there anymore and let them know why you are not.

Edit: I noticed you said it was on their portion and in this case then Brian G would be correct it would not be illegal. But if it was on your copy then it would be.

Answer 3

Absolutely, we much keep the credit card information on file in case of audits by the card processor or bank if you disputed the purchase. Most machines do not print the full number on the CUSTOMER copy of the receipt, but the merchant copy virtually always has the full number.

Answer 4

yes. remember the old days when they would slide the card and make an imprint? Well, a lot of places have to keep the record just like any place you give your credit card to.

The signed charge slips are usually stored away for x amount of time.

Answer 5

awareness and Generosity abound. Starlight....Starbright....First superstar Rec'd this evening. (lol). would Peace and Happiness proceed to gentle Your route. Edit: LMAO.....Why did I no longer see that coming?