topic Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules in Credit in the News

California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

vanillabean — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 02:55:43 GMT

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0211-privacy-20110211,0,6098077.story

Gas stations would be something else, because they use your zip code to verify the credit card is yours, they don't store it.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

laz98 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:39:06 GMT

i wish they would do that here. i hate getting to the checkout & having to answer 20 questions before i can pay for my purchase. it's ridiculous!

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:10:27 GMT

Easy fix, don't shop at places that ask you 20 questions. There is no need for the government to get involved in something as petty as this.

Edit: I have a merchant account and when I enter AVS information I get about .75% cheaper rates. Why does the government even care about this? They are costing all companies about .4% of their entire REVENUE. That is a lot of money for every business in CA.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

laz98 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:15:50 GMT

it would be an easy fix if more & more places weren't starting to do it. i don't live in a big city so i don't have as many options as some places.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

haulingthescoreup — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 16:23:16 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Easy fix, don't shop at places that ask you 20 questions. There is no need for the government to get involved in something as petty as this.

Edit: I have a merchant account and when I enter AVS information I get about .75% cheaper rates. Why does the government even care about this? They are costing all companies about .4% of their entire REVENUE. That is a lot of money for every business in CA.

If they want to ask me if I want to get on their snail mail/ e-mail lists, then they can ask me. This option is available with online businesses, where you can unclick the box to post your name and addy on every marketing bathroom wall in North America.

I don't need them matching my ZIP and name in order to send me more crap in the mail. I mean, I'm getting a catalog for a cigar dealer. Where on earth did that one come from???

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

Imhotrodcrazy — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:32:42 GMT

I live in So Cal and so far I have never been asked for my zip code, except, as the article states, when I use my cc at the gas station.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:21:26 GMT

I also work for a chain pizza delivery place in the evenings and we ask for the zip code, but it is only on the payment screen. I don't think they even save the zip code. Of course we already have you phone number, name, and address so I doubt they need it for marketing. Because it is only on the payment screen I think it is only to lower our CC fees.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

Cloudlb — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 04:58:42 GMT

when they ask for my zip code or phone number, I just say, "No thank you/I prefer not to give it"

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

Walt_K — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:16:03 GMT

@Cloudlb wrote:
when they ask for my zip code or phone number, I just say, "No thank you/I prefer not to give it"

+1. I would only care about this if they were requiring the information.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

StartinOver — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 04:20:09 GMT

I usually respond: you are welcome to use your default zip code.

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:41:28 GMT

I'm surprised people don't like this - it makes me feel a little safer - after all, if someone stole my card, they might not know my zip code. This is more true for gas stations/pay-at-the-pump but still, I don't see a problem with it. And as mentioned, most of them already have access to your address anyway so I don't know how much it would prevent mailing lists.

I understand that it's not *really* an identification method, but I do think that sort of thing should exist (beyond signature or zip code).

Re: California retailers can't ask patrons for ZIP Codes, court rules

haulingthescoreup — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 21:06:04 GMT

Entering your zip at the gas pump is a security feature.

Clerks asking you for your zip at checkout is more often a marketing thing.