A Breach Of Security Leads To Fear For Customers Who Shopped At Two Of Canada’s Biggest Chains

 They’re amongst the biggest chains in Canada, attracting millions of customers every year.

But if you’ve been to a HomeSense or a Winners store and used your credit card to make a purchase anytime in the last few years, you may have reason to worry.

The company that owns those giant entities has revealed their computers containing sensitive customer credit card information has been hacked, exposing the data of up to 20 million Visa customers in the U.S. and Canada.

The firm involved, known as TJX, also owns big stores south of the border like Marshalls and TJ Maxx. The breach affects not only charge cards of all kinds but merchandise exchanges, debit card transactions and cheques.

The news has left customers across North America concerned about whether their information is still safe and if they should still be using the cards in question.

“That worries me,” one shopper agrees. “Especially using your bank card, etc.”

TJX apparently knew about the problem before the busy Christmas rush but didn’t tell the public.

Despite that, it insists officials are working hard to heal the hole. “Our first concern is the potential impact of this crime on our customers,” a statement reads. “This issue has the highest priority at TJX.” 

And credit card companies remind users they won’t be on the hook for any purchases made using the stolen information.

“It’s important for cardholders to know that they’re protected by MasterCard’s zero liability policy,” assures the company’s Jennifer Reed. Visa Canada also has a similar policy.

All that is little comfort to customers caught in the middle.

“It’s scary,” responds one. “You should just use cash.”

For now, the company is advising all its customers to check their statements carefully from May to December 2006, and look for any charges they didn’t make. If you see one, call your bank or your credit card company right away.

Both the R.C.M.P. and the U.S. Secret Service are looking into what happened. In the meantime, if you have any questions, TJX has set up a special toll free hotline for anyone with questions or concerns. Call 1-866-903-1408 if you’d like to know more.

Meanwhile, investors may also have something to worry about after another report of a problem involving sensitive information.

Talvest Mutual Funds says a backup computer file containing client information is missing in transit between offices and fund manager C.I.B.C. Asset Management is taking precautions to protect those affected. 

The file contained information on the process used to open and administer about 470,000 current and former Talvest client accounts. It may have included names, addresses, signatures, dates of birth, bank account numbers, beneficiary information or social insurance numbers.

C.I.B.C. assures Talvest has retained original copies of the files on its secure website and insists there’s no evidence the backup file has been “inappropriately accessed.”

Canada’s privacy commissioner and police are investigating.

What should you do if you suspect your credit card is lost or stolen? With the technological know how of thieves these days, you don’t even have to be careless with your card to wind up in trouble.

Here are some steps to take before and after a “card shark” gets your number.

Keep A Record

Most people put their credit cards in their wallet and forget about them until they need to use them. But you should always keep a record of every number and expiry date on the card, and the phone numbers to call if something happens to one of them, in a safe and secure place. The more info you have handy, the faster you can resolve the problem.

Check Your Statements

It’s the first tip-off. Carefully review what’s on your next bill. Are there purchases there you didn’t make? If you find any that you want to question, immediately phone your bank or credit card supplier. They’ll be able to walk you through the rest of the procedure. Many banks also keep a silent record of your spending habits. If they see something that suddenly seems out of place, they may call to ask you about it.

Cancel Everything

Once your number’s up, it’s up. Even if it hasn’t been used, you should cancel the card and have a new one issued. It may take a few days to get it, but at least you’ll know no one else can ring up bogus charges on your account in the meantime.

Let The Right People Know

Users who put regular automatic monthly charges or auto pay features on their card – like cable, hydro, gas, cell phone etc. – will have to call every single one of them separately to tell them the card is no longer any good and supply them with the new number. Some banks will do this for you, others won’t. Either way, it may take some time for you to reach every company in question.

Who Pays For Bogus Charges?

Not you. Under policies instituted by the banks and the credit card companies, you’re off the hook for anything you didn’t actually buy.

Watch Your Credit

Someone using your credit cards for a while undetected can pose a danger to your credit rating, even though you won’t be held liable for the charges. If you’re unsure, you should check your credit with the two main outlets in Canada that keep track of your financial reputation. They can flag your accounts and help clear your name.

Equifax: 1-800-465-7166

TransUnion: 1-800-663-9980

Who Else Do I Call?

It depends on where you got your card. Here’s a partial list of some of the more regular providers. These numbers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

American Express: 1-800-668-2639 or (905) 474-9280 in Toronto or overseas

Bank of Montreal: 1-800-263-2263

Capital One: 1-800-481-3239

CIBC: 1-800-465-4653 in Canada or the U.S. or (514) 861-4653 outside Canada or U.S.

Citibank: 1-800-387-1616

HSBC: 1-866-406-4722

MBNA Canada: 1-800-379-2744

President’s Choice Financial: 1-866-246-7262

Royal Bank: 1-800-ROYAL 1-2 (1-800-769-2512) or  collect outside North America to (514) 392-9167 (collect)

ScotiaBank: 1-800-4-SCOTIA (1-800-472-6842) or  (416) 701-7200 in the Toronto area.

TD-Canada Trust: 1-800-9TD-VISA (1-800-983-8472) or call collect outside of Canada and the U.S. (416) 983-8472

VISA Canada:

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