Why Do Stores Need All Your Private Information?

You go to a store and buy a product using your debit or credit card.

It seems innocent enough.

But suddenly, the cashier wants to know a lot more about you – your phone number or your address.

Worse yet, you get a demand for your credit card or other personal information if you try to return the same item days later – even though you have a receipt.

Why do they need all that? It’s a good question and one you’d be wise to ask.

Some stores, like Home Depot, make it a practice to ask for a driver’s license if you try to return an item without a receipt.

Others ask for the I.D. even if you do have the sales slip.

The recent breach of credit card and other sensitive financial information at TJX has led many consumers to raise their eyebrows about just how secure their personal information is and what it’s really being used for.

Real estate lawyer Robert Aaron has seen what thieves can do with the stats contained on a simple driver’s license.

“If somebody has your driver’s license it is more dangerous because your real estate can be stolen,” he outlines.

To prove how easy it is to get an illegal one or create a phony identity, Aaron wangled one for a member of his family named Benji.

There’s just one problem. Benji is his dog.

And crooks know even more of the ins and outs than most honest people can ever conceive of.

So why do so many stores demand you show them your license? Most say it’s to reduce fraud. Others double swipe your debit or credit card so they can send one copy to the bank and another to their own system, doubling the chances it could be intercepted.

“The danger is they have all this information in their database and it can be stolen from them,” Aaron points out. 

He warns you should refuse all requests to flash any I.D. at all without being absolutely sure who’s getting it and why they really need it.

And if that means taking your business elsewhere, it’s the price you pay for staying safe in a retail world that increasingly isn’t.

Read The Fine Print

Most stores will put their return policies in small lettering on the reverse side of your bill. If you’re planning to take something back, it’s already too late. Make sure you know what the rules are before you buy at that establishment.

Too Much Information

If a store asks for your name, address or phone number and can’t give you a good reason why they need it, refuse to provide it. Most places really want your money more than they want your info, and will likely skip the questions.

Be Warranty Wary

You buy something new and then send in the warranty card. You’re covered in case something goes wrong, right? Yes and no. A warranty is valid for whatever time limit the company pre-sets. You don’t have to send in the card with all that personal info. All you really need is a proof of purchase, in the form of a dated receipt.

Be Charitable But Careful

If you’re giving to a good cause, that’s great. But unless you want to be inundated with requests from other unrelated charities, make sure you indicate on the return card you don’t want them to share your name. Otherwise, they’ll sell it as part of a package to further their fundraising efforts, and you have no idea who will get access to it.

If it’s not on the charity donation blank as a box you check off (often buried in small letters on the back)  be sure you write your ‘no exchange’ request in manually.

Beware Of Freebies

It’s easy for draws, contests and other attractions to rope you in, but remember you’re giving out some vital stats when you fill out that entry form. Your odds of winning aren’t that great – so make sure you really want a stranger to know who you are and where you live or you could end up on a telemarketer’s list.

What’s The “Points?”

All those ‘points cards’ you carry with you may be making a point you never wanted – giving companies permission to sell their customer list to telemarketers. If you’re getting more junk mail than usual, consider that a possible reason. Check the privacy policy before you sign up.

Keeping Your PIN Safe

Never lend your card to anyone.

Protect your PIN when you’re at a bank machine and never write it down! Memorize it.

When you’re picking a PIN, don’t go for the obvious choice such as your birthday, or digits in your phone number.

Never tell anyone your PIN. No one from a financial institution, police service or business should ask you for it.

When you’re punching in your PIN, use your hand or body to shield the keypad to make sure no one sees the numbers.

Only conduct transactions at ABMs you feel comfortable at. If you notice something strange on the machine, or don’t feel comfortable, wait and go somewhere else to take out money.

When you’ve completed your transaction, don’t forget to take your record slip – and your card.

Using Your Credit Card Online

Only buy from reputable sites

Before you buy, check the lower left hand corner of the browser for a padlock or key icon – it should appear on any screen that sends personal or credit card information.

Print out the confirmation of the transaction and keep it as a receipt.

Read the privacy and security statements on the site before you hand over your information.

Never send your credit card number in an email.

Credit Card Security Tips

Once a card has expired, destroy it immediately.

Keep your receipts and carbon copies until your statement arrives so you can compare the transactions.

Sign your replacement card and activate it as soon as you receive it.

Any receipts or statements that may have your account number on them should be shredded before you throw them out. And make sure you check it thoroughly.

Never give your account number out to anyone you don’t know over the phone, and be very wary of people claiming you’ve won a prize.

Never give out personal information such as your mother’s maiden name, your PIN, or account numbers to businesses. The only time merchants should ask for your address or phone number is if they need to ship something to you.

Don’t use your credit card as personal identification

Report lost or stolen cards as soon as possible.

If you’re a victim of fraud or identity theft

First contact your bank

Second, report the matter to police and keep a complete record of who you spoke to and when along with any case file numbers. You may need them later if someone claims to be you.

Courtesy: Canadian Bankers Association, TD/Canada Trust and R.C.M.P.

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