Description

This article is from the Credit cards and Consumer Credit FAQ, by adams@spss.com (Steve Adams) with numerous contributions by others.

403. If it's against the rules to ask for my address of phone number, when purchasing with credit card, why do merchants insist on address or phone number?

Don't rule out ignorance: many merchants don't know the rules.
They may think (wrongly) that getting extra information from you
will protect them somehow. The truth is that if they follow the
procedures of the credit-card company, they will get paid, period.

On the other hand, some merchants are deliberately flouting the
rules and depending on you to acquiesce. Why? Because they can
sell your address or phone number, or add you to their in-house list
of sales prospects.

Don't accept the old wheeze about "in case there's a problem." If
the merchant follows proper procedures at the time of sale, there
won't be. If you leave your card behind they can send it to the the
card issuer, who will return it to you.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 402. When I make a purchase with credit card, can they ask for my address or phone number?
• Index
• next: 404. What should I do when asked for personal information I don't want to give when purchasing with credit card?

Share and Enjoy

Tags

finance, debit card, credit card, secured card, guaranteed card, unsecured card, consumer credit, bad credit, credit report