Understanding FACTA Compliance Rules and How They Protect Consumers

If a retailer or merchant does not follow FACTA compliance rules, consumer may be eligible to file a FACTA lawsuit.

Under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), retailers and merchants cannot include more than the last five digits of a card number or any part of a card’s expiration date on a receipt. If a vendor does not print receipts in accordance with FACTA compliance rules, consumers may be eligible to file a lawsuit against them to recover damages for real or potential breaches of privacy and security.

FACTA was passed by Congress in 2003 in an attempt to protect U.S. consumers form the growing threat of identity theft and fraud. Before FACTA was enacted, retailers and merchants were allowed to print different digits of credit card numbers and expiration dates. This was a serious identity theft risk because if a perpetrator had multiple receipts for the same card, they could easily piece together full credit card numbers or expiration dates.

FACTA compliance rules have standardized the amount of information retailers can include which protects consumers from potential security breaches. FACTA specifically states “no person that accepts credit cards or debit cards for the transaction of business shall print more than the last 5 digits of the card number or the expiration date upon any receipt provided to the cardholder at the point of the sale or transaction.” FACTA compliance rules apply to all electronically printed receipts such as those printed by cash registers, self-service systems, and restaurants.

FACTA compliance often takes the form of a process known as truncation. Truncation replaces digits and letters in the card number with symbols such as * or #. These symbols act as placeholders in a computer system and on receipts. Although this is an effective and easy way for retailers to follow FACTA compliance rules, truncation is not always done correctly.

A merchant may not print any digits of a credit card other than the last 5 digits. Any of the following examples are violations of FACTA debit card receipt rules.

• 11** **** **** 4444
• **** **22 **** 4444
• **** **** **33 ****

For obvious reasons, credit card numbers are protected under FACTA compliance rules. If a perpetrator has multiple sections of the same credit card number, they are more likely to successfully defraud a consumer and commit fraud.

A merchant may not print any part of an expiration date of a credit card or debit card anywhere on a receipt. Any of the following examples are violations of FACTA credit card receipt rules.

• EXP: 03/18
• EXP: 03/2018
• EXP: 032018
• EXP: 0318
• Expires: 0318
• Exp Date: 03/18
• Exp Date: 03/20/18
• EXPIRY: 03/18
• 03/17
• 0317
• Exp Date 03/**
• EXP” **/18

Expiration dates are fully protected as they are often used in online transactions for security measures. If a perpetrator has an expiration date of a credit or debit card, they have a better chance of successfully defrauding a consumer.

Merchants and retailers who commit accidental, willful, or negligent violations of FACTA compliance rules are in violation of federal law. Consumers who had their information wrongfully printed on a credit or debit card receipt may be eligible for legal action under FACTA. A FACTA lawsuit could help recover compensation for potential or actual credit card fraud, identity theft, and more.

Free FACTA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you made one or more purchases and the retailer provided you with a receipt that contained more than the last five digits of your credit or debit card number or the expiration date, you may be eligible for a free class action lawsuit investigation and to pursue compensation for these FACTA violations.

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