Apple Hit with ZIP Code Collection Class Action Lawsuit

Certain states in America make it illegal for merchants to collect ZIP codes during debit and credit card transactions. California and Massachusetts customers may be eligible for compensation if this happened to them. Three plaintiffs are taking legal action against a Massachusetts Apple store, as they accuse the electronic giant of selling their personal information.

According to the class action lawsuit, Adam Christensen, Jeffrey Scolnick, and William Farrell shopped and purchased items from Apple retail stores in Massachusetts between 2012 and 2013. They each used a credit card to pay for their products. During their credit card transactions, they were allegedly asked to provide several pieces of personal information, including their ZIP codes. Allegedly, the Apple store would not allow the plaintiffs to complete their purchases without that information.

The class action lawsuit alleged that Apple compelled customers to provide their ZIP codes while making credit purchases at retail locations. According to Massachusetts state law, business entities that accept credit cards are prohibited from requiring customers to submit any personal identification information (PII) which is not necessary to complete the transaction. Apple allegedly violated the statute by collecting the ZIP codes and then illegally selling that information to third-party companies for marketing purposes.

Apple acknowledges that on their website, it is mentioned that the company reserves the right to “make certain personal information available to strategic partners that work with Apple to provide products and services, or that help Apple market to customers.”  The plaintiffs’ legal team argues that not only does the company not have right to collect the ZIP codes, they have much less right to divulge that personal information without the customers’ consent.

As a consequence of Apple’s practices, the plaintiffs say they have received unwanted marketing materials from Apple and its associates. The plaintiffs also allege that the defendant’s actions caused them unseen damage because the company compromised the economic value of their PII without their consent. If the court sides with the plaintiffs, Apple will be held responsible for violating Massachusetts state law by committing “unfair and deceptive trade practices.”

At this time, the plaintiffs are asking that Apple pay $75 per violation, all litigation expenses, attorneys’ fees, interest and other relief as deemed appropriate. If the plaintiffs win this case, Apple would also have to stop collecting PII across Massachusetts. The plaintiffs’ attorneys had allegedly previously tried to contact Apple to settle this matter, but negotiations broke down after it was discovered the company compromised the plaintiffs’ personal information.

The plaintiffs’ legal team encourages affected Massachusetts residents to seek legal representation as well, in the hopes of being compensated for any trouble they may have suffered.

Overview of Consumer ZIP Code Violations

As of now, the only states in the country that have merchant restrictions regarding ZIP codes and other pieces of personal information are Massachusetts and California. These states have determined that ZIP codes are personally identifiable information, and are not required by customers to give during credit card purchases. After this decision was announced, more than 30 class action lawsuits have been filed in Massachusetts, and more than 100 were filed in California against companies who asked consumers to provide their ZIP codes during credit or debit card transactions.

Join a ZIP Code Class Action Lawsuit

Class action lawsuit attorneys are currently seeking California and Massachusetts consumers who were asked to provide their ZIP codes during a credit or debit card transaction. Fill out the form at the Merchant ZIP Code Collection Class Action Lawsuit Investigation to find out if you qualify. It is absolutely free to participate, and the ZIP code collection lawyers won’t get paid unless you do.