Too Much Info on a Receipt May Be Grounds for a Credit Card Lawsuit

Businesses that print too many card number digits on a credit or debit card receipt could be headed for a credit card lawsuit under federal consumer protection law.

The federal government instituted the Fair and Accurate Credit Reporting Act (FACTA) to protect consumers from identity theft and credit card theft. Many of the requirements that were instituted under the FACTA regulate what information can be shared about a consumer’s credit or debit card.

This 2003 law requires businesses to “truncate” the information about credit and debit cards that is displayed. The law aims to respond to changing technology that can compromise consumers’ credit card information and other sensitive personal information.

The FACTA regulates the amount of information about someone’s credit card that can be displayed because credit card information is in high demand among thieves who want to steal personal information. The idea behind the limitations of the act is that it prevents people from piecing together various pieces of information to gain access to someone’s personal information to be able to make charges to a person’s account, or commit identity theft.

The FACTA requires that vendors print no more than the last five digits of the card number, and they must completely omit the expiration date of the card. Even if the information they print is less than five digits, if those digits are digits other than the last five, the vendor has violated the FACTA. The language of the FACTA specifically states that “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 sale or the transaction.”

The numbers of a credit card are often replaced by symbols like * or # on receipts. This practice is called “truncation,” and is done to protect a consumer’s information on receipts.

However, in some cases, it is not done properly, and more information is exposed than is allowed under the regulations of the FACTA. In these cases, consumers may qualify to file a credit card lawsuit.

The limitations on the information that may be printed applies to any receipts printed electronically at cash registers, self-service kiosks, restaurants, retail stores, and similar establishments. However, the regulation does not apply to receipts created by taking a physical impression of the card, or to receipts created by hand.

While merchants are prohibited from printing more than the last five digits of a card number or the expiration date of a card on a receipt given to customer, they can print more than this information on the merchant copy of the receipt for their own records.

Under the regulation of the FACTA, consumers have the right to file a credit card lawsuit if they suspect a vendor has violated the act. Additionally, they have the right to seek statutory damages of $100 to $1,000 for each violation of the FACTA, if the merchant is willfully or negligently violating the consumer protection law.

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.

Get Started