It is illegal for a retailer to ask for your ZIP code for a credit transaction

[MotionMan]

At least it is in California.

Just reading about this in a legal paper, so I found a good quote to share:

Requiring a customer's ZIP code [for a credit card transaction] is illegal in California where the state's 1971 law prohibits merchants from requesting or requiring a card-holder's "personal identification information" as a condition of accepting the card for payment. The California Supreme Court has ruled that the ZIP code qualifies as personal identification information because it is part of the cardholder's address. Companies face fines of $250-$1000 for each violation. (See Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma Stores Inc., 2011 DJDAR 2278 (Feb. 10, 2011).)

So, if a retailer asks for your ZIP code (at least in California), refuse to give it.

Viva privacy!!!

MotionMan

 

[zerocool84]

Pretty much every gas station I've ever been to requires you to input your zip when using credit card on the island.

 

[rcpratt]

So we can sue every gas station in the world?

 

[DingDingDao]

Pretty much every gas station I've ever been to requires you to input your zip when using credit card on the island.

This.

 

[rockyct]

I have to enter it at the Redbox machine as well

 

[Capt Caveman]

Doesn't bother me to give my zip. Telephone # on the other hand...

 

[zinfamous]

haha, I was going to post "No--except in CA!" :Awe:

...before reading the OP.

 

[Cruisin1]

How do I sue the gas station machines now?

 

[MotionMan]

Pretty much every gas station I've ever been to requires you to input your zip when using credit card on the island.

I have seen that, too. However, when I have had to go inside, due to a broken card reader, they have not asked for the ZIP.

It is an odd situation, but retailers are starting to get sued for this already.

MotionMan

 

[yh125d]

Really? I've never heard of gas pumps asking for it, they don't anywhere I've bought gas.

Sonic started to the last year or so, but its not required. If you ignore it it'll go away after a minute and the transaction will still fully complete

 

[JS80]

i don't understand why this is illegal, and how it breaks privacy

 

[MotionMan]

i don't understand why this is illegal, and how it breaks privacy

It associates your ZIP code with your credit card number.

I did not say it was a big deal, but, in theory, anything that forces you to connect two otherwise not connected pieces of information COULD lead to ID theft.

MotionMan

 

[JulesMaximus]

Pretty much every gas station I've ever been to requires you to input your zip when using credit card on the island.

Yep. Put in a bogus one and your card comes up as declined.

 

[frostedflakes]

Really? I've never heard of gas pumps asking for it, they don't anywhere I've bought gas.

Sonic started to the last year or so, but its not required. If you ignore it it'll go away after a minute and the transaction will still fully complete

Yeah live in KS and have never been asked to enter a zip at the pump. Guess it just depends on what part of the country you live in.

Any reasonable measures to reduce CC fraud are perfectly fine in my book, I wouldn't mind having to put in a zip code for transactions.

 

[OUCaptain]

i don't understand why this is illegal, and how it breaks privacy

This. Only a cali would rule a zip code "personal information". Personal to you and the other half million rainbow waiving libs living in the area.

 

[AlienCraft]

Pretty much every gas station I've ever been to requires you to input your zip when using credit card on the island.

Not anymore they don't.

 

[JS80]

It associates your ZIP code with your credit card number.

I did not say it was a big deal, but, in theory, anything that forces you to connect two otherwise not connected pieces of information COULD lead to ID theft.

MotionMan

Eh, I guess I could see that. I'll take the under though.

 

[Ronstang]

Why would anyone care about this when they are simply protecting themselves and you in the process? It is a simple check to make sure the person using the CC knows the zip of the billing address.

 

[MotionMan]

Yeah live in KS and have never been asked to enter a zip at the pump. Guess it just depends on what part of the country you live in.

Any reasonable measures to reduce CC fraud are perfectly fine in my book, I wouldn't mind having to put in a zip code for transactions.

Everywhere I have been in California has required a ZIP code at the pump for many years.

In theory, this has only officially been illegal for about a month. I wonder if we will see any changes at the pump now that a bunch of class action lawsuits have been filed (in San Francisco).

MotionMan

 

[AlienCraft]

Everywhere I have been in California has required a ZIP code at the pump for many years.

In theory, this has only officially been illegal for about a month. I wonder if we will see any changes at the pump now that a bunch of class action lawsuits have been filed (in San Francisco).

MotionMan

I buy gas at several Chevron stations and 2 different Safeways. It seemed as if overnight, they all quit asking for the zip code. This has been about a month, too.

 

[zerocool84]

I haven't bought gas with credit for 2 months but I'll try it tonight and see as I use cash 99% of the time since most gas stations charge less per gallon for cash.

 

[yh125d]

I haven't bought gas with credit for 2 months but I'll try it tonight and see as I use cash 99% of the time since most gas stations charge less per gallon for cash.

???

I've also never heard of cheaper with cash either

 

[chorb]

This. Only a cali would rule a zip code "personal information". Personal to you and the other half million rainbow waiving libs living in the area.

dont be jealous you can't wave yours around and have to keep it in the closet

 

[MotionMan]

I buy gas at several Chevron stations and 2 different Safeways. It seemed as if overnight, they all quit asking for the zip code. This has been about a month, too.

I bought gas twice this weekend and had to enter my ZIP. I guess it will take a little while for everyone to fall in line.

MotionMan

 

[Taejin]

Pretty much every gas station I've ever been to requires you to input your zip when using credit card on the island.

I read an article about this awhile back. When you input in your zip code, the information doesn't get stored away and saved by the gas station, it is used for verification only. The converse is true for normal retail stores though; they are actually saving the zip code (using it for data/marketing purposes), and this is a greater risk you take on if your information ever becomes compromised.