Beauty

[Wackers3]

On 7/4/2014 luvingit said: Mobile still asks for my zip at the pump? Does Mobile know?

There is another post above stating the exceptions to the rule that may apply to gas stations - can't recall the number of the post but if you scroll through, you'll see it.

[curlywhitedog]

On 7/4/2014 wackers said:

On 7/4/2014 curlywhitedog said:

Although I've never given it a second thought, now that you mention it, sales clerks do ask for it all the time. I'm going to consider whether, going forward, I'm going to continue providing it.

What I hate is when returning an item I am forced to sign my name and give an address and a phone number, something I am loathe to do and seldom agree to. If I have a receipt for my purchase, the tags are still on the product and it hasn't been used then I say NO, I won't provide you with that info. Sales clerks are always surprised when I say no and they say it's store policy to which I always respond "but I don't work for the store" and I point to their refund policy which I am in compliance with, that the item is being returned within the suggested time limit, that the tags are still on, that the item has not been used and that I have a sales receipt...those rules are always hanging prominently by at the CS counter and as long as I comply with those rules I do not expect to be hassled for personal information.

There's just way too much intrusion in our lives, either by the government or by entitles that are not entitled to but want to collect personal data to use to their own advantage and I won't have it. I just won't.

Maria

Stores sometimes claim they do this to keep track of repeat returners and I decided a long time ago to just make up the names and addresses I write down. Never had a problem when doing that. I often even tell and show the SA that I am making up the name and address and they laugh. I can get quite creative too, such as "Mickey Mouse, 1 Disneyworld Lane, Orlando, FL." It can actually become quite the fun little game.

Hi wackers:

Mea culpa, I admit to having done that very thing but it bothers me that they think I'm complying with their rules. It's my control issue rearing it's ugly head I suppose.

Maria

[Desertdi]

On 7/4/2014 wackers said:

On 7/4/2014 luvingit said: Mobile still asks for my zip at the pump? Does Mobile know?

There is another post above stating the exceptions to the rule that may apply to gas stations - can't recall the number of the post but if you scroll through, you'll see it.

Chevron does it too.......It's supposed to be a "security question".......nothing more.

[chrystaltree]

Oh, please. I don't waste time by telling them anything, I give them the zip code of one the poorest neighborhoods in the city I work in. Let's see what their marketing analysts do with that.

[ElvisShops]

A lawsuit over zip codes? Good grief.

[OPI Girl]

On 7/4/2014 allthatsgood said: I just tell them they don't need the information in order to complete the transaction. Read last week where hospitals are buying all kinds of info about you so they can figure out what you will cost them if you're hospitalized. Nothing is private, confidential or personal anymore.

Whoa! I just looked that up. First paragraph in the article I read; "You may soon get a call from your doctor if you’ve let your gym membership lapse, made a habit of picking up candy bars at the check-out counter or begin shopping at plus-sized stores."

The hospitals are giving the doctors information about what you buy, etc., so they can call you up and discuss your buying habits, and tell you it's bad for you. I guess any candy bars I buy from now on I'll pay for them with cash.

Talk about invasion of privacy. Wow!

[Kay SD]

Goodness, I've never had a doctor express the smallest interest in anything I've told them unless they asked for it first. It might be refreshing to have them notice something about me as an individual. What a concept. But I agree, big data analytics are creepy, in a stalkerish way, and I have no hesitation about politely saying, "no, thank you, I don't wish to provide voluntary personal information," or if it's an online transaction, cancelling rather than provide info I'm uncomfortable providing.

[Kind1too]

On 7/4/2014 curlywhitedog said:

Although I've never given it a second thought, now that you mention it, sales clerks do ask for it all the time. I'm going to consider whether, going forward, I'm going to continue providing it.

What I hate is when returning an item I am forced to sign my name and give an address and a phone number, something I am loathe to do and seldom agree to. If I have a receipt for my purchase, the tags are still on the product and it hasn't been used then I say NO, I won't provide you with that info. Sales clerks are always surprised when I say no and they say it's store policy to which I always respond "but I don't work for the store" and I point to their refund policy which I am in compliance with, that the item is being returned within the suggested time limit, that the tags are still on, that the item has not been used and that I have a sales receipt...those rules are always hanging prominently by at the CS counter and as long as I comply with those rules I do not expect to be hassled for personal information.

There's just way too much intrusion in our lives, either by the government or by entitles that are not entitled to but want to collect personal data to use to their own advantage and I won't have it. I just won't.

Maria

I'd hate to be the clerk waiting on you. After all they are just doing what they are told. Why don't you write Jane Doe? You have no idea what these clerks have to go through. It does no good to complain to them. Or better yet, politely ask to see the store manager and file your complaint with them.

[Kind1too]

On 7/4/2014 OPI Girl said:

On 7/4/2014 allthatsgood said: I just tell them they don't need the information in order to complete the transaction. Read last week where hospitals are buying all kinds of info about you so they can figure out what you will cost them if you're hospitalized. Nothing is private, confidential or personal anymore.

Whoa! I just looked that up. First paragraph in the article I read; "You may soon get a call from your doctor if you’ve let your gym membership lapse, made a habit of picking up candy bars at the check-out counter or begin shopping at plus-sized stores."

The hospitals are giving the doctors information about what you buy, etc., so they can call you up and discuss your buying habits, and tell you it's bad for you. I guess any candy bars I buy from now on I'll pay for them with cash.

Talk about invasion of privacy. Wow!

HIPA

[dooBdoo]

On 7/4/2014 bichon_emma said: The link wouldn't work for me so I googled ca credit card zip code law and the 1st hit was a new article from 2011 saying it was illegal because it violated consumer privacy laws. I would say that if the Mac stores continued to collect after the 2011 ruling then they deserve to be prosecuted. Cannot imagine what they'd hope to get out of a class a action suit

You're right, bichon_emma. This happened in 2011, but it's still an interesting topic and useful info for all of us concerned with our privacy. Here's one article explaining:

California Stores Face Big Lawsuits After ZIP Code Ruling

February 18, 2011:

"California stores may face a surge of class action lawsuits in the wake of the California Supreme Court’s ruling that it’s illegal for store clerks to ask customers for their ZIP codes during credit card transactions.

The high court unanimously ruled last week in Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma that ZIP codes are part of customers’ addresses and considered “personal identification information” under the California Song-Beverly Credit Card Act of 1971. The state consumer privacy law forbids stores from requesting addresses and other personally identifying information during credit card transactions. The law imposes a civil penalty of up to $250 for the first violation and up to $1,000 for each subsequent violation.

The Supreme Court’s ruling has reportedly set of a flurry of class action lawsuits, with the majority of lawsuits being filed in San Francisco or Los Angeles courts. Williams-Sonoma, Wal-Mart, Target, Macy’s and Cost Plus are just some of the more than a dozen national retail chains hit with class action lawsuits for allegedly requesting ZIP code information during the past year.

The staff here at Top Class Actions has reported on at least three class action lawsuits reached in the past year with businesses that have violated the California law. Home Consignment Center, Metropark and La Valencia Hotel all reached credit card settlements in 2010 for requiring credit card customers to submit their personal identification information in order to make a payment."

(link goes to: http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/1036-california-stores-face-big-law...)