“A new class action suit has been filed against Apple concerning how much information is printed on online Apple Store receipts,” Justin Berka reports for Ars Technica.
“In the complaint seen by Ars Technica, two Miami residents are suing Apple for allegedly violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Part of the FCRA states that no more than the last five digits of a credit or debit card number can be printed on a receipt, and that the expiration date cannot be printed on a receipt. The suit argues that Apple’s practice of putting the last four digits, expiration date, and other personal information on the receipt greatly increases the chances of identity theft, and violates the FCRA,” Berka reports.
Berka reports, “The law firm responsible for the suit has filed numerous other suites related to the FCRA.”
More in the full article here.
Who wants to sue Apple for those damn double-drawstring Apple Store bags! Come on, we can make a mint: 59-cents to each “affected” customer and a couple hundred grand to the lawyers.
It’s that John “Breck Girl” Edward’s fault.
Hey. I happen to like those bags.
mw-great (as in great bags)
If in violation, than I am all for the lawsuit.
Whatever happened to simply calling someone up and discussing the problem? By that I mean a representative from the company, not your freakin’ lawyer!
I’m no lawyer, but I don’t think that the FCRA pertains. The credit card issuers are the ones who require merchants to only print the last four digits of your card number on the receipt.
If Apple broke the law, they broke the law. No need to defend them, MDN. (I hear Apple has their own lawyers).
It’s great that Apple is being put to the task of following the law. It was written for a reason.
I don’t agree with the lawsuit as being the best, or even most fair means of accomplishing this.
best you got ron? You suck.
MW: “research”. do some.
And another thing, I don’t want anyone in the Apple store to use my name. They should refer to me as ‘customer’ in all interactions. They should refrain from looking directly at me as well. In fact, I would prefer it if they would just ignore me entirely when I enter the store, let me pick out the items I want, and walk out with them without any interaction whatsoever. Further, I would like my co-workers, friends, and family to refrain from mentioning my name audibly. It would be preferable if they did not talk to or contact me, either. In fact, human contact of any kind is certain to put my identity at risk, so from now on, I will be known as ‘human’ and all contact will be made online through my secure email.
I will not give out this email because it may put my identity at risk.
–
i am not here
What?!?!?! Other people might see when my bank card expires?!?!?!?! The horror!!! Nobody is safe!!!
Beware – Apple is not to be trusted. Pull your keychain info. off of .Mac immediately… the end is near!
If you read this then I have just stolen your identity.
This is just a money-grab by lawyers.
Can any of these yahoos prove that their identity was compromised by the alleged ” violation ” ?
I suggest that these people get a life and I hope that the judge sees things the same way. He should also fine these lawyers for taking up valuable court time with this crap.
Hey, KIDS! Who want’s to play “Let’s kill the cash cow”?!?!?
Yah?
Sure. I knew you would!!!!!
I guess this is how if goes when a company is “hot”. Expect more stupid lawsuits in the future…
@C1…you posted your name haw haw
Now we can sue you,,
Oh crap I am using my name…
I saw myself in a mirror. I said, “I know who you are.” He just stared at me …it’s creepy …all he does is stare.
As long as my whole card number and social aren’t on thing like this, I am fine.
I guess some people are just scared to shop online. I have never had a bad experience though.
@ ChrissyOne
I tried to read your post. Sounded pretty good as I started it. But then I got to the part where the little station wagon kept driving over the text and I became google-eyed (term predates the search giant). I guess I will have to refresh the page and hope for a different set of ads on the right so I can get through the rest of your post.
Some lawsuits actually benefit people by forcing obstinate companies to comply with critical regulations (e.g., health and safety). Others play the “public good” card, but with the primary intention of making money for lawyers.
I agree that if Apple is violating a law/regulation, that they should alter their system to comply. In my opinion, however, the core reason for the lawsuit in question is simply to make money. If the core reason was to actually protect consumers, then it could likely be accomplished much more efficiently than by filing a lawsuit against Apple. I have to wonder if the lawsuit was the first notice to Apple of this alleged violation…
It seems to me that there is are many parallels between this lawsuit and the corruption of the patent/intellectual property process. In this case, teams of vulture lawyers make a living by seeking any rules violations, no matter how obscure, and then filing lawsuits “on behalf” of some representative consumers. The consumers typically get next to nothing (even the small number of class representatives don’t get that much) and the lawyers rake in a lot of money.
In the case of patents/IP, various groups collect IP on the cheap, and then scan for potential violations, often using strong arm tactics to force a cash settlement. It seems to me that they often wait years in order to let the “damages” accumulate before filing.
I have been solicited to participate in several class action lawsuits. I generally opt out and often provide rationale for why the lawsuit should be dismissed.
MDN MW: “defense” – how appropriate
A new class action suit has been filed against Apple concerning how much information is printed on online Apple Store receipts,” Justin Berka reports for Ars Technica.
From the FCRA:
Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 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.
So, if I buy something online while sitting in my home and I print the receipt that has my information listed, Apple is at fault. If I did the printing, how can Apple be held responsible?
This is from the Senate Judiciary Committee discussing the bill in question:
[A]ddresses the problematic practice of leaving a full credit number and expiration date on a merchant receipt accessible to store personnel. Some retailers already truncate credit and debit card numbers on both the customer and merchant receipts in an effort to protect their customers. SB 1699 simply expands the law requiring card numbers to be taken off of receipts handed to the customer to also require the numbers to be removed from the receipts kept by the merchant.
If you print the receipt at home, then store personnel don’t have access to it and no one “handed it” to you.
This is exactly how someone got my credit card number and started using it a few months ago. How the credit card people figure it out so quickly, I have no idea. And, there was no recent Apple purchase around that time.
I think it was a restaurant or bar that had my number on it.
I read this site every day and even though I love macs, sometimes MDN’s defense is taken too far. Though unfortunately I could have predicted the response. Can you not actually see the positive in this? Yes, it may seem over the top when someone sues another (especially your own beloved corp), but it’s usually the only way to get a corporation to modify anything in it’s policy. Money aside, asking nicely just doesn’t cut it. I find this news refreshing, since it can affect any one of us.
Anti-creative cretin,
Just curious, what country are you from?