“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.
Unfortunate Response,
I think MDN’s response refers to the problem that a lot of people have with class action lawsuits – those who make up the class get a pittance compared to the outrageous fees that the lawyers get.
@ Spark
THANK YOU for pointing that out. MDN, that ad has to go. Do anything you like in the margins but PLEASE stay out of the comment area. It’s just tacky.
The real problem here is that enforcement of the law has, effectively, been abdicated by the government and outsourced to third parties, namely private party petitioners in civil court.
Why aren’t the state and federal governments enforcing this law?
Why do we have to rely on private parties and their attorneys?
Why don’t companies simply do the right thing, without waiting to get forced into action by a lawsuit and settlement?
And why can’t the United States get its act together and pass a real data protection law, with real teeth in it? The US data protection laws are a joke compared to the European Union equivalents.
Apple is putting the last 4 digits on the receipt when they are allowed to put the last 5?!?!?!?
Sue them!!!!
MDN has ads?
I never see any.
I guess some people would rather whine and cry about stuff instead of just handling it(ie. use a browser that does real ad blocking)
online receipts are only seen by the customer. So what’s the problem here.
If Apple is not compliant with the law on this, ask them to stop. A lawsuit only means that some godd, noble, honest lawyer will be paid for some letter writing. No plaintiff can expect compensation unless they can show they have been materially damaged. I’m sure Apple has no agenda in printing the expiration date on the receipt.
Florida is filled with retired senior citizens.
Given that the weather in Florida is undesirable during many months of the year, it is a sought-after retirement destination because life there is cheaper.
And cheaper is good, becuase those senior citizens don’t have a lot of money.
So they sit in Florida, sweltering in the heat and humidity. It makes them cranky. They think about escaping to a more pleasant place.
And then an idea hits: “let’s file a huge lawsuit against a ‘deep-pockets’ defandant, collect a bundle, and get out of this hell hole!.” And another crass-action lawsuit is born.
Give me a break, people. Take personal responsibility for those little receipts. Even though smoking is banned almost everywhere these days, they still sell those little butane lighters…buy yourselves one and use it to cremate those Apple receipts so that nobody can steal your identity.
But, then again, who the hell would WANT your pathetic little identities!
“If Apple is not compliant with the law on this, ask them to stop.”
It’s called a cease and desist letter, and usually this is sent BEFORE a class action lawsuit is filed. I don’t know whether these petitioners in particular have filed one, but judges are usually reluctant to proceed with cases if the parties haven’t even tried to settle.
Regardless, it is naive to think that a $100+ billion corporation will listen to a customer saying “Pretty please”.
The real world doesn’t work that way. The corporation doesn’t have to listen to you. It doesn’t have to play nice. Why should it? The corporation is NOT on your side. It exists solely to make money.
Sorry if that bursts any misconceptions that you may have had on the subject.
MJK: You’re clearly an idiot.
Customers don’t have any control over what happens to the retailer’s copy of the receipt.
Apple Store bags are great for dirty laundry on trips and for wet swimsuits coming back from the gym!
I’m a pacifist, but some people should just be taken out in the alley and smacked around a littlle bit – but definately shoot the lawyers – I’m not an idiot.
Whatever happened to writing a letter requesting that they put less personal info on the receipt?
Does this really require a law suit?
There are more important things to worry about, there are companies that still print the complete CC number on the receipt. Then every company stores your CC information in a database forever, this is a bigger risk then an expiration date on a receipt.
I see “ron” got in the first post to bash Edwards. Maybe if Bush et al hadn’t given the country over to corporate profits “ron” would have a job and wouldn’t be here first…
Ever gotten your card back later than expected at a restaurant? If you’re in a shopping center, what stops them from running to a store and picking up a few things with your card?
I am writing this from Miami. This town is loaded with a bunch of litigious, fraudulent, free loaders. I was surprised to read the headline until I saw where the litigants where from.
Let’s also throw in that we are the poorest city in the nation (mostly because of political fraud (yeah we only elect crooks here)) and have the highest medicare fraud rate in the country.
Let’s just hope the judge isn’t on the take either…honestly.
I know most ppl think of South Beach when they think of Miami. But just like N.O.L.A, this place is full of crooks in high places. I am just happy we do not have any levees that we count on during storm season.
Just my $0.02
I wish I had a credit card to go to the Apple store with, then I could get good stuff for no real money and sue Apple’s ass off. Man I love this country!
@Public Interest: You’ve clearly never been to an Apple Store (or at least not bought anything from one).
> Customers don’t have any control over what happens to the retailer’s copy of the receipt.
They don’t print a copy of the receipt for the retailer. If you use a credit or debit card to pay, they don’t even print one for the customer, unless the customer asks for one. Instead, they ask if they want it emailed to the customer.
This lawsuit is ridiculous. Let’s go back in time, find all those receipts that are imprints of the actual credit card, and sue them for printing the entire number and expiration date. Some small retailers still use those imprint devices…
@ Neptune
What’s stopping them from just copying the info and charging up stuff later on Amazon?
“If in violation, than I am all for the lawsuit.”
Nonsense! If in violation, file a complaint so they have to change the practice. Unless somebody can prove that they suffered damage because of this, then their should be no suit….or at least no monetary damages.
The law is intended to avoid having excessive identity information on point-of-sale receipts, which are often thrown away or lost. A “receipt” that appears on your computer screen in your own home when you make an on-line purchase hardly qualifies and clearly wasn’t what Congress had in mind.
The “Breck Girl” Edwards is a hypocrite-pussy. Hillary and Obama are just plain scary. So is Edwards.
@Wendall
And I feel so very safe with any of the Republican wannabees
So just buy an iTunes card with cash and you never have to worry about it.