Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!src.honeywell.com!msi.umn.edu!cs.umn.edu!niccum From: niccum@cs.umn.edu (Thomas M. Niccum) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Credit card, checks, and your personal information Message-ID: <1990Nov30.182125.10801@cs.umn.edu> Date: 30 Nov 90 18:21:25 GMT References: Distribution: na Organization: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, CSci dept. Lines: 32 In wex@dali.pws.bull.com (Buckaroo Banzai) writes: >"But a spokeswoman for MasterCard said yesterday that merchants are >``violating their contract'' with MasterCard if they require a customer's >address and phone number as a condition for a credit-card transaction. She >added that collecting addresses and phone numbers offers no protection to >merchants, and she adviased consumers to report any store's refusal to honor >their credit cards to the bank that issued their card. >"A spokesman for VISA said: ``Our position is that the merchant cannot >refuse to accept the card if the customer won't provide a telephone number >or address.'' I have a merchant account (because I have a small business selling software) Visa and MC periodically send be letters reminding me of the above facts - that it is in violation of my contract to require anything other than a valid card and authorization number to complete a transaction. Lets face it, Visa and MC want you to use their cards hassle free! At 16-22% interest, they're making money so fast that they can afford to take some risks with fraud. If the prime goes up to 17% then you might see a different attitude. >-- >--Alan Wexelblat phone: (508)294-7485 >Bull Worldwide Information Systems internet: wex@spdcc.com (for now) >What I have on my desk is a 386 copralite. -Tom -- ============================================================================= | Thomas M. Niccum | How can you be in two places at once, when you're | | niccum@cs.umn.edu | no anywhere at all? - Firesign Theatre | | 612.626.7810 | |