Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 8/21/84; site idi.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!idi!kiessig
From: kiessig@idi.UUCP (Rick Kiessig)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Phone numbers on credit slips?
Message-ID: <246@idi.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Sep-84 05:54:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: idi.246
Posted: Sat Sep  1 05:54:56 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Sep-84 14:42:09 EDT
References: <14@sdcsvax.UUCP>
Organization: Intelligent Decisions, Inc., Saratoga, CA
Lines: 25

> A lot of merchants have started demanding a phone number along with the
> signature on credit card slips.  One has even printed their own slips,
> with a big space for the phone number.  What reasoning lies behind this
> move?  How do netters feel about publicizing their [possibly unlisted]
> number?

I personally don't like giving my phone number out to these people.
One idea is to use some really off-the-wall number like 555-6268.
99% of the merchants won't notice.  Another one is to give the
number of the local dial-a-joke, etc.  The bottom line is that
numbers aren't checked by anyone.  The only reason they're requested
is in case of future trouble.  Most merchants have a $50 floor
limit on their credit card purchases - meaning that if the charge
is for under $50, they don't have to get specific approval (although
they are supposed to look the number up in the bad card lists which
are mailed out weekly).  If it's over $50, they have to call in
for approval.  In the under $50 case, if the card turns out to
be expired, or something like that, they want to have a way to get
a hold of you and ask you to come in and straighten it out.  Without
the number, they have to wait for the bank to get a hold of you
by mail, which could take weeks.  So if you know your charge is
good, why leave your phone number on little pieces of carbon paper
in your merchants trash can?            

Rick