Let's protect our cards!

This is a little personal campaign, in which I want to raise retailer awareness of the need to protect customers debit/credit card details from thieves.

The Background - With the start of Chip And PIN still over a year away at the time of writing, we still have to pay for goods purchased on debit/credit card using Swipe And Sign. We all know the potential this gives for thieves to have a field day. Each card receipt contains the card number, the expiry date, the issue number and the authorised signature. If a thief was to get their hands on a card receipt, they could use that information to place fraudulent transactions on the cardholders account. Chip and PIN is the card industrys efforts to counter this criminal activity - what the criminal can't see (the PIN number), they can't use!
However, until Chip And PIN comes into everyday use, it is surely upto the retailer to protect its customers card details, so that thieves cannot get at our money.
The Problem - Some retailers do not seem to think they should be protecting our card details, and this sickens me. When purchasing goods at certain retailers, the cashiers do not put their copy of the signed receipt away safely. When I tell them about this, and what could happen if the receipt was stolen, the cashiers give me a blank look as if to say "So what?", and it's this attitude that I want changing.
Retailers, I ask you the question "What if I pay in cash?" Would you leave the cash laying around for a thief to take? No of course you wouldn't, so don't do it with my card receipts!
The Campaign - Unfortunately, telling retail staff about this problem doesn't seem to be having much of an effect, as this shocking practice of not protecting our card details is still going on. This is why I'm starting this campaign to raise retailer awareness, by the only method that seems to work, naming and shaming.
I would like ask every credit/debit card holder who reads this to join me, in trying to raise retailer awareness of card fraud. If you pay by card, and the retailer doesn't put the receipt away securely, tell them that what they are doing is wrong, and what it can lead to. Like myself, you should refuse to leave the counter until the receipt is away safely. If you want that retailer to be added to this name and shame list, please email me with your story, and I'll happily add it on.
Retailers - I would equally love to hear your stories, and what you are trying to do to combat card fraud. If on the other hand, you are named and shamed on the list below, then again, I would love to hear from you, to hear what you are doing to improve matters. But please be aware, if I ever see any fraudulent transactions on my accounts, I will not hesitate to tell the police if I have shopped with any retailer that hasn't protected my card details properly, so they can investigate you.
Links: Email your stories to me
The Official Chip And PIN website
The guestbook - show your support for this campaign

The Bad Boys List

It is with deep regret that I have to do this, but if it's the only way you'll learn, then it is for the better good

Staples (Eyre Street Sheffield) - This retailer is the worst offender yet, showing the most shocking practice for accepting card payments. When the customer has signed the receipt, they simply put the receipt in a pile next to the till! These piles have at least 25 receipts in each of them. Imagine the birthday a thief could have with this. When I questioned the Staples Operation Manager, I asked why they couldn't even put them out of the counter our of sight. I was told that they didn't have any secure storage areas. That was not what I asked! Just out of sight is a great deal better then on public view. I was told that they would sort this problem out. But still, I strongly advise people to never use cards in this retail outlet.
This story is over a year old. I have not been back to Staples since, to see if they have improved things, and I don't really intend to. Shame on you Staples!
Dixons Electrical (Fargate Sheffield) - Similar to Staples, although they have only left my signed receipt on public view once, out of many card transactions. Still, this is once too many, and once is all a thief needs to get my details.
Dixons Electrical (Meadowhall Shopping Centre) - Again, just a one off offence, but that's all the criminal community need. Signed my receipt, and the cashier put it in the slot, to drop under the counter, but the box was full, which means part of the receipt was visible to all. I said to the cashier "Let's have that out of sight" and I proceeded to shove the reciept right down out of sight. The cashier looked blank and said "That's our copy". I explained how a thief could take the receipt and rob me. The cashier said "I'm sure they won't!". What a shocking response. She may be willing to take the risk, but I'm not.
Focus DIY (Trading as No Frills, Leadmill Road Sheffield) - Paid for my goods, and signed the receipt. The cashier then put it on a pile of about ten receipts next to the till. I told him what he'd done and asked him to put the receipt away. The cashier said that he would do when he'd finished serving me. Fair enough, but he didn't have an answer as to why there were the receipts of at least ten previous customers which he hadn't put away. To be honest, he didn't seem at all bothered, although I didn't leave the cash desk until he eventually put it away.

More to follow...

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