Chip & Signature - Comet

[unobeano]

Hi

Just tried to buy some CD-RW £6.99 from comet.

I used my Cip & Signature card as I have done for many years in many stores including comet without any problems. Just the odd bit of confusion as they don't expect a signature request.

However, on this occassion the Comet staff said that as it was a signature they would need to take a manual copy of my card.

I told them I wasn't happy about this, so they refunded the card.

I asked a few questions and they told me it was Comets and or their clearing agents policy to manually copy the card.

Surely this would leave my card open for abuse and fraud.

Does anyone know the legal position for copying peoples card information.

Till receipts now show card numbers as **** **** **** 1111 to protect the information.

I am going to write to their head office to ask them to confirm their policy.

Thanks in advance for an comments

[blitz]

A carbon copy should usually only be taken when you need to manually enter a card number, due to a failed chip or magnetic swipe. The till should be able to tell the difference between a swiped/chipped/manually entered number so no idea why they need it.

[unobeano]

Hi & thanks

As i thought. To clarify the tranaction never failed. It printed the signature slip for me to sign. Everything was normal.

[patdavies]

Since you say that they refused to accept it, how was the transaction voided?

If they simply refused the card, then it may have been suspended by your provider.

The whole point of Chip & PIN (and Chip & sig) i that the card should not be out of your possession/sight

[unobeano]

Hi Pat

Once i'd refused for them to manually copy my card they simply put it back in the terminal and refunded the £6.99, for which I signed for.

When i mentioned to them I had used the card in store before without having it copied, I was told that they hadn't followed the procedures.

I wonder what their policy is for Data Protection in having a manual copy of my card, and what would happen if another member of staff didn't follow procedures.