A cashier at Bath and Body Works wrote down my debit card card number. Is that bad?

Question

I think I might have been scammed or something. I am 16 and have been using debit cards since I was abut 12 or 13. My mom found it easier so she could track how much I was spending (and so could I) and it would be harder to steal.

I was shopping at the mall with my friends last night. I had a really rude and uptight cashier lady at Bath and Body Works. When I was checking out, she scanned my card numerous times and said "The system is down". I was like... okay then. And she insisted she run it threw as 'credit' and kept over ridding the system so I didn't really have a choice, and never clicked to approve it or anything, she did it for me.

When it wouldn't go threw, she printed out a receipt thing and instructed I sign it. I looked it over (I DO read before I sign!) and it just said 'I *my name* will pay this amount to BBW". I signed and figured since the system was down they were going to charge me later.

Well she wouldn't give me my debit card back, and put the receipt over it and scribbled over it to make a copy of my debit card number! I was like.. uhhh and she quickly put it away somewhere before I could even ask why she did that. So now she has all my information, my credit card number and possibly even my code on the back because she was holding my card hostage. I DID say something like.. what's going on but she was very rude and just gave me my receipt in the bag and I left. I mentioned this to my mom today and she thinks the lady just scammed me and we keep checking the account every hour online but nothing has showed up yet.

Was what she did even legal???

Answer 1

Yes it is legal. We used to do it al the time when I worked at a restraunt. (Ever shop on-line? They have all of your information too).

Next time it's a good idea to say that you don't want your purchases and ask for your slip back. If you put your stuff back then they have nothing to charge you for. Then you get the paper back and she doesn't have your information any longer. If the employee won't hand it to you then you're always able to get a manager to the cashiers desk or over the phone.

You can also call the store and verify that their "system" was in fact down last night. Which is weird because they must have had no interenet connection at all. Most businesses have a back up plan, like dial up.

Also your bank could help you. Call them and say you won't be using your card for the next 48 hours and ask them to freeze it.

Answer 2

Yes you did get scammed. retailers are not allowed by law to record your social security number or hand write your credit number. The credit card machine is swipped and only prints out the last 4 numbers of the card and your name , nothing else.  As far as using credit or debit, it's to your advantage that you use credit. Using the card as a debit incurs a service charge same as going to the mac machine. Using it as a credit doesn't mean you actually have credit it means you can only spend what you have in the bank but it incurs no service charge. The store pays for the so called privelege of accepting cards. Second: law does not allow stores or businesses to charge for using credit cards

You should contact your bank, explain the situation to them and replace the card, for possible unathorized use.

Answer 3

no not illegal but you should have voided the whole transaction and left if you felt something was'nt right! and if she was rude you should have got her name and called the company or e-mailed the company which you can still do. if she didnt have the card machine she could have just made an imprint of the card number. i have done this before as a former retail manager. you cant still go back and talk to the manager and ask for her to investigate the record of your transaction last night. some companys send that info in to the home office buteither way should be on file.

this is why debit cards are very sensitive. if a person cant deal with you straight up and in a professional manner than you shouldnt need that merchandise that bad next time get your card back and leave. asa far as HOLDING YOUR CARD HOSTAGE. thats when you should have raised your voice and asked for a manager or your card back immediately. people know who they can get away with things with! being assertive is a must in certain situations!

COMPLAIN to the company. they will deal with her and accomadate you with coupons or something! the manager will know who worked last night since they make the schedule! just describe her!

Answer 4

Yes it is legal.  More than likely she is not scamming you (yes there is that chance).  What she did is how credit card purchases were done in the "old days" an imprint was made of your card.  The reason she did it is that when the system comes back up she will need to manually enter the numbers.  I am surprised though - if it is done many stores just won't accept credit cards.

Answer 5

it depends. I have worked at sears and when the system is down. You have to get the information old school which means the computer will print out a receipt and you take the debit or credit card and put it on a machine and put the receipt on top of the card and push the handle down and it make a copy of the 16 digit numbers on the because it has and ink pad on the machine. But if that is not the situation maybe to safe you should cancel the card and get a new one because if she has the 16 digits, expiration date and secret code it can be used online as well as  in any store.

Answer 6

I suggest you cancel your card and order a new one just to be on the safe side, then call the store you were at and report her.  Dont trust anyone with stuff like that