Credit | Debit Card Purchases

When a customer pays for a purchase by debit or credit card, the Georgia Fair Business Practices Act places limitations on the information a business may collect for identification.  Recently, the Georgia legislature amended the statute to apply to receipts for debit or credit card purchases (O.C.G.A.Section 10-15-3).  This code section provides for a two-stage phase-in period:

• 1) If your company transfers customers’ personal information electronically and gives printed receipts using electronic payment machines and software that were first put into use on or after July 1, 2004, you are no longer permitted to print more than five digits of the credit or debit account number, or to print the card’s expiration date, on the receipt you provide.
• 2) As of July 1, 2006, all printed receipts for electronic payment must adhere to these guidelines, even if the cash register, computer or other processing device was in use prior to July 1, 2004.

Businesses that do not have electronic equipment can still imprint the card number or write it down.

A business found to be in violation of this law is subject to fines.  However, please note that, under O.C.G.A. Section 10-1-393.3, it is permissible to record a driver’s license number with a payment card purchase.  You may also record the home or work address and telephone number, but ONLY in instances where the card payment is for shipping, installment, delivery or a special order.