In just what credit card transactions may a merchant require personal information of a customer?

Seemingly, some years ago, legislation spelled out the answer.  After some revision over the years, that particular law today provides that, with few exceptions, no one who accepts credit cards for the transaction of business may, as a condition to accepting a credit card as payment, request or require a cardholder to write any personal identification information on the transaction form; write or record such information themselves; or utilize a credit card form containing preprinted spaces designated for the cardholder’s personal information.

Nevertheless, two nearly identical class-action lawsuits were filed, both in 2006 and only recently concluded, in which plaintiffs questioned the defendants’ interpretation of the same provision of that same st...Click to view full post