cash card till receipts - why do they print the number on?

[joko]

surely instead of printing the number or the last 4 digits of it, they could put a code on it if necessary.

can anyone tell me the point?

thanks

[Oneeyedvic]

It is so that if you go back and try and get a refund, they will refund it to the right debit/credit card - the shopkeeper can check the last 4 digits.

If you didn't have this system, it would be possible for you to buy something in Argos on your credit card and then have t refunded on to your debit card.

[joko]

yes i can see that point - but why not just have the account number or something?

or at least make it a law so all receipts are consistent - like only print the 3rd block of numbers - i have had ones that print the last 4, the 2nd or 3rd block and sometimes the whole number!

i can't see why they would care what card the refund goes to as long as belongs to the same person...

[Ethel]

joko

The retailer pays around 2.5% of the purchase price in fees to the credit card company - the card companies don't do it for nothing!

If the shop refunds, they get that 2.5% back - but only if it's on the same card.

[joko]

ok, i can see that - but my point is 'why the big number'? why not use some other code or something? a number on it that identifies it but cannot be used by anyone else to buy things with your money

surely the card companies pay more out over fraud than any refund, so surely its in their interest to be safer.

[Oneeyedvic]

It makes it easy - anyone can see the last 4 digits - it also means that the shop can ask you for your card ending with the numbers 1234.

If there is a non identifying number (ie some sort of code) then they might have to try 3 or 4 of your cards before they can refund the amount as you have no way of knowing which of your cards you used.