Target Credit Card Zip Code Class Action Lawsuit

The Target Credit Card Zip Code Class Action Lawsuit revovles around claims that Target stores in the state of Califronia violated the law when illegally requested customers’ zip codes when processing credit card transactions. The lawsuit argues that this shady practice allegedly violates California’s Song-Beverly Credit Card Act of 1971, Cal. Civ. Code § 1747 which is intended to promote privacy and prevent the misuse of consumers’ personal data. The proposed class action lawsuit is seeking civil penalties for each class member in the amount of up to $1,000 for each violation of Song-Beverly and could include anyone who was asked for their zip code when shopping at Target with a credit card. This lawsuit is entitled Green v. Target Corp., No. 1-11CV199677, and was filed in the Cal. Super. Ct., Santa Clara County on Apr. 26, 2011.

In a statement made by Target they have a policy of requesting and recording customers’ zip codes when credit cards are used, the complaint says. The company allegedly requires customers to provide this information as a condition of accepting credit cards for payment. This case comes on the heals of Supreme Court decision in the case Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma Stores, Inc. which deemed that zip codes are considered personally identifying information. More than 150 filed against various retailers in California since the Pineda v. Williams-Sonoma Stores, Inc and there are sure to be more in the future.

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