HOTEL KEY CARDS - 31st May 2009 4:04pm
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> This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for theroom!
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> HOTEL KEY CARDS
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> Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card?
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> Answer:
> a. Customer's name
> B. Customer's partial home address
> c. Hotel room number
> d. Check-in date and out dates
> e. Customer's credit card number and expiration date!
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> When you turn them in to thefront desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning thecard in thehotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access theinformation onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.
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> Simply put, hotels do not erase theinformation on these cards until an employee reissues thecard to thenext hotel guest. At that time, thenew guest's information is e lectronically 'overwritten' on thecard and theprevious guest's information is erased in theoverwriting process.
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> But until thecard is rewritten for thenext guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at thefront desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!
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> The bottom line is: Keep thecards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in theroom or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into thefront desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for thecard (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader.
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> For thesame reason, if you arrive at theairport and discover you still have thecard key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through theelectronic information strip!
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> If you have a small magnet, pass it across themagnetic strip several times. Then try it in thedoor, it will not work. It erases everything on thecard.
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> Information courtesy of: Metropolitan Police Service.