Fwd: 轉寄︰ Be ALERT: Hotel Room Key Vital information

[Geok Chew]

Good to know this. Where possible try clear the info before return the card when you check-out..

CAN ANYONE CLARIFY WHETHER IT IS TRUE THAT OCCUPANT'S DETAILS ARE CAPTURED IN THE CARD KEY?


Hotel Room Key Vital information & What to do with it.
 
Here is some very useful information - so please take a moment to read it.
 
We have always handed our hotel "keys"(those plastic entry cards) back at reception when checking out.
 
I have never come across a receptionist who said - oh that is ok - we don't need it back!  
They have always taken it back.
 
I did not realise that my credit card details were on my plastic hotel "key".
 
A bit of a worry, hey?
 
The fridge magnet is a brilliant idea - but better keep it away from your other cards, as it could wipe them too!
 

Grab a refrigerator magnet on your way out the door, we all have tons of them! Always take a small magnet on your  vacation , they come in handy at the end of it (read on). This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room! HOTEL KEY CARDS <image001.jpg> Ever wonder what is on your magnetic key card? 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! When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the hotel scanner.  An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee re-issues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting  process. But, until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT! The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them.   NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them into the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (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. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card 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 the electronic information strip! If you have a small magnet, pass it across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it will not work. It erases everything on the card. Information courtesy of: Metropolitan Police Service.