TJ Maxx security breached! Damn. I never, never, never use my Mastercard debit card for store or online purchases. I am a sensible girl who listens to the security warnings. I only use my AMEX (and sometimes my Visa, or one of the other credit cards.) But I was in desperate need of a purse I saw in the window in downtown Boston and I was called, no, compelled - to purchase this handbag. And all I had with me was my debit card. The sentinel voice in my head warned don't do it...but I needed that bag. So I bought it. And my how I have paid the price.
I received a call from my bank today (the nicest Cooperative bank in the world) and they informed me that nothing had happened to my account - no charges or theft (no money = no theft) but that they were rushing a new card with a new number on it. The downside being no card until the new one gets here. Then again, no money = no shoppy = happier husband.
I don't feel very good about this. The article in the Boston Globe quotes the president of the Massachusetts Bankers Assocation:
The bankers' association also questioned why TJX kept credit- and debit-card information on file for so long. "It appears that they may have been capturing data that is unnecessary," Daniel J. Forte, the bankers association president, said in a statement today.
The TJX response: they posted an important message on their website which concludes with these thoughtful words:
We deeply regret any difficulties this may cause you. You have our pledge that our priority is you – our customers. Providing great value on great brands has always been at the heart of our business and will remain so. We thank you for your patronage.
Okay Mr. Ben Cammarata, Acting CEO - how do you propose to win me back? If I am your priority, you better let me know it - and soon. Your "oops" message and the hiring of two security experts after the fact isn't making me feel all warm inside. How will you turn this around?
Anyone with any suggestions? The Internets is open, operators are standing by (but I swear they are NOT retaining your data!)
Your are being silly on not using your debit card. I use mine all the time and had no problems. It not Tj Maxx that would not let them release this info it was law enforcement. This time it was not just debit cards either. It was Credit cards & debits card as well a checks and driver licenses number. Heard this on the local news. The bank acted responsibly and cancelled your card that is a good thing. If you need cash. You can go to your bank and write a check for Cash.
Posted by: Greg Rozelle | January 24, 2007 at 06:49 PM
John: Thanks for the link to the Citizen Media blog - it is stupendously on point! My personal favorite lines of response to crisis are "we are committed" and "we take this very seriously".
I highly recommend a Google search using "we take this very seriously" - just to see who's taking what "seriously". Seriously. I don't think I can ever use that word again.
Posted by: Lori Magno | January 19, 2007 at 07:48 AM
Whoops, long URL truncated by CSS won't work. TRy this:
http://tinyurl.com/36rwjp
Posted by: John Young | January 19, 2007 at 01:35 AM
Well, at least they didn't "take this very seriously" :)
http://citmedia.org/blog/2007/01/09/they-take-it-seriously-oh-sure/
Posted by: John Young | January 19, 2007 at 01:34 AM