U.S. retailer GameStop has been targeted by a class action lawsuit alleging it obtained and recorded personal information about its customers without their express consent. The main plaintiff in the case is Melissa Arechiga of Alameda County California. Her attorneys allege that GameStop illegally recorded her name, credit card number, and personal identification information (PII) following a shop purchase. The thrust of the lawsuit is that GameSpot regularly uses PII from customers to derive additional personal information, including residential addresses.
"Such conduct is performed intentionally and without the knowledge or consent of the cardholder, and is of potentially great benefit to [GameStop]," reads the suit.
Arechiga is seeking damages and a court order preventing GameStop from retaining personal information. Because this is a class action, any Gamestop customer in California is listed as a plaintiff. A full copy of the suit can be found in this PDF on IGN.
Comments
Re: Gamestop Targeted by Class Action Lawsuit
Apologies to Andrew Eisen for me about to steal one of his signature lines.
"That's not what I said."
First and foremost, you just re-iterated the point I made. It's impossible for Gamestop to have gotten her information without her consent. You use a credit card, you authorize the store to *Gasp* obtain your credit card information so we know who to send the damn bill to. It's actually federal law to NOT obtain the information. Because if you don't pay your credit card bill, they know where you spent the money. It's called a "paper trail", except replace the paper with zeroes and ones. I'd like to see it explained on how you can use a credit card and NOT give your consent to collect your credit card information.
Second, I didn't say Gamestop "has enough money". You're right, in that respect. No company "has" enough. What I actually said was "they make enough money", by which I mean that I know for a fact that the company as a whole makes enough money to the point where they don't have to resort to underhanded tactics like selling customer's information to a third party.
Nice try, but next time, try reading what someone says before you "quote" them.
"Power means nothing without honor and pride."
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Atlanta Video Games Examiner for examiner.com
Re: Gamestop Targeted by Class Action Lawsuit
The only reason she would have to give her personal information is if she A) Purchased a PowerUp Rewards Card. B) Returned an item for a refund. C) Traded in a game.
A) Is done so they know where to send your magazines.
B) Is done so they know you aren't abusing their policies.
C) Is done because just about every state law requires it.
In any of those three cases, your personal information is given to them willingly, and the latter two you even have to sign your name saying you acknowledge so.
That said, Gamestop doesn't need to sell anyone's information to anybody. They make enough money as it is.
"Power means nothing without honor and pride."
http://grifsgamereviews.blogspot.com My video game review site.
Atlanta Video Games Examiner for examiner.com
Re: Gamestop Targeted by Class Action Lawsuit
Most state laws actually forbid collecting this information without consent. I don't know what you are smoking. The lawsuit is very clear that she made a regular purchase and that Gamestop retained her CC information in order to figure out her address, which is 100% illegal to do without consent.
Also, no company "has enough money". If you have so little factual basis to an argument that you have to say "they have enough money" then please realize you probably shouldn't be saying anything at all.
Re: Gamestop Targeted by Class Action Lawsuit
Small correction needed:
" The thrust of the lawsuit is that GameSpot regularly ..."
It's Gamestop, not Gamespot.
They are so close together spelled that I make the error a lot when going to one site or the other.
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