• Now customers can swipe safely.credit card terminal image by Igor Zhorov from Fotolia.com
  
  When a credit card is used for a purchase, the merchant uses a credit card reader to print some of the numbers from the card on a receipt that identifies the customer and card that was used for the transaction. Because it's both unsafe and illegal to electronically print the customer's entire credit card number, businesses must truncate the number and print only the last four or five digits. This practice helps prevent identity theft.
  
  

The Law

• The Federal Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act (FACTA) mandates that merchants include no more than the last five numbers on the receipt. When a customer's credit card is swiped for a credit or debit charge, the default setting on some card readers print full credit card numbers on receipts for both customer and merchant. By law the merchant must change the default setting on electronic receipts printed for the customer to protect the customer's information.
  
  

Credit Card Expiration Date

• Also according to FACTA, the expiration date must be deleted from all receipts. The truncated card number is only necessary to identify the card for verification purposes. The expiration number is not necessary for this process.
  
  

Records

• If the merchant keeps the full 16-digit credit card number and expiration date in their records, it must be kept at a high level of security to ensure the customer's privacy. Occasionally, the merchant may need the full card number to correct a mistake in charges, which is why card numbers can be kept by the merchant. Also, the law pertaining to truncated numbers does not apply to handwritten receipts, and only applies to point-of-sale purchases.