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Hotel Key Cards
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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Got the following email from a work colleague. Makes you think though.
Perhaps someone in the industry can confirm or deny this is the case.
Not sure if this works, but its good advice.
Always take a small fridge magnet on your holiday, they come in handy at the end of it.
Read below...Thought you all needed to know this.
This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!
HOTEL KEY CARDS
Ever wonder what is on your magnetic keycard?
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 reissues the card to the next hotel guest.
At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'over- written' 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.
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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I would have thought they only need to re code with a new access code and a time or date it's usable from. It's to stop people taking the cards home and being able to get back in when someone else is occupying the room. They have no reason to put all that detail on an access card so why would they? |
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By *bi HaiveMan
over a year ago
Forum Mod Cheeseville, Somerset |
Horseshit.
For starters credit/debit cards aren't the only means of payment. And even if you have used one then any online retailer will require the three digit security code from the back of the card - which isn't stored anywhere either on the chip/magnetic strip of the card or a hotels computer system.
The majority of chain hotels (prem inn, shagalodge etc) will purely have room details and stay dates stored on the card.
On a separate note Santa, the tooth fairy and the stork that delivers babies aren't real either. Nor are goblins, elves, pixies or any other manner of fairy folk.
If you believe everything you ever read on the internet you'd never leave the house.
A |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Horseshit.
For starters credit/debit cards aren't the only means of payment. And even if you have used one then any online retailer will require the three digit security code from the back of the card - which isn't stored anywhere either on the chip/magnetic strip of the card or a hotels computer system.
The majority of chain hotels (prem inn, shagalodge etc) will purely have room details and stay dates stored on the card.
On a separate note Santa, the tooth fairy and the stork that delivers babies aren't real either. Nor are goblins, elves, pixies or any other manner of fairy folk.
If you believe everything you ever read on the internet you'd never leave the house.
A"
Well thats certainly good to hear. Although think i will keep the card just to be safe  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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(m) of us giving a bit of information about Credit and Debit Cards.
When you use an ATM often the machine used will store the information and therefore the required time (8seconds) to contact the bank is cut down to 3 seconds.
So specific groups from Eastern Europe have been using this knowledge in Germany/Switzerland/Italy and France since 9 years to obtain the information need to "program" card blanks (bought on the Dark Net for 10'000 blanks at $3'000).
The Cambridge University IT Lab informed all major banks in Britain 2 years ago that the so-called "save" chip and pin cards were exposed to serious problems. However the banks in Britain prefer to turn a blind eye as it would cost millions to reissue new cards with higher security.
So if you use the same ATM often make certain that there are no mini cam's around and change your pin number often... Check your bank statements please and if there are unusual "cash movements/withdraws" report immediately to bank - stating that you had not made a withdraw on that date or time (usually early morning hours).
An EU banking regulations requires that if a client makes the correct steps the bank must return the funds within 3 working days. Most banks will but some will argue and delay!
Hope that helps  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Why do people pass on any old crap bit of urban legend they hear?
I'd understand it if you and it was the 80's and you'd have little chance to check it out.
A quick google search and a dose of anti naivety medicine and you can see through this load of old pony. |
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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago
Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum |
Whenever you get a scaremongering email from a mate (how very 90s) or see something like this on Facebook, Snopes is your friend. When you have realised your mate is passing on duff info, do your mate a favour and tell them about Snopes. Then the rest of us don't have to keep reading stuff that has been circulating the net for 20 years.
On the other hand, if you prefer to carry on believing every thing you read, I have some magic beans for sale. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"...
On the other hand, if you prefer to carry on believing every thing you read, I have some magic beans for sale."
I'll give you £500 for them.
Do you take room cards as payment....? |
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"We never return ours.
Souvenir?
That and they make excellent scrapers for an iced up windscreen 
I buggered up my Amex using it as an ice scraper  "
That's why we use key cards . They also smooth plaster very well and icing on a cake. |
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By *yrdwomanWoman
over a year ago
Putting the 'cum' in Eboracum |
"...
On the other hand, if you prefer to carry on believing every thing you read, I have some magic beans for sale.
I'll give you £500 for them.
Do you take room cards as payment....?"
Only if they still work |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Untrue. Hotels use Vinguard cards which only open doors. No data is kept on that card as it has no facility to do so.
Your credit card details are kept on the computer until you leave the hotel then the hotel every night runs a database management report that clears all your details apart from your address. The computer system could never keep all that data without crashing.
Don't believe all you hear. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"We never return ours.
Souvenir?
That and they make excellent scrapers for an iced up windscreen
I buggered up my Amex using it as an ice scraper "
Aren't Amex as useful as key cards anyway? Had one and got rid after nowhere took them! |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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In order to be able to use chip and pin machines and take online card payments, company must be PCI compliant. Which means that no credit card details are stored out with secure and checked facilities.
So keeping credit card details on the card is a load of bollocks because they would have their credit and debit card processing facilities removed from them and fined £5000 for each and every failure to comply. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"We never return ours.
Souvenir?
That and they make excellent scrapers for an iced up windscreen
I buggered up my Amex using it as an ice scraper
Aren't Amex as useful as key cards anyway? Had one and got rid after nowhere took them!"
It was a pretty gold shiny one I liked the look of. I never used it |
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totally agree this is not true I work at a hotel and only thing these cards hold is the date of check out no other info stored,it is against the law to hold card info under the data protection act. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"totally agree this is not true I work at a hotel and only thing these cards hold is the date of check out no other info stored,it is against the law to hold card info under the data protection act."
Hence why i put about anyone in the industry could deny or confirm this. Thanks for your input on the thread. . |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"totally agree this is not true I work at a hotel and only thing these cards hold is the date of check out no other info stored,it is against the law to hold card info under the data protection act.
Hence why i put about anyone in the industry could deny or confirm this. Thanks for your input on the thread. ."
It was a nice thing to post. You posted with good intentions. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"It is absolute bollocks - can't believe anyone would think it were true. "
Same people who think the twin towers were brought down by pre planted dynamite. Man never landed on the moon and there are Egyptian pyramids on Mars...... Some folk are just gullible. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"I would have thought they only need to re code with a new access code and a time or date it's usable from. It's to stop people taking the cards home and being able to get back in when someone else is occupying the room. They have no reason to put all that detail on an access card so why would they?"
Rugby is correct, the cards are re-used and re-programmed once checkout occurs.
Do you really think the big hotel players need to scan your details via your room card? They have that information already |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Thank you so much for this post. Op
Now I got this email from a Nigerian prince promising me 100 million dollars , if I can send him the taxes and transfer fees. I thought I'd pass it on to you. Because everything you read on the Internet must be true |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Thank you so much for this post. Op
Now I got this email from a Nigerian prince promising me 100 million dollars , if I can send him the taxes and transfer fees. I thought I'd pass it on to you. Because everything you read on the Internet must be true"
Why thank you.
Interesting to get it out there and let people decide. You will see my rider at the top of the information saying that perhaps someone in the industry can confirm or deny the info........ |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"Untrue. Hotels use Vinguard cards which only open doors. No data is kept on that card as it has no facility to do so.
Your credit card details are kept on the computer until you leave the hotel then the hotel every night runs a database management report that clears all your details apart from your address. The computer system could never keep all that data without crashing.
Don't believe all you hear. "
Thanks for the information |
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By *osieWoman
over a year ago
Wembley |
".....
Nor are goblins, elves, pixies or any other manner of fairy folk.
If you believe everything you ever read on the internet you'd never leave the house.
A"
Everyone knows that goblins, elves and pixies aren't real. But I have see plenty of fairies around, so there |
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"Got the following email from a work colleague. Makes you think though.
Perhaps someone in the industry can confirm or deny this is the case.
Not sure if this works, but its good advice.
Always take a small fridge magnet on your holiday, they come in handy at the end of it.
Read below...Thought you all needed to know this.
This is pretty good info. Never even thought about key cards containing anything other than an access code for the room!
HOTEL KEY CARDS
Ever wonder what is on your magnetic keycard?
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 reissues the card to the next hotel guest.
At that time, the new guest's information is electronically 'over- written' 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.
"
. I don't think I will be too concerned about this information . In any event what right would anyone have to destroy or keep a plastic card which is the property of the hotel |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Apparently the millienium bug reappears at the end of this year too!
Seriously.. send me your card details and I'll protect you.
Don't believe everything you read on the interweb.. somethings ..yes.. but other things no
p's anything that comes from your card is protected.. you can claim fraudulent things back. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Whilst the card is capable of being coded with personal info this story is an urban myth. Have a look at snopes.com .
There is no reason for a hotel to put personal info on a key card you hold and can walk out with. They have this info on other data bases and have to comply with the Data Protection Act in the UK.
The key card usually contains a code, that the door reader decifers. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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"Horseshit.
For starters credit/debit cards aren't the only means of payment. And even if you have used one then any online retailer will require the three digit security code from the back of the card - which isn't stored anywhere either on the chip/magnetic strip of the card or a hotels computer system.
The majority of chain hotels (prem inn, shagalodge etc) will purely have room details and stay dates stored on the card.
On a separate note Santa, the tooth fairy and the stork that delivers babies aren't real either. Nor are goblins, elves, pixies or any other manner of fairy folk.
If you believe everything you ever read on the internet you'd never leave the house.
A"
I was totally with you until the bit about Santa..... You are gonna get coal now. |
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I can confirm, no personal data on (at least ones i know of) UK keycards. Its simply not needed on there, and they are erased everytime they are used. Its usually simply a 10 or 12 digit number on there. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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"I can confirm, no personal data on (at least ones i know of) UK keycards. Its simply not needed on there, and they are erased everytime they are used. Its usually simply a 10 or 12 digit number on there."
Thanks for your input guys and its good to hear as with several other posters in the industry who confirmed the basic pieces of data stored on the card.
I know a number of posters dismissed the information and others questioned my thought behind the thread ie gullible, however, i thought given the lifestyle and the use of hotels it was a valid post to get feedback/clarification for the benefit of site users.
Thanks to all those who posted and happy swinging |
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Modern key cards only carry the code for the door / doors that they are programmed for and, typically, a date and time code for expiry.
COI: I do use my credit cards to turn the lights on in some hotel accommodations and as the code for some hotel safes. They can, of course, be useful for opening certain types of door lock. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
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Yeah, it's true. Now, let me just stop riding about on my unicorn to consider this. In fact, I'm gonna ask my mate John Lennon, that was just a conspiracy theory too. |
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