swirt
Forum founder. Former Owner.
- Joined
- May 17, 2008
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I received a spam today from a free directory that advertises as a free European booking directory. This line caught my eye (emphasis mine)
Sure enough. They are sending credit card data through email...which is not ever secure. This raises an interesting situation too. Seemingly you would think that the responsibility is theirs should cc data fall into the wrong hands. However, I think it would actually be the innkeepers.
Here's my logic. The directory sending data through email has no aggreement with a credit card processor. All the processing is on your end so you are the only one with a security agreement under contract. Signing up for the service, you are aware that the info is coming through email (which is not allowed by your contract) and so you are aware that the data is not secure. If you use the service, then you are accepting the responsibility for the data and its mis-handling.
And of course the other aspect is that they are overseas, so good luck with taking them to court to get their share of the penalties out of them
I believe this is an example when a "free" listing could become VERY costly.
- All confirmed bookings are mailed to you along with client credit card details as guarantee
- All communications are via e-mail

Here's my logic. The directory sending data through email has no aggreement with a credit card processor. All the processing is on your end so you are the only one with a security agreement under contract. Signing up for the service, you are aware that the info is coming through email (which is not allowed by your contract) and so you are aware that the data is not secure. If you use the service, then you are accepting the responsibility for the data and its mis-handling.
And of course the other aspect is that they are overseas, so good luck with taking them to court to get their share of the penalties out of them
I believe this is an example when a "free" listing could become VERY costly.