Ever wonder what's on a hotel magnetic key card?
a. Your Name
b. Your Home Address
c. Your Hotel Room Number
d. Your Check-In and Out Dates
e. Your Credit Card Number and Exp. Date!
"So What"?
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 by using a scanning device, access your information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense. Hotels do not erase the information on your cards until an employee reissues the card to the next hotel guest. The new guest's information is electronically 'overwritten' on the card and at that time your information is erased in the process. In the meantime it is usually kept in a drawer at the front desk with all of your information on it!
The Bottom Line
Keep the cards and destroy them by cutting them up. NEVER leave them behind in the room or in a 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. If you are concerned about plastic and the environment and would rather recycle them, go to the front desk to see if they can erase your information while you're standing there. Otherwise...Destroy the electronic information strip!
How To Destroy
Carry a small magnet in your suitcase, not your purse where you keep other credit cards, pass the magnet across the magnetic strip several times. Then try it in the door, it should not work. It erases everything on the card. Then turn it in when you check-out. If you would rather play it safe and take it with you, you can scratch the strip with a nail file or a sharp object. If you have access to scissors cut them up.
This also goes for those Players Club Cards at Casinos. Whatever information you give them will go on your card. So, when you leave them behind in a slot machine by mistake, which we have all done at least once or twice, someone can and will find it! Also keep an eye on your keys when you're at the pool, spa and fitness center.
Final Note
If you like to keep your key cards as a keepsake for a photo album or a scrapbook use the 'magnet and scratch' technique in case someone were to get a hold of these keys they would be out of luck! Shopping will not be on me today…
Pass it on, it could save friends & family from identity theft as well.
Travel Safe!
Lori
