New York, NE: Petco Animal Supplies Store Inc. is facing a proposed class action lawsuit alleging the retailer is in violation of Massachusetts state law through their collection of customers' ZIP codes.
According to lead plaintiffs Jeffrey Scolnick and Leah Crohn,Petco would not allow them to complete credit card purchases without their first providing the retailer with their ZIP codes, even though the store is not required by credit card issuers to collect this information from customers. Consequently, the plaintiffs allege they have received unwanted marketing materials from Petco. Further, they allege the store has sold their information to third parties without their consent and for marketing purposes.
"Petco recorded plaintiffs' ZIP codes into an electronic credit card transaction form," the complaint states. "Petco continues to store plaintiffs' personal identification information, including plaintiffs' name, ZIP code and credit card number, in its databases."
The lawsuit, entitled, Scolnick et al. v. Petco Animal Supplies Store Inc., case number 1:14-cv-12547, states that Massachusetts' high court has determined that ZIP codes constitute personal information under the Massachusetts Unfair Trade Practices Act, which prohibits the collection of personal information by retailers. Consumers place a high value on the privacy of their personal identifiable information, the lawsuit states.
The lawsuit seeks to represent all customers from whom Petco requested personally identifiable information when making a credit card purchase in Massachusetts, according to the complaint. The plaintiffs said they do not yet know the potential number of class members.
Plaintiffs are represented by Joseph J. Siprut and Alexander Shapoval of Siprut PC.
