Originally Posted by
CFFrost
On the contrary ...
Clearly our experiences were different.
The scenario I outlined was at one hotel - the City Lodge V&A Cape Town. I didn't see it elsewhere. What happened violated Visa/MC regulations. The 3-digit security code is ONLY to be used for 'card not present' transactions, i.e. phone and online. There is no way that a merchant should be copying such details from a card, apparently as routine as at the CL V&A.
As it is, the hotel already had my name, address, phone number, e-mail address, passport number and credit card number and expiry date. Those 3 extra digits provide ample opportunity for identity theft.
I'm aware this is getting off topic so probably best not to continue much further.