buy.com/orbitz giving your CC info away to web loyalty programs
 

Thousands of Web shoppers have complained that "mystery charges" are showing up on their credit card statements and have accused those who operate so-called Web loyalty programs of duping them into signing up.

Apparently, many consumers are unaware that for years now, e-tailers such as Buy.com, Orbitz, Fandango, and hundreds of others have given Web loyalty programs, also known as post-transaction marketers, access to their customers' credit cards.

The retailers maintain they've done nothing wrong and say it's all disclosed in their terms of service agreements. But to those who say they were duped into joining these programs, their Web store has violated a trust.

Representatives from Buy.com, Orbtiz and Fandango say they are doing their customers a favor.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10293633-93.html

very unsettling that companies that many use are going to take that hit to their reputation for some extra revenue

from Buy.com's Privacy Statement:

We may also share your personally identifiable information with third parties who provide services to us, our customers and web site visitors. Those third parties include authorized contractors, temporary employees and consultants and other companies working with us (collectively, "agents"). Where we believe it to be appropriate (in our sole discretion), we will ask our agents not to disclose or use your personal information for purposes other than to provide services to you or Buy.com.

I definitely wont buy buying anything from them in the next hundred years or so