Home Depot Payment Data Systems Breach
The Boulder Home Depot and I have been enjoying a relaxed and stable relationship for many years. We communicate well and both get our needs met. I work hard during the week and look forward to our weekends together.
Like me, you have probably lost track of the hours you have spent meandering the isles of Home Depot. From plumbing accessories, tools, garden supplies and painting equipment, to chair-rail, a bathroom vanity or drywall, Home Depot does make it easy to find what you need – and more. The staff are friendly (not McGuckins-friendly… but friendly enough) and my golden retriever can always locate an orange apron with a cookie in it!
I normally find that it requires 3-4 trips to the Boulder Home Depot before I can complete a project. That means 3-4 swipes of my debit card too… And maybe a couple more for the returns!
So you can imagine how my pulse quickened this week on getting the following email:
Dear Valued Customer,
As you may have heard, on September 8, 2014, we confirmed that our payment data systems have been breached, which could potentially impact customers using payment cards at our U.S. and Canadian stores. On September 18, 2014, we confirmed that the malware used in the breach has been eliminated from our U.S. and Canadian stores and that we have completed a major payment security project that provides enhanced encryption of payment data at point of sale throughout our U.S. stores, offering significant new protection for customers. There is no evidence that debit PIN numbers were compromised or that checks were impacted. Additionally, there is no evidence that the breach has impacted stores in Mexico or customers who shopped online at HomeDepot.com.
We are offering customers who used a payment card at a Home Depot store in 2014, from April on, 12 months of free identity protection services, including credit monitoring, beginning on September 19, 2014. We apologize for the frustration and anxiety this may cause you and we thank you for your patience during this time.
For more information, please visit our website where you’ll find frequently asked questions, helpful tips, our Important Customer Notice, and information about how to take advantage of the free identity protection services, including credit monitoring. Should you have questions regarding the authenticity of this email or any additional questions over the coming days and weeks, please call 1-800-HOMEDEPOT.
We hope this information is useful and we appreciate your continued support.
The Home Depot
Here is the good news:
1. You probably weren’t even compromised.
2. If you are like me, my credit union was on top of it before Home Depot advised me of the problem and issued me a new card. (Thank you Elevations Credit Union!)
3. FREE identity protection services for 12 month, courtesy of Home Depot.
I have to admit I was both surprised and impressed at the email I got from Home Depot.
- It was informative (yet not alarming).
- It offered me solutions and updates.
- There is number to call for more info and if more reassurance as needed.
- The email included an immediate apology for any frustration and anxiety I may be feeling, in connection to this situation.
When I can feel like Home Depot values me as a customer and cares for me as a person too, the only thing left to say is…
Well done, Home Depot, well done!
P.S. Yes, I will continue to give your gift cards to my clients!
