When Convenience Undermines Security – What You’re Overlooking in Payment Security

By Barnard Crespi

I recently had a revealing—and frankly concerning—experience while trying to update my credit card information with Home Security service provided by a telecom.

I received a message instructing me to call in to update my payment method. Unlike other services provided by the telecom, the Home Security doesn’t allow online credit card updates, so I picked up the phone and made the call to their business.

As expected, I was greeted with the standard message: “Your call will be recorded for quality assurance purposes.” After verifying my account, the agent immediately asked me to provide my credit card number.

I stopped.

– “Can you pause the recording while I give you my card details?” I asked.

– “No, we record all calls,” the agent replied.

– “You’re recording calls even when customers are giving you full card information?”

– “Yes.”

– “You do understand that violates every payment security best practice, PCI compliance, right?”

– “We still record them. You can pay via the bank if you prefer.”

And that was that.

Why This Matters

PCI DSS explicitly prohibits the storage—or recording—of sensitive authentication data, including the full primary account number (PAN), expiration date, and CVV. Recording phone calls where credit card information is spoken aloud, without masking or redaction, is a direct breach of those standards and its a very bad payment security practice!

This isn’t about technicalities. It’s about protecting customers from data breaches, fraud, and the mishandling of sensitive financial information.

A Systematic Problem in Customer Service

What struck me even more than the compliance issue was how normal this seemed to the agent. There was no disclosure of the risk. No alternative provided, other than switching to bank payment. No secure automated option. Just a live person asking for card data over a recorded line.

This isn’t just this big telecoms issue—it’s a widespread flaw in how many companies still handle phone-based payments. In 2025, with widely available tools like secure IVR Payment systems, encryption, and tokenized payment platforms, there is no excuse for this kind of outdated and risky practice.

What Businesses Must Do

For companies that accept payments over the phone, especially those handling recurring subscriptions or essential services, it’s time to modernize:

• Implement secure payment methods (like PCI-compliant IVR Payment systems or online payment options)
• STOP recording calls where card data is collected, or ensure sensitive data is redacted
• Train staff to understand basic payment security best practices and PCI compliance and how to talk to customers about it
• Disclose payment risks transparently and give customers secure alternatives

The Bigger Picture

As someone who helps organizations reduce their exposure to credit card data risks, I see this kind of thing far too often. But it’s especially disappointing to encounter it in a major player that should know better.

Handling customer payment data securely isn’t just about compliance—it’s about trust. And in today’s world, trust is everything.