Local grocers taking precautions against credit card hacking

By LAURA ROADY

Staff writer

BONNERS FERRY – During one of the busiest times of year, several regional grocery stores are encouraging customers to pay with cash or check.

A recent credit card hacking into URM payment processing systems has caused local grocery stores to take precautions.

Akins Harvest Foods is recommending customers use cash or check but they still accept debit and credit.

Instead of utilizing the URM system, the store is using their dial-up system. The dial-up system requires customers to pay at the customer service desk but the payment goes straight to the processor, not through a secondary party.

Super 1 Foods is using their backup system through Atlanta, Ga. The system is slightly slower than the URM system but is still allows customers to use debit and credit cards. Due to the inconvenience, Super 1 Foods is offering a discount to customers paying with cash or check.

Regionally, the URM system is used by Yoke’s, Rosauers, Super 1 Foods, Family Foods, CenterPlace Market and Trading Co. stores.

The credit card hacking has led some customers to have random charges on their cards from different states. Customers who have used their credit or debit cards at URM-affiliated grocery stores in the past few weeks are encouraged to watch their accounts.

The FBI, Secret Service and other agencies are working around the clock to fix the problem.

“We’ve been pretty lucky up here,” said Derrick Grow, Harvest Foods manager. “A lot of people still carry checks and cash.”