I have been reading this forum for some time. Since reading it, I am having no hosting problems.
I see many problems with billing with hosting companies. I also see how freely people give out their creidt card number without checking out the host(s).
Lets say I am the average joe blow, new to hosting and never check my credit card statement or really give it a hard look. I know many people who do not and I am willing to bet the average American just looks at the amount due.
I sign up with takeyourmoney hosting, which is ran by some dishonest people.
Do people fully understand the damage that can be done with a good cc number? They have your address,phone number and believe me, your social security number is not hard to get.
Or they have a bad employee like I had and they misuse your cc number.
Story: I retired from being a district manager for 17 very large properties, with over 7,200 apartments. I caught a service person in an office at night with a credit card machine hooked up to his cell phone going through people's files.
He was fired, but a month later people where getting billed for his deeds, one got had for $10,000!
I am sure you can see my point here and it is something that has been going through my mind for some time.
Sorry for the long post, but be sure you spend some time checking out anybody that you plan to give your credit card # to or any information that can make them become you!

Unfortunately you can't stop it... employees can steal cc #'s just as quickly as a waiter at a restuarant with a magnetic reader, or someone over the phone or someone at a supermarket checkout. Unfortunately, its life.

Just like anything else, what could happen may not at all. I could walk out my front door of my house right now and get shot or runover by a car. Does that mean I should stay in the house forever? Can't be done and wouldn't want to anyway.

I do agree though that giving out your personal information like a credit card number should be done only after a fair amount of research is done on the person/company your giving the information to. People make mistakes and hopefully learn from them. Due to all the possibilities of what could happen online, I only will use one specific credit card and it is not a debit card. Easier to fight charges from a credit card. I also make sure to take all receipts from restaurants that I use credit/debit cards at. If you notice, the receipts at most restaurants I've been to have the full credit card number printed on them. Not just the last four digits. Plus your name with possibly your signature if you signed the copy you keep.

I highly recommend investing in a $40 shredder.