Zippy’s not able to confirm specific account breaches

Question: Zippy’s provided a telephone number for customers to call for information about the credit-card breach. When I called the number they did not provide any information other than “check your credit-­card statements,” which I already knew. Yet they wanted my full name, telephone number and street address. They were gathering information, rather than providing information. I wonder why they are even telling people to call? …

Answer: Kokua Line relayed your concerns to Zippy’s, which had announced on April 27 that credit and debit cards used at any Zippy’s Restaurant, Napoleon’s Bakery, Kahala Sushi and Pearl City Sushi between Nov. 23 and March 29 may have been compromised due to a “data security incident.” Zippy’s posted a statement on its website (zippys.com) advising customers to call 1-855-648-7562 if they had any questions.

Representatives answering those calls request the caller’s name and contact information in case the call is disconnected or must be referred elsewhere in the company, but the caller is not required to provide the information, said Monica Carpenter, Zippy’s customer service manager.

Callers asking whether their credit or debit card was definitely compromised will be told to check their financial statements for suspicious charges because Zippy’s can’t answer that question for specific accounts. The security failure involved the payment processing system, so anyone who used a credit or debit card at affected locations during the affected time period should assume their information was disclosed and act accordingly — including by combing through bills and statements and alerting financial institutions of potential fraud.

The state Office of Consumer Protection is investigating the data breach, which it said affects thousands of Hawaii consumers. Disclosed information includes the name of the credit or debit account holder, the account number, the verification code and the card’s expiration date, according to OCP.

Orders placed on Zippy’s website, payments for senior cards submitted to Zippy’s corporate office, fundraisers and catering orders were not affected, according to the company. For a full list of affected locations, see Zippy’s website.

Q: By law, are bicycles considered vehicles or pedestrians? Can they be used on both roads and sidewalks?

A: Bicyclists are vehicles, per the statewide traffic code, which is Chapter 291C of the Hawaii Revised Statutes; see sections 291C-1 and 291C-142. They cannot be ridden on sidewalks in business districts, such as Waikiki or downtown Honolulu, or anywhere where signs prohibit the practice, per the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu Sec. 15-18.7. In other areas, where riding on the sidewalk is allowed, bicyclists must yield to pedestrians. Also, the municipal law states that “no person shall ride a bicycle equipped with a motor on any sidewalk.”

Auwe

Auwe! To the cat owners in Hoopai-Hoonipo area of Pearl City: Please keep your animals in your yard. We are tired of cleaning up after them in our yard. As a last resort, we’ve been advised to set a humane cat trap to be taken to the humane society. Be a good neighbor and be considerate of your Pearl City ohana. — A reader

Mahalo

The Department of Transportation Harbors Division deserves to be commended for the impressive lighting of Aloha Tower. If you have not recently seen Aloha Tower at night, may I suggest you go there and be amazed. The four beautiful clocks are also working properly so you don’t need to bring a watch, but you may want to take some photos. — James Metz, Makiki

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.