Press Releases

Consumers Should Review Privacy Rights in Sale of Borders Customer Info Before Nov. 2, 2011

CONTACT: Sarah London, Assistant Attorney General, (802) 828-5507

October 21, 2011

Attorney General Bill Sorrell urges Vermonters to review their privacy rights related to the sale of customer information collected by the now-defunct Borders bookstore chain. Fifty million former Borders customers, including Vermonters, have or should soon receive important emails regarding the transfer of their customer information to Barnes & Noble. As part of Borders’ bankruptcy, Barnes & Noble has purchased certain Borders assets, including customer information, for approximately $14 million. The data being sold generally includes a customer’s name, email address, telephone number, birthday, and purchase history.

The Vermont Attorney General’s Office has been working with other states to protect consumer privacy during this bankruptcy process. As the result of that effort, all former Borders customers are being given the opportunity to opt out of this data transfer until November 2, 2011.

Former Borders customers can prevent their information from being transferred to Barnes & Noble in two ways:

By clicking HERE or by visiting the Barnes & Noble website for former Borders customers: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/borders/379003142

By responding to an official notification email being sent by Barnes & Noble to all former Borders customers (though be careful about fake or “look-alike” emails linked to identity theft scams).

Attorney General Sorrell encourages any consumer who has difficulty opting out online to call Barnes & Noble customer service at: 1-800-THE-BOOK (1-800-843-2665).

For those customers who do allow their information to be transferred, the bankruptcy agreement calls for all of that data to be protected by the Barnes & Noble privacy policy. Consumers should be alert for potential email or Internet scams that attempt to take advantage of this announcement.