The Mail COOP CARDS

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

Your Brass Tacks "Coop Reform" (September 27, 1969) neglected to point out some of the questionable aspects of the Coop's decision to issue new charge cards (CAP Cards to students and Master Charge Cards to all other members).

First, while it is true these cards are accepted by a large number of businesses in the greater Boston area, it is also true that this very fact makes fraudulent use of the card much simpler. If one's new Coop card is lost or stolen, $100 worth of charges-the current personal liability limit under Massachusetts statutes-could be run up within a very short space of time. The answer of course, is that the same might be said of the old Coop card Except that it is immensely easier to amass fraudulent charges in several stores than in one, particularly since credit card thieves, according to police evidence, know that they must do their charging as soon as possible after receiving the card.

Second, as is pointed out in your editorial, one does not have to accept the new Coop cards. But then, of course one forfeits the right to charge purchases at the Coop. This does not seem to me a very considerate way for the management to treat members who like myself, have great concern about the possible misappropriation of these omnibus charge cards.

Does the management of the Coop intend to respond to such concerns among its members?