Final answer:
The ability for customers to manually enter their credit card number when a card reader fails varies by business policy. Maintaining security during manual entry is crucial for customer protection. Additionally, it is true that credit cards should not be placed near permanent magnets to avoid damage to the magnetic strip.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether customers are allowed to manually enter their credit card number if the card reader fails to read it depends on the specific policies and procedures of the business. Many point of sale (POS) systems permit manual entry as a fallback option. However, it is crucial for businesses to maintain PCI compliance and ensure the manual entry process is secure to protect customer information. It's also worth noting that manual entry may increase the risk of errors or fraud, so businesses may have additional verification steps in place. From a consumer protection standpoint, customers should be cautious when manually entering their credit card details and ensure that the transaction is secure.
On the separate subject of magnetic fields, it is true that it is not recommended to place credit cards with magnetic strips near permanent magnets as this can demagnetize the strip and render the card unusable.