So I just read through the article, it mentioned credit card companies knowing that, not the retail store. I mentioned it in another comment, but the combinati

So I just read through the article, it mentioned credit card companies knowing that, not the retail store. I mentioned it in another comment, but the combination of PCI compliance and the use of chip+pin make it difficult for retailors to use credit cards to track an individual, but the credit card company can. However, if the retailer then goes back and purchases the data from the credit card company, I agree, they will know who "Customer #12345" is with regards to the person.