Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for reading data from either a magnetic stripe, a chip or both a magnetic stripe and a chip located on a data card using a single swiping motion. An aspect of the methods and apparatus described is that movement of a data card is detected, restrained and/or prevented during exchange of information between the reader and any integrated circuits located on the data card. One embodiment includes guiding walls that form a channel and that are connected to a receiver having an interior surface, a magnetic reading head mounted on one of the guiding walls, electrical contacts located on the interior surface of the receiver and a latch extending at least partially across the channel formed by the guiding walls.