Abstract: A secure transaction card (C) accepted for transactions by a customer has usable customer identifying information (I). The card (C) has a card body (16) with an upper surface (18). The upper surface (18) has an indicator area (20) indicating that the secure transaction card (C) should not be accepted for a transaction by the customer. A layer (22) removable from the card body (16) is adapted to be superimposed over the indicator area (20) such that the secured transaction card (C) is in an acceptable state (24) when the removable layer (22) covers the indicator area (20) and in an unacceptable state (26) when the removable layer (22) is absent or damaged.