I thought they weren't allowed to ask for ID.?

GEORGE · July 20, 2009

That signature thing... I laugh that people think they are being clever by not signing it. No offense ya'll.

No offense taken. I'd much rather have a cashier ask for my id to prove who I am, then fight the bank/and or credit card issuer on what might be a fradulant charge.

Granted, these days most banks/card issuers pretty on top of the game when it comes to fradulant charges, but why take that chance?

But... where does it say that will protect you? Not the issuer.

The issuers say sign the card and you're liable for $50 in fraudulent charges only if you fail to notify them of a lost card within x hours.

I've never noticed anthing that said if you "write See ID in the signature bar you're good."

â€œSee IDâ€ or â€œAsk for IDâ€ is not a valid substitute for a signature.

Right out of their handbook

Credit Savvy · August 15, 2009

I've been dealing with that "ID thing" for many many years. As far back as the early 90s I found they only asked in stores in "certain" neighborhoods or stores frequented by "certain" people.

Report them and it stops for all transactions - 1-800-VISA-911.

ene82 · August 24, 2009

I reported them. I am curious to see if they are still doing it, haven't been back cause it's out of my way and I don't drive over there that often. But if I am ever in the area and remember I might pop in and see if they have changed their "policy"

hairmetal4ever · August 24, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show it as ID?

What if you're buying beer?

GEORGE · August 24, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show it as ID?

What if you're buying beer?

DON'T DRINK BOOZE

(more than old enough if I did)

DON'T DO CANCER STICKS EITHER

Thanks for changing the story...

hairmetal4ever · August 24, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show it as ID?

What if you're buying beer?

DON'T DRINK BOOZE

(more than old enough if I did)

DON'T DO CANCER STICKS EITHER

Thanks for changing the story...

I'm not changing the story - I tend to agree with you about asking for ID and credit cards...but there are times when you do need to identify yourself outside the credit card world...and a Drivers License is the most common way unless you carry your passport around with you.

GEORGE · August 24, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show it as ID?

What if you're buying beer?

DON'T DRINK BOOZE

(more than old enough if I did)

DON'T DO CANCER STICKS EITHER

Thanks for changing the story...

I'm not changing the story - I tend to agree with you about asking for ID and credit cards...but there are times when you do need to identify yourself outside the credit card world...and a Drivers License is the most common way unless you carry your passport around with you.

I last showed it at the AIRPORT with my boarding pass

===================

One time I did actually FLY with out it (POST 9-11)

I had my UNITED MILEAGE CARD

I had the CHASE UNITED VISA CREDIT CARD it was charged on

GOT SSSS

(I actually had the current one with me...I just forgot where the hidden place was)

As far as opening a checking account with a driver's license..."IF" it was show license or no account and I needed the account...I guess I would have to BEND OVER AND SHOW IT

Edited August 24, 2009 by GEORGE

Uncle Leo · August 24, 2009

As far as opening a checking account with a driver's license..."IF" it was show license or no account and I needed the account...I guess I would have to BEND OVER AND SHOW IT

I'm not aware of any bank or CU, in today's world, that would allow you to open a new checking and/or savings account without showing ID.

GEORGE · August 24, 2009

It also depends on if it is with the SAME BANK I ALREADY HAVE...or a totally new bank

"IF ID IS NEEDED"

Credit Savvy · August 26, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show ID?

What does opening a checking account at a brick and mortar bank have to do with credit cards?

Uncle Leo · August 27, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT
If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show ID?
What does opening a checking account at a brick and mortar bank have to do with credit cards?

About as much as driving and the purpose which DLs serve. Nothing and everything at the same time.

Credit Savvy · August 27, 2009

I reported them. I am curious to see if they are still doing it, haven't been back cause it's out of my way and I don't drive over there that often. But if I am ever in the area and remember I might pop in and see if they have changed their "policy"

Once youâ€™ve been violated, the joy of being able to again shop freely at previously violating store is indescribable.

hurricanesfans27 · August 27, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show ID?

What does opening a checking account at a brick and mortar bank have to do with credit cards?

try writing a check without id at a merchant see how far you get

Credit Savvy · August 27, 2009

A LICENSE TO DRIVE WAS NEVER INTENDED AS A CREDIT CARD USE PERMIT

If you open a checking account at a brick and mortar bank, will you show ID?

What does opening a checking account at a brick and mortar bank have to do with credit cards?

try writing a check without id at a merchant see how far you get

What does writing a check at a merchant have to do with credit cards?

GEORGE · August 27, 2009

Only time I write a check at a "STORE" is to pay a credit card bill

(SEARS...WALMART...JC PENNEY)

ID at WALMART is random for checks

You should not be asked for than 2 or 3 times a year (unless you write larger amount checks)

ID FOR EVERY SINGLE CHECK IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN

ToniLaw · September 10, 2009

Just to clarify, I do not beleive it is illegal. Against their merchant agreement yes, illegal no.

Correct me if I am wrong pls..

sorry. thats what i meant. I was just annoyed.

Why would you be annoyed? personally if it were me I woudn't be, they are preventing Id theft by making sure your the owner of the card.

I never keep my cards signed so they HAVE to ask for ID. In fact when I grab my card, my id is right behind it.

But if you complain to MC/Visa unless there's alot of complaints against that merchant MC/Visa won't do anything.

+1

Sometimes i see that the cashier is not going to ask, but i pull them both out at the same time

Credit Savvy · September 11, 2009

Why?

GEORGE · September 11, 2009

Just to clarify, I do not beleive it is illegal. Against their merchant agreement yes, illegal no.

Correct me if I am wrong pls..

sorry. thats what i meant. I was just annoyed.

Why would you be annoyed? personally if it were me I woudn't be, they are preventing Id theft by making sure your the owner of the card.

I never keep my cards signed so they HAVE to ask for ID. In fact when I grab my card, my id is right behind it.

But if you complain to MC/Visa unless there's alot of complaints against that merchant MC/Visa won't do anything.

+1

Sometimes i see that the cashier is not going to ask, but i pull them both out at the same time

I already have my card...my wallet is not in my hand...it is in my pocket

rhwbullhead · September 26, 2009

I have to admit that I get sick of arguing with these merchants. My passport is about to expire so when I renew it, I'm going to get a passport card with it. It's only $20 and it's good for 10 years. I need it as an additional ID in case I get a ticket and our state ID's cost the same and last only for 5 years.

If I don't feel like arguing, I'm going to show the passport card as ID as it only shows your name and no address. Of course, I'll take the time to report them to visa 911 and using the online Mastercard tool.

Posting me reminds me that I have to go check up on this local grocery store. A friend and I reported them several times for requiring ID. They actually had signs taped to every register saying they require ID for any credit card purchase.

GEORGE · September 27, 2009

I have to admit that I get sick of arguing with these merchants. My passport is about to expire so when I renew it, I'm going to get a passport card with it. It's only $20 and it's good for 10 years. I need it as an additional ID in case I get a ticket and our state ID's cost the same and last only for 5 years.

If I don't feel like arguing, I'm going to show the passport card as ID as it only shows your name and no address. Of course, I'll take the time to report them to visa 911 and using the online Mastercard tool.

Posting me reminds me that I have to go check up on this local grocery store. A friend and I reported them several times for requiring ID. They actually had signs taped to every register saying they require ID for any credit card purchase.

I have the policy in my wallet (IN THAT PLACE SOME CARRY EXPENSIVE CASH)

onelitfirefly · October 8, 2009

Very rarely do I actually register on some forum just to respond, but I had to this time. I have some comments to add to this discussion, from a CASHIER'S point of view. I think this is WAYYYY too one-sided and that you guys need to have SOME perspective of WHY you get asked for your ID.

First off: You need to understand that you DO NOT NEED TO GET MAD AT THE CASHIER. There is NO NEED to assume that the cashier has some kind of bias. As a cashier, I get SO SICK of trying to please EVERY customer, so that it's "damned if you do and damned if you don't." I do what the cashier who trained me said to do, and what my managers tell me to do. If I ever were to have a customer get upset that I ask for ID on something (which I NEVER have had to happen, and I'll talk more on that in a little bit), it would NOT be my fault--it would be, I have to follow what I was trained to do, as I live in an employment-at-will state where I can get fired at any time with or without reason, and not following store policy whether I agree with it or not, is not my call.

Now, the way I was trained, is that a card is not signed, I have to ask for ID. If the card SAYS "SEE ID", I have to ask for ID. If the card is signed AND says "see ID," I STILL have to ask for ID. If a card is signed and does not say CID, I cannot ask. So, say, a black person comes through my line, and he presents me with a credit card that is not signed. Per company policy, I have to ask him for ID. Then say a white person comes through my line, and their card is signed. Per company policy, I cannot ask for ID. To that person, I might appear racist, but that's only because people today are way too damn presumptious and willing to believe the worst about someone (especially retail people, because everybody knows, us retail people are the scum of the earth, meant to kiss customer flowers no matter what and get treated like crap all the time because "the customer is always right".... *eye roll). Point being, you never know the reasons behind something or what is actually going on. EVEN IF the way I do it is not technically the way it's supposed to be done, MY MANAGERS tell me to do it and MY MANAGERS are above me, therefore, I MUST do it.

Second of all, I'd say about 80% of the time I ask for ID on a credit card purchase, it is because the person has not signed the back of their card. And I'd say about 99.9% of that time, my response is a very surprised comment like, "Oh wow, thank you for asking! NO ONE ever asks anymore!" PLENTY of customers have confided that they go places now and cashiers do not check their ID and they feel it's because cashiers "just don't care anymore." To which I always tell them that a lot of the time, the cashier's don't ask because technically it is visa's policy that a merchant is not supposed to require ID for ANY purchase. At that, most customers get a little bit angry and I tell them if they want to change it they should complain to Visa when a cashier DOESN'T ask for id.

And of course, everyone whose cards say "See ID" are happy when I ask.

Third of all, I have had many a situation where I take a credit card, check it and see that it is signed, and begin to run it without asking, and then the customer will actually scold me for NOT asking for ID. (One of the customers who was angry that I did not ID her actually worked for Wells Fargo and said that she works at a bank and EXPECTS cashiers to ID her). And when that happens, I always politely explain that Visa and Mastercard's policy dictates that ID cannot be required for transactions to be completed, and that even per our own policy, we are not permitted to ask unless the card is unsigned or says "See ID." One lady's response to this was, "So what if I go to your store manager, (she reads my nametag) Crystal, and tell them that YOU didn't check my ID for this purchase?" To which my response is, "Then she will tell you that I am not allowed to because of Visa's policy."

So, the point that I'm getting to here, is the people who I ID are pretty much ALWAYS grateful that I asked, and the people who I don't comment that I SHOULD about 30% of the time. I've been a cashier for a pretty long while, and I have never had a single person get angry that I ID them... so I must admit it's a bit frustrating to have found this by using google and then see all you people complaining about cashiers checking for ID, as if it's some CONSPIRACY against your RIGHTS or something. I mean, carrying the policy in your wallet? Christ, it's not like we're trying to take away your gun rights or something... we're TRYING to protect you.

Which brings me to my next point... to whoever it was who said "How does giving off your date of birth, license number, etc. etc. etc. protect us?" Well, THAT stuff doesn't. When cashiers check your id, ALL they are doing is comparing the name on the credit card to the name on the license, and then comparing the picture. It takes me like 1.5 seconds to ID someone, because that's all I'm looking at. Reason being, if we ID someone and just look at the picture, well say the person HAS stolen the credit card... They could show you their OWN ID with someone ELSE'S credit card and you wouldn't notice if all you're looking at is the picture. However, if you compare the picture AND the name, you know it's the same person. ALL we are trying to accomplish is to make sure it is YOU who are using YOUR credit card and not some jerk stealing your money. 98% of the time, it is for YOUR benefit, not ours. And if you can't appreciate that.... well, nevermind. Yes, the credit card companies pay US no matter what, but until you've had YOUR credit card stolen and YOUR bank account emptied by someone else who got away with it because of crap like this, you have NO idea. It is for YOUR benefit. And if you are so concerned about all the other information that is on your ID, you can very easily just cover that up with your hand while showing your ID.

Like I said, I get more customers who get ANGRY when they hear of visa's and mastercard's policy, than anything. Among customer's terms for these policies are "stupid," "irresponsible," and "careless," just to name a few. Personally, I think that either Visa and Mastercard should change their policy a little bit, or start putting photos of the people on the cards (which is an option also available with at least some banks and cards and eliminates the need for ID) for the consumer's protection. And, PEOPLE need to loosen up and realize that NO, the cashier is NOT evil and out to get you, and probably doesn't have a bias, and that there is more going on than what meets the eye and that usually there IS a valid REASON for whatever is happening. (I was a customer long before I was on the OTHER side of the register and I never experienced any "racist" or "biased" behavior from cashiers myself).

Besides, if you're THAT antsy about letting someone see your ID, you could always opt to use a debit card instead.

And to whoever it was who said "A DRIVING permit was never intended to be used to complete transactions" or whatever: No, that's true in a sense. The DRIVING permit part of it is NOT. HOWEVER, that argument is only valid IF you carry an actual state issued ID as well...because if you don't? Then your driver's license DOUBLES as an ID. Driver's licenses and ID's are two DIFFERENT things, UNLESS you use both for the same purpose, which is what most people opt to do... so the argument that it's for driving only doesn't exactly work. There are PLENTY of things, besides transactions, that require a state-issued ID, and you don't say to THEM, "Oh, this is for driving, therefore you can't see it," now do you? No. It doesn't work that way. The only way it works that way is, like I said, if you also carry a state-issued ID that is not a license.

And I want to make it clear that I have been on the other side too. There have been times when I wanted to use my card when I had just received my PIN and had not memorized it yet, so I wanted to use the credit option, but did not have my ID on me because I left my DayRunner at home on accident. It DOES suck to not be able to make a purchase because of my own bad luck at forgetting my ID. But, I'm not going to get mad at the cashier over it or call some number to complain and have some well-meaning small business already being taxed out their ears have to pay a fine. I'm not that much of a b**ch, AND I know that they are doing it for MY protection.

Not trying to be a jerk about it, but as someone who has put up with SO much crap in retail, trying to please every customer and it NEVER working because one customer will b**ch you out over something that another customer WANTS you to do, and has tried her very BEST to be the most customer-oriented and helpful person she can be, I get a little bit sick of the bulls**t of NEVER being right and ALWAYS having SOME complaint to deal with and SOMEONE willing to make me lose my job over something as trivial as, in this case, trying to protect their identities. Sometimes, I wish YOU GUYS were the ones behind the register.

Thank you.

-Crystal

onelitfirefly · October 8, 2009

*this seems to have not posted the first time so here goes again. sorry if it doubles...*