Merchant Refuses to accept my Visa because I refuse to show ID

[bkw]

Our local subway store refused to take my visa because I refused to show ID. It isn't like this person didn't know me or that I had not been there before. Last time I was in I told them they couldn't require me to show ID and the manager of the store said yes they can or they can refuse to take my card. I told her in a calm voice that she couldn't do that nor could she require anyone to show ID for credit card transactions, that time she took my card. Well today I went in and I refused to show ID and she refused to take my card. They had already made the subs and such and I had gotten my drinks. I said "No you can't require me to show ID" needless to say I walked out with the food sitting on their counter so they lost that plus me as a customer from that point forward. So to clear things up I tried to talk to the store owner which it turns out was the person I spoke with before at the store. She got really rude with me on the phone when I tried to explain the situation. I have filed a complaint with Visa along with a feedback on subway.com about this incident.

 

The funny thing is.. if she is having problems with fraud she might want to look at her own employees. Because if you can't win a chargeback when you have the card present then you're failing to understand the chargeback procedure. Plus its a 7 dollar sandwich who on earth would file a charge back for that?

 

Anyway thought I would post this info here. I don't think I was in the wrong.

 

/b

[BBQ123]

Subway should have learned their lesson when GEORGE got them in trouble for screwing up with credit cards. Perhaps this franchise is new or the manager is just plain stupid.

 

You did well reporting the problem to the corporate headquarters and to Visa.

[Uncle Leo]

The funny thing is.. if she is having problems with fraud she might want to look at her own employees. Because if you can't win a chargeback when you have the card present then you're failing to understand the chargeback procedure. Plus its a 7 dollar sandwich who on earth would file a charge back for that?

 

Many people here use that as a rationale in part of their rants, and it makes no sense. What relevance is the amount?

 

Oh, and there are people in this forum who have said before that they would do a chargeback for as little as 50 cents or two dollars.

 

Subway should have learned their lesson when GEORGE got them in trouble for screwing up with credit cards. Perhaps this franchise is new or the manager is just plain stupid.

 

Did George say the entire Subway coproration got in "MAJOR TROUBLE"? Seemed to me it was the individual store. Though I don't recall him saying, or even knowing, as he was merely repeating what an employee at that particular store told him.

 

There are thounsands of Subway stores, and hundreds if not thousands of franchisees, so I doubt George's incident was the "shot heard around the Subway world".

Edited December 19, 2007 by Uncle Leo

[BBQ123]

The funny thing is.. if she is having problems with fraud she might want to look at her own employees. Because if you can't win a chargeback when you have the card present then you're failing to understand the chargeback procedure. Plus its a 7 dollar sandwich who on earth would file a charge back for that?

 

Many people here use that as a rationale in part of their rants, and it makes no sense. What relevance is the amount?

 

Oh, and there are people in this forum who have said before that they would do a chargeback for as little as 50 cents or two dollars.

 

Subway should have learned their lesson when GEORGE got them in trouble for screwing up with credit cards. Perhaps this franchise is new or the manager is just plain stupid.

 

Did George say the entire Subway coproration got in "MAJOR TROUBLE"? Seemed to me it was the individual store. Though I don't recall him saying, or even knowing, as he was merely repeating what an employee at that particular store told him.

 

There are thounsands of Subway stores, and hundreds if not thousands of franchisees, so I doubt George's incident was the "shot heard around the Subway world".

 

Subway asking for ID doesn't prevent a chargeback.

 

If the person who stole the card has a fake ID with a matching name, Subway can still lose money and get hit with a chargeback fee if the signatures don't match.

 

As far as non-fraud chargebacks... it wouldn't matter if ID was asked for. If they charged you for a ham and cheese sandwich you order and gave you a turkey sandwich and refused to give you a proper sandwich or a refund, you could do a chargeback and the ID won';t matter

[Continental]

Completely illegal. In addition to 1-800-VISA-911, immediately report this violation to MasterCard at 1-800-300-3069. Make sure that horribly-behaving Subway shapes-up and never asks for ID again.

 

Never show ID for signed credit cards purchases.

 

No ID required for signed credit card purchases. Merchants cannot require ID.

 

If a merchant tries to require ID, immediately call 1-800-VISA-911 to ensure they never do again.

 

VISA: 1-800-VISA-911

MasterCard: 1-800-300-3069

 

 

Also easily report merchant violations online at:

 

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/c...violations.html

 

Check the box that says "Merchant required ID"

 

 

 

Never show ID for signed credit card purchases ever.

 

No ID required for signed credit card purchases ever.

[kindloveone]

A store did that to me once. They would not let me do a debit either. They said they did not know if it was me because the business card did not have my name on it They looked at me like I was trash. The manager came over and said the same thing. I have never been through that I did not shop there for years after that had happened.

 

I did not know I could have complained.

[hlburi]

If the person who stole the card has a fake ID with a matching name, Subway can still lose money and get hit with a chargeback fee if the signatures don't match.

 

 

and who is going to determine whether or not the signatures match?

 

In theory, I have my card in my possession and the store has the signed copy in their possession. Seems like there would be no way for the bank/Visa/Mastercard/AmEx to tell if the signatures match or not.

[Uncle Leo]

Completely illegal.

 

Can you quote that law, please?

 

If the person who stole the card has a fake ID with a matching name, Subway can still lose money and get hit with a chargeback fee if the signatures don't match.

and who is going to determine whether or not the signatures match?

 

In theory, I have my card in my possession and the store has the signed copy in their possession. Seems like there would be no way for the bank/Visa/Mastercard/AmEx to tell if the signatures match or not.

 

In general average day-to-day so-called real life there's not. But, signatures are the method they've chosen.

[hlburi]

In general average day-to-day so-called real life there's not. But, signatures are the method they've chosen.

 

 

It's good to know that Tina at Taco Bell will have a nice career in Forensic Handwriting Analysis should she ever decide to leave Taco Bell...

 

[webworm98]

Just for info. Subways are franchises. The company has little say in what the local place does. It spelled out in the franchise agreement. I am not saying they were right or wrong.

[Glow]

Completely illegal.

 

Can you quote that law, please?

 

 

http://www.mastercard.com/us/wce/PDF/12999...tire_Manual.pdf

 

see page 49 or 9.12.3

[Uncle Leo]

Completely illegal.

Can you quote that law, please?

http://www.mastercard.com/us/wce/PDF/12999...tire_Manual.pdf

 

see page 49 or 9.12.3

 

Thank you for the updated copy of the manual. I needed one.

 

However, I should probably point out that there is a HUGE difference between private company policy and public law. Continental said it was "illegal", not allowed according to public law. This does not fit that criteria.

[Golfer2000]

Whats the big deal with providing an ID? Its not like they take it into a back office and then come back 5 min later. They glance at it and give it right back. Its like people blurring out license plates on the net as if thousands of people on the streets dont see it.

[thelowpriceleader]

The security camera they have positioned over the register area has recorded an image of your ID for who knows who to retrieve and see. The ID contains most (in some states all) of the information one needs to steal your identity.

[Uncle Leo]

The security camera they have positioned over the register area has recorded an image of your ID for who knows who to retrieve and see. The ID contains most (in some states all) of the information one needs to steal your identity.

 

Uncle Leo's Plan B: Sticky notes on the ID covering the extraneous information. They get to see my name and picture (which they already know because I'm standing right there and they can read the name on the card) and they get to see the state it was issued from and that it is a DL. Everything else is covered. Since they always claim that all they need to do is verify I am the same person as on the card, that's all they "need" to see. Of course they don't even "need" that, but sometimes the most prudent route is to play their game without actually giving up any more info, then report them to VISA/MC afterward and let VISA/MC deal with them.

[Continental]

Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.

Our local subway store refused to take my visa because I refused to show ID.

Completely illegal. In addition to 1-800-VISA-911, immediately report this violation to MasterCard at 1-800-300-3069. Make sure that horribly-behaving Subway shapes-up and never asks for ID again.

 

Never show ID for signed credit cards purchases.

 

No ID required for signed credit card purchases. Merchants cannot require ID.

 

If a merchant tries to require ID, immediately call 1-800-VISA-911 to ensure they never do again.

 

VISA: 1-800-VISA-911

MasterCard: 1-800-300-3069

 

 

Also easily report merchant violations online at:

 

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/c...violations.html

 

Check the box that says "Merchant required ID"

 

 

 

Never show ID for signed credit card purchases ever.

 

No ID required for signed credit card purchases ever.

[Uncle Leo]

Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.

 

"Against the rules" is not the same as "against the law". Cite the law that says ID checking is illegal.

[Continental]

Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.

[Uncle Leo]

Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.

 

You still haven't cited any law that says checking ID is illegal. Shoot, you haven't even given a source for this definition.

[BBQ123]

Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.

 

You still haven't cited any law that says checking ID is illegal. Shoot, you haven't even given a source for this definition.

 

Want to cite a law saying that checking ID is required for using credit/debit cards?

[Uncle Leo]

Illegal: contrary to or forbidden by official rules, regulations, etc.

You still haven't cited any law that says checking ID is illegal. Shoot, you haven't even given a source for this definition.

Want to cite a law saying that checking ID is required for using credit/debit cards?

 

I've never made a claim that there is. You're trying to deflect attention by being absurd.

 

Maybe you can help him out. Can you cite a law that says checking ID is illegal?

[webworm98]

Careful people. We all have different view points. Do not do bickering. Good way to get this thread closed.

 

Yes, there is a law that merchants, Visa and Mastercard misunderstand it is the California law. There is another state that has a similar law.

 

One city in Florida does have a law requiring ID for purchase with a credit or debit card.

 

Uncle Leo is correct there is no law saying checking ID is illegal. It is possible contract violation.

 

Merchants make an agreement with the processor not Visa or Mastercard. If it does not say that you can not check id than it is not a contract violation. The processor would possible be in violation if the contract with Mastercard and Visa says that your are to pass the no id requirement on to merchants.

Edited December 31, 2007 by webworm98

[hlburi]

The security camera they have positioned over the register area has recorded an image of your ID for who knows who to retrieve and see. The ID contains most (in some states all) of the information one needs to steal your identity.

 

 

and this information is commonly available on many sites online for a small fee as well.

[Uncle Leo]

The security camera they have positioned over the register area has recorded an image of your ID for who knows who to retrieve and see. The ID contains most (in some states all) of the information one needs to steal your identity.

and this information is commonly available on many sites online for a small fee as well.

 

Just because information is obtainable from other sources isn't a good reason to roll over and hand it out to anyone who asks.

[hlburi]

The security camera they have positioned over the register area has recorded an image of your ID for who knows who to retrieve and see. The ID contains most (in some states all) of the information one needs to steal your identity.

and this information is commonly available on many sites online for a small fee as well.

 

Just because information is obtainable from other sources isn't a good reason to roll over and hand it out to anyone who asks.

 

 

it's certainly not a compelling reason not to.

 

If my DL # was as big a secret as the formula to Coca Cola I could possibly understand not handing it out, but sadly it is far from that.

 

Far too many ways people can get private info if they want it.

 

I was at my ENT once and the receptionist had her desk covered with patient forms. All of these forms had the peoples' SSN, Name, Address, DOB, just laying around for anyone to look at.

 

It's because of stuff like this that I'm not gonna get all up in arms if Best Buy asks to see my id.