At least one place does not check ID

[Uncle Leo]

My son and I were recently talking about ID checking with credit cards. He told me that his employer will actually fire people if they ask for ID. In fact, they're told that the card only has to be signed... the signature itself doesn't even have to be remotely close.

 

So, on the one hand, they're following policy (sounds like they may indeed have gotten in trouble at some point), yet on the other hand they're overcompensating by not following the intent of the purpose of the signature.

 

And, no, I will not say who his employer is. It is a national company, but I do not know if this particular policy is company-wide, or regional/local.

[webworm98]

My son and I were recently talking about ID checking with credit cards. He told me that his employer will actually fire people if they ask for ID. In fact, they're told that the card only has to be signed... the signature itself doesn't even have to be remotely close.

 

So, on the one hand, they're following policy (sounds like they may indeed have gotten in trouble at some point), yet on the other hand they're overcompensating by not following the intent of the purpose of the signature.

 

And, no, I will not say who his employer is. It is a national company, but I do not know if this particular policy is company-wide, or regional/local.

 

I wouldn't say they are overcompensating with the signature. Everytime I sign for a purchase, my signature is always different and even gets messed up. My signature always varies.

[Uncle Leo]

I wouldn't say they are overcompensating with the signature. Everytime I sign for a purchase, my signature is always different and even gets messed up. My signature always varies.

 

In the sense that it always varies, I agree. So does mine. Plus, there are times that the pad surface is so slick you can't get anything but squiggly lines anyway. The "overcompensate" part comes in because they say that it doesn't matter, no matter what. They're not even remotely interested. Basically, they have rendered the "ID" purpose of the signature itself irrelevant.

[Continental]

As all employers should...

 

his employer will actually fire people if they ask for ID.

CREDIT CARD SIGNATURE IS ALL THE ID NEEDED

 

When you pay for merchandise with a Visa card, MasterCard, or American Express any store that accepts these cards should accept yours too, no questions asked. It's part of the deal that merchants agree to when they become participating members.

 

They must check your signature and the card - electronically or by telephone - to be sure it's valid. Once the answer comes up yes, they can go ahead and charge. They can't ask you for any further identification - not a license plate number, Social Security number, proof of address, phone number or photo ID.

 

Your personal ID isn't needed because Visa, MasterCard, and American Express all guarantee payment on cards that have been properly checked. If the issuer mistakenly authorizes a sale on a bad card, it should make good. MasterCard says that merchants receive instant settlement. The contract MasterCard merchants sign specifically prevents them from asking for personal ID.

 

Unfortunately, not all merchants play by the rules. Some, apparently, haven't read them.

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO

 

MasterCard wants to hear about merchants who break their rules. Send the name and address and an account of what happened to MasterCard WorldWide 2000 Purchase St. Purchase, NY 10577 or call 1-800-300-3069. The merchant's bank will get a stiff letter, ordering it to investigate and bring the offending store into line - or pay a $2,000 fine. You may also report violations online:

 

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

 

Visa enforces the same rules as MasterCard. "When we hear about a violation, we ask the bank that signed the merchant to get together with the merchant and see that the practice is stopped," Visa representative states. To report a merchant, send a letter to the bank that that issued your Visa card or call 1-800-VISA-911.

 

American Express also prohibits merchants from asking for IDs. "All a merchant is supposed to do is take an imprint, make sure the signature matches and swipe the card through the terminal, to get authorization."