Post Office

[thelowpriceleader]

Some months ago, I encountered a post office requiring ID. I've never had another post office ever want ID, and I've been to many post offices in a number of states. They attempted to show me their policy that said they do not accept unsigned/See ID cards and said that was where it said they required ID. I asked where it said it. They had no answer but said it was their policy. I called the 800 number and eventually got given a phone number for a district consumer affairs office. I called there, spoke to someone, who seemed aware of unsigned card policy but not on signed cards, and emailed copies of the Visa/MC rules to that person. That person said a suggestion would be sent to the office to stop asking for ID.

 

Flash forward to a few days ago. I return to the SAME post office. Now they have the unsigned card policy (photocopy) posted in a plastic sign holder sitting on the counter. I pull out my card and am again asked for ID. I refuse it and tell them my card is signed and this time the plastic sign holder is taken and dropped in front of me. I asked where it says on there that ID is required. The clerk reads it and shrugs but says that is their rule. I ask for the manager. Someone from the back comes out and looks at my card then tells me no credit card without ID and that is our policy and it says it right there and points at the plastic sign. I ask her where on the sign it says they require ID. She reads it and is speechless. She then shows it to the clerk. The clerk says "it doesn't say it on there." The manager insists it is policy and says my card will not be accepted without ID. I told the manager I want to see it in writing that they require ID for signed credit card use. The manager disappeared into the back for a few minutes and comes back and says she doesn't have anything. I advise the manager I will be contacting the consumer affairs office regarding this incident, and the manager isn't phased. They refused to accept my card, but gladly handed it right back to me.

 

I immediately called the consumer affairs office again and the person took a message stating that she thought everywhere required ID but she'd give it to her supervisor to look into it.

 

The next day, I received a call from the supervisor of the consumer affairs, and returned that call. I got someone else when I returned the call, who transferred me to someone else, who said he didn't think they require ID if it is signed but that they can't tell the other post offices what to do but he gave me a second phone number to call about it. I called the second number and left a message for the "manager of post office operations and marketing." Meanwhile, I received a call back from the supervisor of consumer affairs who couldn't find anything but noted personal experience using credit cards and never understood why some merchants ask for ID always, some ask sometimes, and some never ask. I think I managed to convince that person they weren't supposed to be asking at all and that was the point of the signature panel and signing the card. That person emailed the regional office (Denver) to request an official policy. Shortly thereafter, I received a call back from the "assistant of the manager of post office operations and marketing." This individual continually read me the USPS "unsigned card" policy that states two forms of ID are required and the customer must sign the card. I explained that policy is for unsigned cards at which point this person claimed they have worked for the USPS for 25 years and it has always been USPS policy to require ID. I told her I would like to see in writing a policy that says they require ID for signed cards. She offered to fax or email me a policy. I never received any fax or email.

 

The next day, I received a message from the supervisor of consumer affairs advising me that directive had arrived from Denver that they were not supposed to be asking for ID with signed cards and the policy had been misread by the assistant to the manager of post office operations and the manager at the station where I had the issue. I was further told that they spoke to the station and the station will discontinue the practice of asking for ID.

 

This was one of the more difficult complaints to get resolved. I'm pretty surprised.

Edited September 18, 2009 by thelowpriceleader

[Uncle Leo]

Now go back and report what happens.

[green2408]

So funny.

The exact same thing happened to me at my post office. I had a big fuss about it with the manager, mostly because she was so snotty. I finally got someone at the regional office to tell me that the manager at the post office was wrong and I insisted that the manager call ma and apologise, She did, but then about a year later the same thing happened. I did the same thing, but this time I had them write me a letter.

 

I advise you to get themn to write a letter acknowledging the correct procedure. That seems to help them remember it.

[GEORGE]

MY POST OFFICE HAS A SIGN SOMETHING LIKE THIS...

 

YOUR CREDIT CARD MUST HAVE YOUR SIGNATURE ON THE BACK...IT IS REQUIRED

BY YOUR CREDIT CARD COMPANY...WE ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCEPT UNSIGNED CREDIT CARDS

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

(Typed from scratch)

 

NOT COPY and PASTE THAT A SELECT FEW HERE HAVE AN UN-NATURAL FEAR OF.....

 

Edited September 18, 2009 by GEORGE

[KYBOSH]

Post Offices are usually the most vigilant above signatures on the back and not asking for ID.

I have seen a customer scream at a postal worker and storm out for not accepting a signed CC.

Even if my CC has squiggly lines on the back... I NEVER get asked for ID at post offices.

Then again, how many credit card fraudsters will risk getting caught buying stamps or sending a letter or two?

[dot]

They may not be required to do so, but what prevents them from doing so? They are cutting down on fraudulent transactions in that particular area.

[GEORGE]

They may not be required to do so, but what prevents them from doing so? They are cutting down on fraudulent transactions in that particular area.

ASKING FOR ID ON SIGNED CREDIT CARD IS PROHIBITED BY THE POLICY THEY AGREED TO

 

"IF" you don't want to have you signature on the back of the card...DON'T APPLY FOR ONE

[hurricanesfans27]

They may not be required to do so, but what prevents them from doing so? They are cutting down on fraudulent transactions in that particular area.

ASKING FOR ID ON SIGNED CREDIT CARD IS PROHIBITED BY THE POLICY THEY AGREED TO

 

"IF" you don't want to have you signature on the back of the card...DON'T APPLY FOR ONE

 

 

USPS is supported by the government. Visa cant tell the government what to do so the USPS can check for id if they want to and there is nothing visa will do

[GEORGE]

They may not be required to do so, but what prevents them from doing so? They are cutting down on fraudulent transactions in that particular area.

ASKING FOR ID ON SIGNED CREDIT CARD IS PROHIBITED BY THE POLICY THEY AGREED TO

 

"IF" you don't want to have you signature on the back of the card...DON'T APPLY FOR ONE

 

 

USPS is supported by the government. Visa cant tell the government what to do so the USPS can check for id if they want to and there is nothing visa will do

 

WHY RAISE THE PRICE OF STAMPS SO OFTEN???

 

THey keep on saying they are "SELF" supporting

Edited September 29, 2009 by GEORGE

[hurricanesfans27]

They may not be required to do so, but what prevents them from doing so? They are cutting down on fraudulent transactions in that particular area.

ASKING FOR ID ON SIGNED CREDIT CARD IS PROHIBITED BY THE POLICY THEY AGREED TO

 

"IF" you don't want to have you signature on the back of the card...DON'T APPLY FOR ONE

 

 

USPS is supported by the government. Visa cant tell the government what to do so the USPS can check for id if they want to and there is nothing visa will do

 

WHY RAISE THE PRICE OF STAMPS SO OFTEN???

 

THey keep on saying they are "SELF" supporting

 

dumb question ask the usps not me

[Guest Resplendence]

I was asked for ID at a post office once. I called the 800 number and was told that this was against postal regulations. They asked if my card was not signed and at first said that was why I was asked but went on to say they do not accept unsigned cards. I explained that my card is signed. A report was taken and that location is no longer asking for ID.

[green2408]

They may not be required to do so, but what prevents them from doing so? They are cutting down on fraudulent transactions in that particular area.

ASKING FOR ID ON SIGNED CREDIT CARD IS PROHIBITED BY THE POLICY THEY AGREED TO

 

"IF" you don't want to have you signature on the back of the card...DON'T APPLY FOR ONE

 

 

USPS is supported by the government. Visa cant tell the government what to do so the USPS can check for id if they want to and there is nothing visa will do

 

Actually, that seems not to be true since I have a letter from the regional management office of the USPS admitting that their policy is to not require supplemental identification as per the credit card policy, and they are sorry for any difficulty I experienced, and the manager has been instructed to retrain the agents in the proper procedure.

[dot]

So it seems that anyone can ask, but they can't deny to run the transaction on the basis if you refuse to provide an ID. Seems reasonable and reminds me that around Christmas time Wal-Mart where I live asks for ID's with credit cards, but when I didn't have mine they still ran the transaction.

[thelowpriceleader]

"Seems reasonable and reminds me that around Christmas time Wal-Mart where I live asks for ID's with credit cards, but when I didn't have mine they still ran the transaction."

 

They followed the rules. Still, asking for ID is a waste of time when they cannot refuse the transaction on that basis.

[GEORGE]

So it seems that anyone can ask, but they can't deny to run the transaction on the basis if you refuse to provide an ID. Seems reasonable and reminds me that around Christmas time Wal-Mart where I live asks for ID's with credit cards, but when I didn't have mine they still ran the transaction.

READ THE SCREEN

 

COMPARE SIGNATURE

 

IT DOES NOT SAY ASK FOR CUSORMER'S ID

 

THE SIGNATURE ON THE BACK OF THE CARD IS THE ID

[Uncle Leo]

"Seems reasonable and reminds me that around Christmas time Wal-Mart where I live asks for ID's with credit cards, but when I didn't have mine they still ran the transaction."

They followed the rules. Still, asking for ID is a waste of time when they cannot refuse the transaction on that basis.

Yep. If they can't enforce it, why bother in the first place? Taken a step farther, if VISA/MC won't let them enforce it, why do they allow merchants to even ask?

[thelowpriceleader]

My understanding is they can ask if they suspect fraud...

 

Of course, they can also ask on unsigned cards. I have been told there was some confusion regarding ID and unsigned cards and that is part of why the rules are worded how they are.

[GEORGE]

My understanding is they can ask if they suspect fraud...

 

Of course, they can also ask on unsigned cards. I have been told there was some confusion regarding ID and unsigned cards and that is part of why the rules are worded how they are.

SO I STOLE THE CARD???

[hurricanesfans27]

My understanding is they can ask if they suspect fraud...

 

Of course, they can also ask on unsigned cards. I have been told there was some confusion regarding ID and unsigned cards and that is part of why the rules are worded how they are.

SO I STOLE THE CARD???

 

 

looks that way

[GEORGE]

My understanding is they can ask if they suspect fraud...

 

Of course, they can also ask on unsigned cards. I have been told there was some confusion regarding ID and unsigned cards and that is part of why the rules are worded how they are.

SO I STOLE THE CARD???

 

 

looks that way

FEEL FREE TO KEEP THE CARD...I will tell the credit card company that the business THEFTED my card and I need another one sent FEDERAL EXPRESS

 

I use it daily...I sould not have to wait a week to use the card

[hurricanesfans27]

just like here their playground their rules.

[hegemony]

just like here their playground their rules.

have you ever been in a sandbox only to find some cat crap?

[GEORGE]

just like here their playground their rules.

So they don't have to follow the CREDIT CARD RULES they agreed to follow???

 

[hurricanesfans27]

just like here their playground their rules.

So they don't have to follow the CREDIT CARD RULES they agreed to follow???

 

 

its the govt in proxy they dont follow any rules clueless one

[GEORGE]

just like here their playground their rules.

So they don't have to follow the CREDIT CARD RULES they agreed to follow???

 

 

its the govt in proxy they dont follow any rules clueless one