Today I went to Walgreens to buy a heating pad for my back and some OTC pain releiver. I ended up buying a few extra items, and my total purchase was about $65.00.

I swiped my Wells Fargo Signature Visa card, hit all the necessary buttons, and was waiting to sign. As the cashier gave me the sales slip to sign, she said "may I see your ID please?" I normally say "no," but today I wasn't in the mood for confrontation because my back hurts. I handed it to her just so I could get home.

I signed. "Maria" was not satisfied with the way I signed the slip and she said, "Your signature does not match your licence." Yeah, that's true because I've recently begun abbreviating my ridiculously long name from something like "Marie Antoinette von Bulow" to "M. A. v. Bulow." However, according to the Visa Merchant agreement, they shouldn't be verifying the signature on my Driver's License. She said she was going to confiscate my Driver's Licence *and* my Credit Card.

While my signature didn't precisely match my ID, it was in the exact same handwriting, AND IT MATCHED THE SIGNATURE ON THE BACK OF THE VISA CARD 100%. I showed her the back of my credit card. She said she didn't care and that I was in violation and she would need to go through "the proper authorities."

So, I said "but you already charged me." She said she'd have to call her manager. I said the merchandise is paid for and I would like to have my bags and cards so I could leave. She said no, the merchandise was still in her possession, and she was going to get the manager. I told her to go ahead and call the manager, but I am still leaving with my items.

She started to take the bags off the counter, but I stopped her and took the bags. I took my licence and credit card off the counter as well, and then I walked calmly out of the store with my paid-for merchandise and the receipt in my hand. As I walked out the door, I heard her saying Code something over the loudspeaker and two people chased me to my car. That's when I said I didn't want to be harrassed any more by the Walgreens "family" and that I would never come back to their store again. They tried to detain me, but I just showed them the receipt and left. They were still trying to get me to stay so they could "question" me. Geez!

I get all of my prescriptions from Walgreens and do most of my "drugstore" business there. I am shocked that they would treat a regular customer as if I were a criminal! I've never stolen anything in my life. I really want to go back and return everything I bought today. I mean, seriously, what the heck!!??

Has this EVER happened to anyone else before? I was completely shocked about how aggressive they were with me! I'm going to start with a letter to the manager, but I'm not really sure where to go from there. Any advice?

Thanks for reading . . . and so much for trying to avoid confrontation!

IVORY TOWER TIME

RETURN THE STUFF TO ANOTHER WALGREENS IN TOWN (if you have one)

GO SOME OTHER PLACE TO SHOP

WAL*MART...TARGET...even K-MART (if you must)

TRANSFER YOUR RX

I personaly would have demanded they make a CODE 10 CALL since they are calling me a thief

(others have)

1-800-FRAUD-FREE (1-800-372-8337)

I would be SOOOO calling Walgreens IVORY TOWER, branch manager, and anyone else involved in Walgreens to complain about your treatment, harrassment, and for the fact that they tried to accuse you of stealing when in fact you'd ALREADY PAID.

Then I would call VISA report them for breaking the merchant agreement by requiring your DL, and using THAT to compare signatures instead of the back of your card.

ETA: While I do like soldiergurl, I wonder what she'd have to say about this? I mean she's usually all for showing ID but in this case it caused more problems than refusing would.

I might want to also contact the POLICE

"IF" you wanted to file HARASSMENT charges

and attempted UNLAWFUL DETAINMENT

1-800-VISA-911

Anyone know where I could get a copy of the Visa Merchant Agreement? I don't mean the fluff-laden one they have on Visa.com. I want the one with all the legalese. I'm going to use it to attach to my Ivory Tower letter.

I'm calling that 1-800-VISA-911 now.

Thanks everyone! I'm very bitter with Walgreens. I'll go to Costco or something for my prescriptions from now on.

More HOMEWORK

Gotcha! Thanks.

HERE IS MY HOMEWORK

When should you ask a cardholder for an official government ID? In most cases,
merchants may not ask for an ID as part of their regular card acceptance
procedures, either when a valid card is first presented or to complete a sale.
Laws in several states also make it illegal for merchants to write a cardholder's
personal information, such as an address or phone number, on a sales receipt.

If you are suspicious about the transaction or feel you need additional informa-
tion to insure the identity of the cardholder, make a Code 10 call.
http://www.usa.visa.com

A couple random thoughts. First, I don't believe this is a Walgreens thing specifically, as I hear too many similar stories about other stores also, stores that I frequent and never have a problem with. I believe it's more an individual cashier problem and/or store manager problem. Having said that, contacting the "Ivory Tower" is still in order, especially in a case like this.

Second, I find it simply amazing that she felt she was with her rights to confiscate your DL. Credit card is one thing (but, doing so does require clearance to do so, she can't just do it on her own), but the DL is way beyond her authority.

I have been to Walgreens before and had no issues paying with credit card... whether it was under $25 (no signature required) or over $25 (signature required).

Likely, this store has an idiot in charge of it or the clerk was a moron.

I wonder if you had let them confiscate your card and your license, if you could then file theft/fraud charges against them stealing your driver's license.

By the way, had you just left the items with them and taken your card/DL back and walked out, you could get the money refuded by filing a chargeback.

But -- since you had provided payment for the items, they were now legally your property. In fact, if Walgreens had a door-alarm thing and you set it off, you would not need to stop to have it deactivated. Once you provide payment, the merchandise is now your property... you have all legal right to leave the store with it.

You should try to contact a higherup at Walgreens (for example the District Manager or Corporate HQ). Also, you may want to contact local media... a "consumer beware" story can hurt a company. Plus, filing police report about harassment may be a good idea.

Definitly report those morons at Walgreens to Visa/MC/AmEx and your card issuer.

And next time... REFUSE to show ID.

I've always gotten a kick out of how a pharmacy can hand over a Schedule II drug, say OxyContin, without ID, then ask for ID for a credit card.

Your situation is definately not in accordance with Walgreens policy. I smell a firing coming on.

HOLDING THE DRIVERS LICENSE COULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED THEFT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

CALL THE POLICE (not on the 911 line) USE THE NON EMERGENCY LINE

HOLDING CREDIT CARD FOR PICK-UP CARD IS LEGAL FOR A CASHIER PER CREDIT CARD POLICY

(if the register says to)

YOU DON'T HAVE TO ASK THE MANAGER

(BUT it has to be turned into the cash office ASAP)

If the register said to hold the card, it is legal... but otherwise, it isn't. (Of course, I believe an unsigned card can be confiscated regardless)

In situations like this, STOP and ask the key question:

"Are you accusing me of a crime?"

This is a yes or no question. If the answer is no, you leave with the merchandise. If the answer is yes, you insist that they call the police and have the police investigate the situation.

In this case, the register did not say to hold the card. The purchase was approved, the card was signed, and I was signing the sales slip when all this drama started.

I called Visa and the lady I spoke with said that Walgreens was really out of line in this case, as the cashier should have asked to look at the CREDIT CARD while I signed, not my ID. Since this is the weekend, of course, a manager will have to call me back during the week . . .

We will see how it goes . . . Thanks everyone for your input. I really appreciate it!

I would have done exactly what she did, except I might have had the clerk call the cops. If she is going to try to confiscate my property, I would want the police involved. Walgreens was totally outside of their rights in this situation.

If they wanted to confiscate my DL, I would be the one calling the police lol.

IT WAS THEFT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY

or

UNLAWFUL DETAINING

Either way.... but they wouldn't confiscate anything without the police telling me that they had the right.

I was in a grocery store once ad had the clerk ask for my id after I paid for the purchases which included beer. Sometimes I sign neat, sometimes sloppy, depends on how backed up the line is and how much a hurry I am in. When the cashier started to put my bank card into the register, I demande dit back. She felt it didn't match my DL and tried to take it too. I took out my cell phone and called information for the non emergency # for the police. While waiting to be connected, I asked her for her full name, she asked why and I said because I intend to sue for all my inconcienence. She said they could hold false ids, I pointed out my DL was good for another couple years And I had a kid with me and if she kept my DL I oculd not legally drive home. The line was really backing up so a manager came to see what was wrong. I told the manager she was trying to keep both my DL and check card and the sigs were not perfect 100% match but then whose is. She was taken off the register and had to trade to doing stocking so that person could get on the register. I ended up with a $25 gift certificate but then again it was our big week for groc so I had well over $100 worth of stuff. Cashier was reassigned to stocking duties only.

Shoot, many times in cases like that, the police don't even know the law.

Just unreal.

OMG I would have been PISSED. You were so much nicer than I would have been. I'd call Walgreen's HQ. I have huge issues with our Walgreen's and refuse to get an RX filled there unless I have to. I will stop and buy a couple of items here and there though and the last couple of times, I didn't even have to sign anything when using my card.

One idea...

If they try to take your credit card you should let them and then report it as stolen to your bank. Say that the store refused to give it back to you... then hope they get fined for breaking the merchant agreement.

"IF" YOU TOLD THE CREDIT CARD COMPANY THAT THE CASHIER AT THE STORE STOLE THE CREDIT CARD I BET THEY WOULD CHARGE BACK THE TOTAL BILL

Lol... That would be good.

I would have been outraged too. You did the right thing leaving.

So...Maria fancies herself a handwriting expert.

I agree with George.

Ivory Tower Time. Complain to the highest level. And transfer your RX to another pharmacy.

Good luck.

Keep us updated.

Not that I agree with this situation (which I don't) You are kind of contridicting yourself. in all of the other threads you say that signature comparison should be the ONLY way they verify....

pffffffffffff

CODE 10 (IF YOU ASSUME FRAUD)

OTHERWISE DENY THE SALE (pay another way...or just ask for cash) DON'T KEEP THE CREDIT CARD AND ID WHEN THE COMPUTER SAYS NOTHING ABOUT...

PICK UP CARD!

DENY THE SALE?

Uh... no.

They call for a Code 10, and if the Code 10 Operator says to deny the sale, then they deny it. Otherwise, they are required to accept the card.

DENY THE SALE AS IN YOU DON'T HAVE TO SELL ANYTHING TO ANYBODY

DO A CREDIT REFUND AND LET THE CUSTOMER BE ON THEIR WAY

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AN OUT OF CONTROL BUSINESS HERE...

KEEP THE STUFF AND DO A CREDIT REFUND AND RETURN THE CREDIT CARD AND ID AND LET THE CUSTOMER WALK

or

CALL THE POLICE

or

MAKE A CODE 10 CALL

Once the customer's card is swiped, authorization code gotten, and they sign, the property is now legally the customer's. The store can't simply take it back and do a credit refund.

TO PREVENT A FIGHT I WOULD REQUEST A CREDIT REFUND AND LET THEM KEEP THE STUFF

I always tell the wal-mart greeter to get out of my way or call the cops and charge me with shoplifting - i will not allow them to check my receipt when i leave (ala sam's). One said it was to verify the cashier didn't make a mistake - i told him then they need to find a better way to monitor the cashiers.

I hate places that do that. I used to go to Costco and they'd check the receipt. Ridiculous. The ones at Wal Mart don't bother me because I refuse to shop there. Haven't set foot in one for at least 2 years. I also don't need to be greeted on the way in. It's not the social hour for God's sake.

If a store wants to impress me they can do it by marking sale prices clearly and actually having the sale item in stock during the advertised sale dates and also have the price programmed correctly into the computer so I don't have to point it out to the cashier and wait for them to do a price check while looking at me like I'm some sort of idiot troublemaker trying to ruin their day. I know this is off topic but I just had to vent.

I had a nasty sprained wrist this summer and for several weeks wore a splint on my right wrist. No one even questioned my siggy with that on.

I hate places that do that...kmart in the Bronx does that....they don't even look at it, they scribble something on it and keep it moving

This is an amusing one about stores checking receipts, this time Best Buy: http://www.die.net/musings/bestbuy/

Btw, I would have slapped that girl at the register and gave her a reason to call the police.

YOU ARE ASKING ME FOR A RECEIPT BECAUSE YOU DON'T TRUST YOUR CASHIERS????

Holy smokes!

Attack of the 5 dollar an hour power play clerk.

Switch to CVS.

Wow...why can't anything that exciting happen to me at Wal-Mart???

This is the craziest thing I have ever heard! That clerk overstepped her boundries IMO.

I read doctor's signatures for a living. You should see how they sign there name!

If you didn't have the back pain, you could have done a takedown on that clerk. Just kidding.

What every happened with this, OP?

LAST POST--->Posted on: Feb 18 2006, 10:19 PM