So, I stopped by a 24 hour Wal-Mart and cashier freaking demanded an ID. I told her I don't give personal info to strangers.

Customer service manager showed up and I presented him with the official VISA policy. He states
"We don't have any agreement with VISA and our store policies take precedence over VISA and regardless of what VISA says, it's my store and I can require ID". He's obviously not aware of the policy and after spending five minutes reading through the print out, he threatened to have me trespassed by saying "I can ask you to leave the store without paying too, maybe you shouldn't be shopping at Wal-Mart".

I had him call an assistant manager who was working the night and he too said "it's store policy"and that they don't have to follow VISA rules.

I asked him to write out that his store does not have to follow VISA policies and sign it, but he refused. I think they make up rules and bully customers with BS they invent on the spot. Clearly he did not know the policy enough to be able to put it in writing.

We went back and forth for 20 minutes and I was forced to pay cash.

I don't really understand why people are so stupid and arrogant about this matter and they take it personally. It seems to me if I was working in some place and a customer tried to tell me something, unless I knew definitely and could produce documentation I would take it under advisement and say something like I'll find out etc. But most people I run into take great offense, even though I try to be very polite about it, and act like I'm insulting their own personal religion or something.
Did you ask if they had a written policy? It will be interesting to see what corporate Wal-Mart says. I've asked that they have the managers calll and give me a personal apology, and they have (not Wal-Mart, I've never had a problem there) but Lowe's and the post office have.

People don't like to be challenged in their personal fiefdom and told they're wrong. Makes them defensive just to prove a point. To be honest, it's not unlike actually carrying around VISA policy in one's wallet, just the opposite point-of-view.

As far as not knowing VISA policy, I'd bet they know. I'd bet they're just being stubborn.

The print out I mentioned is the VISA official policy. The guy spent five minutes reading back and forth, then made up a statement Wal-Mart is not under contract with VISA and they don't have to abide it. I told him to put that down on that sheet in writing and sign it. He refused.

Wow.. you know IF walmart really do have a corporate policy, that requires them ask for ID, they should ensure it is done NATIONWIDE.
Just last night, I was at walmart, and I saw with my own eyes, the Cashier ask a lady infront of me for an ID. The lady showed her ID and that was it. But when I paid, I made small talk with the cashier, and I just got off work, so I was dressed sharply, in a Suit, Tie, etc. I purchased over $100 of stuff and goodies. Did she ask me for my id???? NOOOO, she did not!@!#$!#$!!

In addition, what about the auto cashier machines, where you check yourself out. Ive used those and paid with my credit card, No once have they asked for ID.

Someone once told me, that Walmart,has a policy to ask for ID over a certain amount... Does this sound right to anyone?

But, i never mind or care, if retailers ask for ID'S. If I was a store owner, I would probably set a policy to ask for ID, at a certain amount. I understand the VISA/MASTERCARD Has Policies the require people who have merchant accounts to not demand for ID, but is VISA/MASTERCARD going to reimburse the merchant for accepting a bad credit card??? I think NOT.

The victim of credit card fraud has a ZERO liability, but not the MERCHANT. If a merchant never asks for ID, theifs would evenutally find out and wipe out the stores, and stores would acquire Great lose with no reimbusement.

Thats my two cents =o)

Oh, yeah, I forgot to ADD.,
Walmart IS under contract to follow VISA/MASTERCARD merchant services agreement.
When you accept a merchant account, it goes without saying,that you agree to their terms and conditions. But managers at the store level would not know this. The corporate offices knows im sure, but they are probably willing to take a risk, knowing that VISA is going to terminate their merchant account for asking for ID. Walmart creates HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of Dollars for VISA < overtime>.

Perhaps they can make the merchants fee less favorable at next negotiation though, if their non-compliance causes a boat load of complaints.


Also, if you were the business owner and you require ID in violation of policy and your employee was even remotely connected to misuse of customer's private info, would you voluntarily assume ALL liability?

Let's say a friend of cashier didn't like certain person and asked his cashier friend to remember his address so he can go prank them.
Are you going to assume ALL liability associated with that prank, or for that matter, misappropriation of private information obtained in the course of your employee's scope of work whether the actual mischief occurred on shift or not?

Misuse of confidential data is nothing unusual.

How do you think yet to be released softwares or other internal stuff leaks out? dishonest employees.

Thats the risk of doing business in general! You have to weight the benefits over the cons....
I happen to Manage a large CU, and I must say,
The risk of Credit card fraud and not being reimbursed is greater than having an employee misuse a customers information.
In any business your going to have employee misuse and dishonesty. 40% of Retail shrink is caused by Employees.

In a case where an employee misuses a customer information to committ illegal acts, the company isnt automacally held 100% accountable. If the company can prove that they used reasonalble measures to protect the consumers information, provided proper training the to employee and Acted reasonably once they discovered fraud has been commited. Basically, once a business owner discovers fraud has been commited, or other illegal act, by an employee... did they act? did the company call the police and report the crime? did they take action against the employee?

Just so you know, at our CU,we require 2 forms of Id, for a VISA/MASTERCARD CASH advance. Whats the difference in making a point of sale purchase. The Visa/Master Policy doesnt specify when or when not to ask for ID, based on a point of sale or cash advance.

Most consumers, if they were taking a cash advance, woulnt not mind, being asked for ID. So, why would they mind a point of sale purchase

Why should the customers bear the burden of extra risk created by businesses disregarding contractual terms that holds them accountable to following the policy so the customers can use their card as allowed in their card holder's agreement? VISA & MasterCard don't say business owners are allowed to bend the rules to make them more favorable to them at the risk of cardholders.

Since when are business owners more entitled to customers personal information than customers entitled to business owners information for comfort? If I was buying something from a small business and they want all my information to make them feel safe just in case they're screwed over, maybe I want all the personal information of the sole proprietor just in case I have a problem with the product/service and need to track him down to sue him.




Retail employees have very high turnover rates and I don't have faith in them to follow strict codes of confidentiality. The fact that employee theft is a major source of loss for the company pretty much speaks for itself that employees have a great propensity to not act in the interest of the customer or his employer.



As a manager of CU, I think you are aware that CASH ADVANCE is one of the very few UNIQUE transactions that permits you to ask for government issued ID as defined in merchants manual.

Generally, do you believe that a contractual terms between your credit union and your customers shouldn't be valid as long as that customers could demonstrate that violating your policy would be in their favor?

Personally, I would not be concerned with sharing my ID with my own financial institution as they already have all my info anyways and they're trained better at protecting customer confidentiality.

I *DO* have an issue with granting access to personal information to some 16 year old punk paid minimum wage at the movie theatre or some minimum wage Wal-Mart cashier. If the business owner is refusing to accept the risk of accepting credit cards without an ID, he shouldn't have signed the contract.

(with Wal-Mart being an exception since they can pretty much bully their way through everyone)

I think the only time I've ever had to show ID at Wal-Mart was to prove I was over 17 to buy a movie. I was paying cash, but it was an R-rated movie.

Never been asked for ID for using my credit/debit/check card.

Wal Mart's self checkout prompts to check ID if the purchase is greater than $100. This software is misprogrammed by NCR (and Wal Mart isn't the only store to get this bum software) and should be getting fixed.

Also, Wal Mart randomly flags certain transactions for a signature verifification. In this case a paper slip prints for you to sign or your signature is printed on the receipt right above the return barcode. The message on the cashier screen is COMPARE SIGNATURES ON CARD AND SLIP. This is commonly, commonly, and I mean commonly confused as a prompt to check ID by many locations. However, it is not a prompt to check ID.

To the poster who proposes checking ID if the transaction is over a certain amount... okay, sure. What amount? $500? Some unusual, abnormally high amount? For those amounts it may be worth it to just make a code 10 call the routine means of authorization rather than immediately asking for ID. Remember, the crooks can make fake ID's, too. And if they are trying to spend a lot you can bet they'll be prepared. But if you do the code 10 call and get authorization that way, you are guaranteed payment no matter what happens.

You are reimbursed as a merchant for accepting a stolen card if you take all of the steps required (swipe card, match signatures, respond to chargeback). If you accept a "bad" card, then you may be on the hook. A bad card being, I don't know, a fake card... a card with a changed magnetic strip, an unsigned card, etc. Even if you asked for ID with a "bad" card, you'd still be on the hook... It makes no difference.

They didn't even push the transaction through. They demanded ID before even asking me to sign anything.

Customers shouldn't have to bear the burden of having their privacy violated to minimum wage monkeys to avoid the store losses occurring as a result of improper trained, plain dumb, or negligent employees.

What is the reason behind VISA MC policy to not require cardholder to show ID? Anyone know? Just curious?

Make your own thread. This isn't question the policy thread.

I wasn't trying to threadjack. I thought it was close enough to topic to ask. I just didn't understand what the big deal was with showing ID, so I was trying to understand the policy itself. Sorry...newbie mistake

You are very Rude!
The previous poster is more than welcome to ask questions regarding visa/master policy!....
It seems to me, you might have something to HIDE, thats why, you get offended when you are asked for ID.

You are more than welcome to ask questions! and your particular question, IS relevant to the topic!.. That posted is just upset for some ODD reason.
That is what CB is all about, asking , sharing, and giving advice on varies of questions!>..

How can W-M accept VISA cards if they have no agreement with them?

HOW RUDE. If I don't let them violate my rights, then I have something to hide?

It seems to me you think they shouldn't have to follow rules they disagree with, you admitted thus far that if you're a business owner, you'd violate the policy you don't agree with, so I'm not surprised.

Immediately call 1-800-VISA-911. Make sure that horribly-behaving Walmart shapes-up and never asks for ID again.

Never show ID for signed credit card 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.

No ID required for signed credit card purchases.

Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

Visa or Mastercard will not do anything against Wal-mart. They are too scared of them. They lost a lawsuit (Which I think they should of keep fighting) that Wal-mart & other retailers filed against them.

Just curious - what lawsuit are you refering to?

http://www.out-law.com/page-2668


Nytimes


Even through it is not on those website, Visa and Mastercard did settle instead of fighting it.

so..... after reading this, i'm wondering....

who carries the VISA/MC policies around with them?

seriously.

I do

They're in my wallet... right next to the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, and full-size stone replicas of the Ten Commandments.

I know for a Fact GEORGE does also

I don't feel like causing a scene - but I work in retail and when I've had known stolen cc's that aren't flagged go through, I have told the cashiers to ask for ID - especially because they're buying prepaid Amex and Visa's with their stolen visa's.

In addition to the Visa/MC rules, Walmart prohibits employees from asking for ID. Double insurance against crooks and violations.

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 picture 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.

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 International, c/o Radio City Station, P. O. Box 1288, New York, NY 10101. 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.

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 issued your Visa card.

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."

I know better




You would

Ask Visa and MC. (meant to be in a serious tone, not sarcastic or mean).

I just don't get why so many merchants think they need to check IDs and yet won't take on the big guys. If checking IDs is sooo crucial to managing chargebacks, then take it to class action and get the policy removed.

You don't change policies by just arbitrarily making up your own. Ii know the speed limit on my road is 40 but I routinely do 55. If the cop pulls me over do I say "I can't drive 40 and stay in business"? No. If I had the power to change speed limits I'd take it up with my city and state, not the cops. Merchants are making up their own rules that are in direct contradiction to Visa and Mastercard. Take it up with Visa and MC, not your customers!

You want minimums? Take it up with Visa and MC
You want fees? Take it up with Visa and MC.

In the mean time the signature is the method of security the credit card industry chose to implement. Until the chip-pin system comes stateside the signature method is what I'm going to stick to.

That is because IDing is a store policy. No retailer has a policy to even ask for ID at the corporate level.

Macys West policy is to ask for ID and call for authorization if the customer does not have ID however this is only in certain stores (from the best I can tell, all stores in CA, AZ, and NV and scattered stores in the rest of their states). The other Macys Divisions (Macys Florida, Macys East, etc.) do not have this policy and it is not a national policy for Macys dictated by their corporate office.

Fiefdom? I wouldn't say that a store, especially a Walmart, is any store employee's "fiefdom." They are there to serve the customer. Without the customer, there would be no store. The fact that the store manager was rude, refused to even consider the idea that the customer was right, and then refused to produce any written store policy, shows that they are out of line, which is what I would expect at Walmart.

I remember going to a Foot locker once (these "ask for ID" policies are always at stores like Foot locker, Champs, etc for some reason), and seeing a teenager of a certain ethnic persuasion produce a gold Amex card and a cheaply laminated student ID which I could tell from several feet away was completely fake, and the cashier accepted it. If they are really concerned about this kind of fraud, maybe they should lobby the credit card industry to start using "Chip and PIN" as they do now in the UK and have in France for years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chip_and_PIN

Has anyone here been asked to allow a hotel to photocopy ID at check-in? I've experienced that at several hotels in South Beach (and I refused and ended up staying elsewhere since the manager would not override the policy). When I asked why they wanted to photocopy the ID, the manager at first stated that it was for in case I got locked out of my room AND lost my wallet, and they needed to see my picture to know who I was. When I said that I could just verify information such as my name, room number, and even address/telephone/email on the reservation and that wouldn't the "real" guest come back and find me sleeping in his bed, he then said that it was in case of a chargeback. I asked him how many photocopies they have (several thousands was his answer) and how long they keep them (12 months). Then I told him that if someone really wanted to do a chargeback, there are plenty of chargeback reasons that having an ID photocopy would not help them out with. Customers could say that they checked out early, but were still billed several days, or that they got the room rate wrong, or that the hotel quality was bad and they ended up not staying there even for one night. He didn't have any response to that. He also didn't care when I told him that having ID photocopies there at the front desk, in a file cabinet, puts their customers at risk for identity theft. He told me I could stay elsewhere if I didn't like the policy.

I wonder if hotels are also covered under the MC/Visa rules.

My Walmart CLEARLY profiles who they ask for ID and who they don't and Ive seen it and experienced it repeatedly. But here's the catch. It's not the profiling you would think! The Walmart I frequent is in a "rough" section of town. Many black people and hispanics shop there...very few white people (I am one). Guess who gets ID'ed at the checkout by the black and hispanic cashiers and who doesnt? I get ID'ed everytime but the blacks and hispanics in front of me never get ID'ed, even on purchases larger than mine on various forms of plastic. It's quite infuriating so I just pay cash now.

(No, Im not racist or anything of the sort. It's a honest observation.)

..but they clearly are. Immediately call 1-800-VISA-911. Make sure those crooked cashiers shape-up and never ask for ID again.

Never show ID for signed credit card 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.

No ID required for signed credit card purchases.

Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

Interesting. There's a motel in the next state over that I've stayed in twice that has a sign saying that by order of the local police department, for Homeland Security reasons , that a photo copy of everyone's ID must be made and kept. The first time they didn;t ask me. The second time they did, and I said it was buried in my car somewhere and they blew it off and said don't worry about it. I've always meant to contact the police department and find out if that was true on their part, but I never did.

Interesting. Showing my id I do not have a problem, copying my id is a completely different matter. The reason in some states, it against state law to copy id.

Uncle Leo, maybe you should find out if that is true. Also, does Homeland Security override current state laws?

Maybe you or someone else can find states the forbid copying of an ID or Drivers license info. Then post it here.

Yeah, except your privacy, security, and you've just let a company step all over your rights.
No complaint forms to fill out.... until someone uses your personal info to open up accounts in your name.

The only “complaint form” to fill out is

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

..which only takes a few seconds and even a small child can easily do. If you can’t handle that simply call 1-800-300-3069 and they’ll do it for you.

I do not know why your quoted what is in my signature for. I already discuss this with others in another thread.

But since you posted that. They found out my name address phone number and signed up for an account at auto trader. I have have not showed my id at any merchants recently except one, which is local. Anyway if it was her, which I doubt it. She could of found out my info by looking up my name in the phone book. I suspect this merchant at Mall that did this, because of the way they both studied the card. This merchant is located out of town and didn't require ID.

Obviously it a major security and identity theft risk, extreme invasion of privacy, and a no-brainer to keep your ID to yourself. The most important thing is making sure it never happens again and if any other violating merchant pops-up in your community, make sure they are eliminated/brought back into line immediately - 1-800-VISA-911. Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

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 picture 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.

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. 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.

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.

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."

When the guy said "I can ask you to leave the store without paying" I'd of said "I can leave this ****hole myself and shop at <insert competitor here>"

If you store doesn't want to follow the rules, then you aren't worthy of having me shop there.

No one should be inconvenienced by having to shop elsewhere. In addition to the Visa/MC rules, Walmart forbids employees from asking for ID. Idiot you-show-us-ID-or-GTFO-of-my-store assistant manager must be fired/disciplined/retrained at once. You compare the signature on the back of the credit card with the signature on the receipt. ID should never be asked for at all. No one should ever be put through such nonsense.

CREDIT CARDS were intended to be FASTER and EASIER than cash

When you add in the ID GARBAGE it is neither faster nor easier than cash

(not that I'm gonna' pay cash nor am I going to show ID)

How would a cashier perform a code 10 to verify?
I don't understand?

They call the CC number on the back of your card and speak to a representative.

The relevant sections regarding NO ID can be easily folded down into a small credit card sized rectangle, which can be easily carried in any wallet, and may be quite useful should you ever encounter a violating merchant demanding ID.

THE PRINTED CREDIT CARD POLICY TAKES UP LESS ROOM
IN MY WALLET THEN EXPENSIVE CASH WOULD