Had a store demand ID for the first time in a while. I had been at this store before, but not purchased anything there. I had observed them checking ID, but never said anything. It could have been an issue with unsigned cards, after all. So, after they demanded ID for credit card use from me, I sent an email complaint to the corporate office.
I got a message back from the store manager which included a number of rather misguided statements such as "we've been asking for ID for years" and "this is a widely used practice in the retail industry." I responded back to corporate with a second message telling them I did not like the store manager's reply. I received another message back from the store manager, which said, "We will discontinue this practice of asking for ID with credit cards." I'm guessing the corporate office chewed this store manager out.
Full Version: Retailer who required ID
QUOTE (thelowpriceleader @ Oct 2 2008, 09:03 PM) 
Had a store demand ID for the first time in a while. I had been at this store before, but not purchased anything there. I had observed them checking ID, but never said anything. It could have been an issue with unsigned cards, after all. So, after they demanded ID for credit card use from me, I sent an email complaint to the corporate office.
I got a message back from the store manager which included a number of rather misguided statements such as "we've been asking for ID for years" and "this is a widely used practice in the retail industry." I responded back to corporate with a second message telling them I did not like the store manager's reply. I received another message back from the store manager, which said, "We will discontinue this practice of asking for ID with credit cards." I'm guessing the corporate office chewed this store manager out.
I got a message back from the store manager which included a number of rather misguided statements such as "we've been asking for ID for years" and "this is a widely used practice in the retail industry." I responded back to corporate with a second message telling them I did not like the store manager's reply. I received another message back from the store manager, which said, "We will discontinue this practice of asking for ID with credit cards." I'm guessing the corporate office chewed this store manager out.
I would send something like this--->I only ask that you ask for ID with unsigned credit cards
(although you should really deny the sale because they didn't sign the card with their name)
Credit card policy does not make ID a requirement to complete the sale
When a store starts asking for ID for the first time in a while it is usually because they recently had some chargebacks and fradulent charges. So the manager tells asll the clerks to ask for ID to solve the problem of expensive fradulent charges.
QUOTE (whar8 @ Oct 3 2008, 08:38 AM)
the first time in a while
I believe the OP meant it was the first time ANY store had demanded ID of him/her in a while (not a previously violating store backsliding).
QUOTE (thelowpriceleader @ Oct 2 2008, 10:03 PM)
Had a store demand ID for the first time in a while. I had been at this store before, but not purchased anything there. I had observed them checking ID, but never said anything. It could have been an issue with unsigned cards, after all. So, after they demanded ID for credit card use from me, I sent an email complaint to the corporate office.
I got a message back from the store manager which included a number of rather misguided statements such as "we've been asking for ID for years" and "this is a widely used practice in the retail industry." I responded back to corporate with a second message telling them I did not like the store manager's reply. I received another message back from the store manager, which said, "We will discontinue this practice of asking for ID with credit cards." I'm guessing the corporate office chewed this store manager out.
I got a message back from the store manager which included a number of rather misguided statements such as "we've been asking for ID for years" and "this is a widely used practice in the retail industry." I responded back to corporate with a second message telling them I did not like the store manager's reply. I received another message back from the store manager, which said, "We will discontinue this practice of asking for ID with credit cards." I'm guessing the corporate office chewed this store manager out.
Excellent work! Thank you for taking the time to make a difference.
It happened to me tonight at Circuit City in Whitehall, PA. I attempted to buy a DVD for $26, and they asked to see ID to make the purchase. I questioned it...My card was signed of course, they told me it was policy, and that Circuit City can make their own rules about taking credit cards. 
I said, "no you cannot, that is a violation of your merchant agreement with MasterCard, which stated you cannot require ID as a condition of the sale."
I told him I would report them, and they could face of fine for this. He didn't care, told I had the right to do so. I did not buy the DVD...It made my spouse mad for a while...because I got mad about this, but I believe he understands now...
I did report them to MasterCard, and I guess I will complain to Circuit City as well...
I know I did the right thing...Just as said to my spouse, we all have to take a stand on this...I did nothing wrong, Circuit City did...
I said, "no you cannot, that is a violation of your merchant agreement with MasterCard, which stated you cannot require ID as a condition of the sale."I told him I would report them, and they could face of fine for this. He didn't care, told I had the right to do so. I did not buy the DVD...It made my spouse mad for a while...because I got mad about this, but I believe he understands now...
I did report them to MasterCard, and I guess I will complain to Circuit City as well...
I know I did the right thing...Just as said to my spouse, we all have to take a stand on this...I did nothing wrong, Circuit City did...
QUOTE (boobie @ Oct 4 2008, 02:02 AM)
It happened to me tonight at Circuit City in Whitehall, PA. I attempted to buy a DVD for $26, and they asked to see ID to make the purchase. I questioned it...My card was signed of course, they told me it was policy, and that Circuit City can make their own rules about taking credit cards. I said, "no you cannot, that is a violation of your merchant agreement with MasterCard, which stated you cannot require ID as a condition of the sale."
I told him I would report them, and they could face of fine for this. He didn't care, told I had the right to do so. I did not buy the DVD...It made my spouse mad for a while...because I got mad about this, but I believe he understands now...
I did report them to MasterCard, and I guess I will complain to Circuit City as well...
I know I did the right thing...Just as said to my spouse, we all have to take a stand on this...I did nothing wrong, Circuit City did...
I said, "no you cannot, that is a violation of your merchant agreement with MasterCard, which stated you cannot require ID as a condition of the sale."I told him I would report them, and they could face of fine for this. He didn't care, told I had the right to do so. I did not buy the DVD...It made my spouse mad for a while...because I got mad about this, but I believe he understands now...
I did report them to MasterCard, and I guess I will complain to Circuit City as well...
I know I did the right thing...Just as said to my spouse, we all have to take a stand on this...I did nothing wrong, Circuit City did...
MERCHANTS DIDN'T WRITE THE MERCHANT POLICY...the credit card companies
(VISA/MC/AMEX/DISCOVER) wrote the policy
QUOTE (GEORGE @ Oct 4 2008, 11:05 AM)
QUOTE (boobie @ Oct 4 2008, 02:02 AM)
It happened to me tonight at Circuit City in Whitehall, PA. I attempted to buy a DVD for $26, and they asked to see ID to make the purchase. I questioned it...My card was signed of course, they told me it was policy, and that Circuit City can make their own rules about taking credit cards. I said, "no you cannot, that is a violation of your merchant agreement with MasterCard, which stated you cannot require ID as a condition of the sale."
I told him I would report them, and they could face of fine for this. He didn't care, told I had the right to do so. I did not buy the DVD...It made my spouse mad for a while...because I got mad about this, but I believe he understands now...
I did report them to MasterCard, and I guess I will complain to Circuit City as well...
I know I did the right thing...Just as said to my spouse, we all have to take a stand on this...I did nothing wrong, Circuit City did...
I said, "no you cannot, that is a violation of your merchant agreement with MasterCard, which stated you cannot require ID as a condition of the sale."I told him I would report them, and they could face of fine for this. He didn't care, told I had the right to do so. I did not buy the DVD...It made my spouse mad for a while...because I got mad about this, but I believe he understands now...
I did report them to MasterCard, and I guess I will complain to Circuit City as well...
I know I did the right thing...Just as said to my spouse, we all have to take a stand on this...I did nothing wrong, Circuit City did...
MERCHANTS DIDN'T WRITE THE MERCHANT POLICY...the credit card companies
(VISA/MC/AMEX/DISCOVER) wrote the policy
In addition to MC, be sure to report violating merchant to Visa as well. Simply call 1-800-VISA-911, press zero twice, and ask to file an "incident report" regarding a merchant violation/merchant who required ID. Crooked merchants shape-up quickly to avoid suspension. Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.
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