A video store where I had been going to for over 20 yrs used to only require a name and phone number, now they said my old account expired and they want either my credit card number or driver's licence number plus a 50 dollar deposit to rent a video. I said I had no problem showing them my driver's licence and leaving the deposit, but was not willing to give them the numbers for either my licence or credit card. They said that hotels and car rentals require a credit card, but my gut feeling told me that I shouldn't give them to some minimum wage types at a video store, especially since employees come and go every other month. Am I right or just being paranoid? If what they are doing is wrong, who can I report them to?

Its legal and legitimate... if you rent several movies then skip town they can charge your credit card account. Apparently they might have had a larger number of people doing just that so they apply it to everyone equally.

This is very common. I started renting videos back in '82 and had to show a license and card even back then.

If it's Blockbuster or Hollywood Video, it's policy for them.

Do you have a credit card? If so, I would leave that. It's a lot easier to monitor to make sure there are no unauthorized charges, then to worry about your driver's license # used for identity theft.

Thanks for the replies everyone, I have both a licence and credit card, but I'm not comfortable giving either one to these people. A departing employee could take the info with them and run up all kinds of charges, so I figure better safe than sorry.

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Originally Posted by earl237

Thanks for the replies everyone, I have both a licence and credit card, but I'm not comfortable giving either one to these people. A departing employee could take the info with them and run up all kinds of charges, so I figure better safe than sorry.

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Legally your credit card liability is limited to $50. Usually, if you report misuse in a timely fashion, the card issuer won't charge you anything. So I would not be worried about a low level video store clerk racking up lots of charges.

Like I said, it would be more of an identity theft problem if they used your driver's license because it might be harder to prove and longer before you catch it. With a credit card, you catch unauthorized charges in the next billing cycle at the latest.

I've had 3-4 instances of unauthorized charges. The last time was with a Discover card. I reported the charges immediately and they were removed entirely. When there were more in the next billing cycle, the account was closed and replaced. I was not out one penny out of pocket.

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Originally Posted by ScottGem

Legally your credit card liability is limited to $50. Usually, if you report misuse in a timely fashion, the card issuer won't charge you anything. So I would not be worried about a low level video store clerk racking up lots of charges.

Like I said, it would be more of an identity theft problem if they used your driver's license because it might be harder to prove and longer before you catch it. With a credit card, you catch unauthorized charges in the next billing cycle at the latest.

I've had 3-4 instances of unauthorized charges. The last time was with a Discover card. I reported the charges immediately and they were removed entirely. When there were more in the next billing cycle, the account was closed and replaced. I was not out one penny out of pocket.

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Same here... credit card company in my case actually rejected the charges on the spot then notified me.. (fell outside my pattern in a different part of the country).. they replaced the card with a new one before I even saw anything on a statement.

Or get yourself a pay as you go credit card put 50 bucks on it.

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Originally Posted by mogrann

or get yourself a pay as you go credit card put 50 bucks on it.

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That's a really good idea, I see most stores sell pay as you go cards, they would be good for internet purchases too.

It is of course always your choice, you can choose to stop renting videos from them and try to find a place that will rent to you without this. ** or use some of the online services, to watch on computer. Or some of the paid TV services to watch movies.
** all of which will normally also require your credit card.

If this is a small local owned store, ask to talk to the owner and make a case of your long time membership.

But yes, this is done at any movie rental place in US, I know of.