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Taztippy · Dec 27, 2007, 06:43 PM

On all my credit cards, I sign them and also put on CHECK ID. Today, as I was making my purchase with my credit card, the clerk read the back of the card and told me it was against the law to ask a customer for ID. If she did, she could get fined and the store could loose its credit card contract. I could not believe this. The clerk truly is our last defense for credit card fraud. I asked if she at least compared signatures on the receipt and the card and she said yes but even if they did not match, she could not keep the card or stop the purchase. I cannot believe this! Has anyone ever heard of this before?

Can anyone send me to a site that shows she is wrong so I can print it out and send it to her?

Thank you.

ISneezeFunny · Dec 27, 2007, 06:58 PM

... where are you from? What state/country?

Fr_Chuck · Dec 27, 2007, 07:01 PM

I know of no such laws, in fact many stores do this, This may be a store policy, if you shop there all the time, ask to see the manager and ask him, it is possible the girl was lazy and the manager needed to know.

If they do this, then let your money speak, stop shoping there, write the store and let them know that you will not shop where you can't trust the safety of your credit cards.

Stores have to ask for ID, esp where people are buying cigarettes, or beer.
I have to show an ID often, and all the time when I go to write a check.
Just try to write a check at walmart if you have not done so for a while,

excon · Dec 27, 2007, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by Taztippy

told me it was against the law to ask a customer for ID. If she did, she could get fined and the store could loose its credit card contract.

Hello Taz:

It's not against the law, but I wouldn't hold that against the clerk. I hear people misquote the law here all the time.

It IS against the credit card contract. They don't want their customers hassled when they present their credit card. It's a policy that I agree with. I'm NEVER asked for my ID when I use my credit card. I'd be insulted if I were.

It's NOT the store clerk who's responsible for identity theft - he's not a cop. If the signature on the card matches the signature on the sales slip, then they're good to go. You should leave it at that.

excon

ScottGem · Dec 27, 2007, 07:38 PM

In less computerized times the reporting stolen cards took time to filter down to the stores. Now, within hours of reporting a card stolen, a stop is put into the database and when the card is swiped it will be rejected. So ID checking is not necessary. Also, if there is a fraudulent use of your card, the most you could be responsible for is $50.

So, the card issuers want to make using the cards as quick and painless as possible.

margarita_momma · Jan 3, 2008, 02:29 PM

Actually what she said is only partially true. I work for Walmart as a cashier. We are told to not ask to see the card when the customer swipes it, if it rings up to check ID then we should ignore it and if signatures don't match we are not allowed to question that. I have kids coming through the store all the time using their parent's credit cards. I don't know if they have permission to or not but I am not allowed to ask or say anything about it. The signature screen is worthless. I know people that just come through and draw a line on the screen or sign Santa Claus instead of actually signing it. Nothing will ever be done unless the customer calls the card company and says it is stolen. If someone tries to use a stolen card, it just tells us that the card is invalid. We are not allowed to take the card from the customer. Its just the card company's way of making using their cards more convenient. :)

Emland · Jan 3, 2008, 02:38 PM

I worked for a major issuer and I hate to tell you this, but they could care less about identity theft. The issuer makes money whether the transaction is legit or not. A cardholder need not worry about fraudlent or unauthorized charges, because those will be removed from the cardmember's account. The one that gets the shaft is the merchant who has to pay transaction fees when the sale is made and again when it is reversed and in many cases they have to eat the loss of the merchandise.

I asked my trainer why can't the issuers simply require everyone to use a PIN or require a notorized application or something similar. The answer is because it would slow down and reduce the number of transactions.

SEE ID is the worst thing you can put on your signature line. All I have to do is steal your card, make up a plausible ID on my Paint Shop program and print out on my trusty laser printer and my name is suddenly your name and my signature on my ID will match the signature at the merchant.

Credit issuers and Banks could stop these scams and thefts, but it would cut into the bottom line.

Ninaloca · Jan 4, 2008, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by excon

Hello Taz:

It's not against the law, but I wouldn't hold that against the clerk. I hear people misquote the law here all the time.

It IS against the credit card contract. They don't want their customers hassled when they present their credit card. It's a policy that I agree with. I'm NEVER asked for my ID when I use my credit card. I'd be insulted if I were.

It's NOT the store clerk who's responsible for identity theft - he's not a cop. If the signature on the card matches the signature on the sales slip, then they're good to go. You should leave it at that.

excon

I am actually alarmed that people don't check ID much anymore. I work as a sales clerk and we are required to check all IDs no matter what the amount of the transaction and it only takes a few seconds. I had my Visa Check Card recently stolen and even though my picture was on it, it was still used not only online but also in-stores.

Now, at the place where I work we are not allowed to confiscate the card lest the thief realize he/she has been caught. We are told to tell the customer, "I'm sorry but your card has been declined", refuse the transaction and leave it at that... if the screen says "Lost/Stolen card" if they don't have a valid PIN or ID we just say "I'm sorry, but I can't accept that without a valid ID".

Far from being insulted, I'm very grateful when people check my ID and I make sure to tell them that.

Ninaloca · Jan 4, 2008, 06:15 PM

Found a nice little link that tells all about laws and such on merchants and credit cards! Enjoy!

Merchant Laws

Fastfun1 · Feb 3, 2008, 06:11 PM

It's hilarious that I found this thread. I was in a major retail store yesterday. I made a purchase of roughly $60.00 and opted to use my wife's credit card, of which I am not a signer. The cashier asked to see my ID, looked at it, gave it back to me and processed the transaction. The best part, the card has my wife's maiden name??