Is a Business Required to Accept CC Payment?

[ryanbush]

negative, they can demand and ID or refuse to accept the credit card.  how else would they prevent stolen cards to be used?

[Exonumist]

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@ryanbush wrote:

negative, they can demand and ID or refuse to accept the credit card.  how else would they prevent stolen cards to be used?

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This is only if the back of the card does not have a signature. If there is a signature and they want an id as a term of accepting the card they are in violation of their merchant agreement. If it says see id or has no signature technically they are supposed to ask for an id and then assuming it matches watch you sign the card before they accept it. If the card is not signed it's technically not valid.

[Dustink]

The card is not valid unless signed. If that is the case, the merchant may ask for ID. Then require the customer to sign the card and ensure the signature on the ID matches the one on the card.

A merchant is not allowed to ID you if the card is signed. It violates the terms of the agreement with the card processor.

Many merchants ignore this rule and ask for ID. Many times it is the merchant who loses money when there is fraudulent activity on a card, which is why the merchants ask for ID.

As for not accepting CC's. That is entirely up to them. They can pretty much come up with any reason they want to request cash. Unless they are doing so to avoid taxes, nobody is really going to stop them.

[Lucid08]

Thanks for the replies all!

I didnt want to go into great detail about the specifics behind my question, but suffice it to say that the CC/swipe machines were working fine. A co-worker visited a local mechanic and had some work done. When it came time to pay, she attempted to use her VISA(as it was prominently displayed in the front door glass) but was told that she had to pay with cash. I was under the impression that a merchant was required to accept any CC that they advertised they accepted. This was not a matter of minimums either, as this repair cost her about $1100.

[john398]

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@Default4 wrote:

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@ryanbush wrote:

negative, they can demand and ID or refuse to accept the credit card.  how else would they prevent stolen cards to be used?

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This is only if the back of the card does not have a signature. If there is a signature and they want an id as a term of accepting the card they are in violation of their merchant agreement. If it says see id or has no signature technically they are supposed to ask for an id and then assuming it matches watch you sign the card before they accept it. If the card is not signed it's technically not valid.

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I wonder how they get away with it than...

SIx Flags says:

PAYMENT

We gladly accept American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover Card for park admission, in gift shops and at most food locations with proper identification. Checks and traveler's checks are not accepted.

[Walt_K]

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@john398 wrote:

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@Default4 wrote:

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@ryanbush wrote:

negative, they can demand and ID or refuse to accept the credit card.  how else would they prevent stolen cards to be used?

---

This is only if the back of the card does not have a signature. If there is a signature and they want an id as a term of accepting the card they are in violation of their merchant agreement. If it says see id or has no signature technically they are supposed to ask for an id and then assuming it matches watch you sign the card before they accept it. If the card is not signed it's technically not valid.

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I wonder how they get away with it than...

SIx Flags says:

PAYMENT

We gladly accept American Express, MasterCard, VISA and Discover Card for park admission, in gift shops and at most food locations with proper identification. Checks and traveler's checks are not accepted.

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IIRC, their merchant agreement says they cannot demand ID as a condition of sale.  I don't think it prevents them from asking for it.  So there's likely no issue here so long as they don't actually refuse to conclude a purchase if the customer will not provide ID. 

[john398]

oh ok thanks Walt