topic Re: Asking for ID in Credit Cards

Asking for ID

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:17:27 GMT

I know that credit card agreements used to forbid the merchant requesting additional ID, the signature was sufficient. But I know things have changed so wanted to check here.

Today, for the first time perhaps ever, I was asked for ID as the purchase was above $300. This was at a highish-end sports footware company, where I would guess spending $300+ is pretty common. To avoid a fuss I complied, as a) I look suspicious and b) the fake id matched the stolen card so no prob!

But I am guessing now that even though /MC/A no longer require signatures, merchants still aren't meant to ask? The store uses an old Square-type swipe reader, no chip, so I would guess they would be responsible in a dispute with a issuer of a chipped card (i.e. almost all of them).

Re: Asking for ID

Remedios — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:24:05 GMT

You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686

Re: Asking for ID

Bill77 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:25:00 GMT

This happened to me once. I immediately told the clerk it was against Visa/Mastercard policies and I wasn't showing ID. Left my items on the counter and walked right out. Never been back.

Re: Asking for ID

UncleB — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:58:04 GMT

Just speculation, but it was probably because they're using an old reader and are still swiping cards. Like you mention, in the event of fraud it would very likely automatically fall back on them.

The local USPS office was my last holdout, and they *insisted* - in a way only the USPS and DMV can do - on ID anytime a credit card was used. They didn't just go through the motions, the clerks actually took a good 5-10 seconds to carefully study the names, making sure the info matched for that $7 postage purchase. No problem (like you my info matches) but annoying nonetheless.

As soon as their card reader software was updated to allow the chip readers to be used they stopped asking for IDs. I've (thankfully) not had to use counter service for anything in months, but just a few weeks ago I noticed there's now a contactless logo on the lobby door so apparently they got another update (and joined the modern world).

Re: Asking for ID

Anonymous — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:53:28 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686

Right, I saw similar things after posting. They can ask, but not insist, so long as the card is signed. I do think it's time for the classic "Do you know who I AM?????" when the whole point is no, they don't!

Re: Asking for ID

creditfan — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 22:56:31 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686

based on this article you can argue if your credit cards are signed.

The funny thing is I never sign my cards

Re: Asking for ID

UncleB — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 23:01:29 GMT

@creditfan wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686
based on this article you can argue if your credit cards are signed.

The funny thing is I never sign my cards

New credit cards from U.S. Bank don't have a signature panel at all.

Some of my others that do have the panel no longer have language about "Authorized Signature" that used to be ubiquitous.

Re: Asking for ID

xenon3030 — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 23:03:19 GMT

It is weird to request ID for a purchase in store (except liquors).

Regarding signature, seveal cards might not have one (using disinfectants can wipe the ink). Anyway, one person was recommending to avoid putting signature on the back of the cards and simply, write in its signature part "check ID". The conern was that at some places like restaurants, they pick-up the CC from the table and they may copy the card and the "signature" may get stolen easily. I am not sure whether it is good to follow this advice but several of my cards right now do not have signauture, due to using disinfectant at the middle of pandemic

For store pick-ups, several places need ID and they may scan them with their crappy old systems. At Macy's it seems that they NEED to scan the card with their crappy systems.

Re: Asking for ID

Remedios — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 23:44:58 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686
Right, I saw similar things after posting. They can ask, but not insist, so long as the card is signed. I do think it's time for the classic "Do you know who I AM?????" when the whole point is no, they don't!

My only concern with handing out DL comes from personal experience, I wasn't born with neurotypical brain, so if I see your license,I'll probably retain image for years if not longer.

While I understand that it isn't common, that's my beef with showing ID unless absolutely necessary.

I'd know who you are, I'd know where you live, and I'd probably notice you lied about your hight and weight next time I saw you.

Re: Asking for ID

Credit12Fico — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:26:40 GMT

Should have left whatever it was on the counter and walked out.

Re: Asking for ID

NoMoreE46 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:39:46 GMT

I believe there was a training video for the USPS clerks to ask to ID for credit card tranaactions up until 2019. Keep in mind that their training videos are typically years behind the industry standards and norms....

Re: Asking for ID

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 00:38:30 GMT

@Remedios wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686
Right, I saw similar things after posting. They can ask, but not insist, so long as the card is signed. I do think it's time for the classic "Do you know who I AM?????" when the whole point is no, they don't!

My only concern with handing out DL comes from personal experience, I wasn't born with neurotypical brain, so if I see your license,I'll probably retain image for years if not longer.
While I understand that it isn't common, that's my beef with showing ID unless absolutely necessary.
I'd know who you are, I'd know where you live, and I'd probably notice you lied about your hight and weight next time I saw you.

Yes, and for those without that ability, the store can easily scan or photo the ID giving that unwanted info. Some of my government ids don't have much useful info (really all I would care about is address), so the Global Entry card only gives DOB away. (Green card has too many CBP IDs that for all I know are gateways to misuse)

And I have NEVER lied about my height and weight! I am big boned, but also short boned, so I look smaller and heavier than I really am (8ft 2in, 37lbs as it says on my DL)

Re: Asking for ID

Pway — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 01:38:27 GMT

I have no problem showing my driver license. I would hate for fraud to happen on one of my cards. Not saying it can't still happen but I prefer to be extra safe. On top of waiting for another card to come in the mail.

Re: Asking for ID

bigseegar — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 11:21:32 GMT

Personally I've never had an issue if they ask. Matter of fact for years I wrote "Ask For ID" on the Sig Strip. I've always been of the opinion security is a good thing.

Re: Asking for ID

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:23:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Remedios wrote:
You should have argued vigorously

https://www.thebalance.com/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases-3974686
Right, I saw similar things after posting. They can ask, but not insist, so long as the card is signed. I do think it's time for the classic "Do you know who I AM?????" when the whole point is no, they don't!

Hmm ... most all my new cards do not have raised info and do not have a place to sign! In fact, the info is on the back side.

Re: Asking for ID

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:30:31 GMT

@bigseegar wrote:
Personally I've never had an issue if they ask. Matter of fact for years I wrote "Ask For ID" on the Sig Strip. I've always been of the opinion security is a good thing.

That was always against the cardmember agreement

Re: Asking for ID

bigseegar — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:02:53 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@bigseegar wrote:
Personally I've never had an issue if they ask. Matter of fact for years I wrote "Ask For ID" on the Sig Strip. I've always been of the opinion security is a good thing.
That was always against the cardmember agreement

LOL! I owned a business for years that took cards and I can't begin to tell you the thousands of cards I've seen that also had that on them. Even had folks get upset if we didn't ask. Lots of things are "against" both the card member and the merchant agreement that happen in real life.

Re: Asking for ID

iced — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:21:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@bigseegar wrote:
Personally I've never had an issue if they ask. Matter of fact for years I wrote "Ask For ID" on the Sig Strip. I've always been of the opinion security is a good thing.
That was always against the cardmember agreement

And yet countless people did it without consequence anyway.

In the days of glorious ignorance when states used things like SSN for your DL number, I could see a bigger concern over sharing an ID with someone that wasn't absolutely necessary. These days? Meh. Everything on a DL is already stored on thousands of servers all over the Internet, so it's as good as public information anyway.

The tech exists today to scan someone and pull up all that information automatically for a clerk so they don't have to ask, though we'll probably not move too much in that direction since mobile payments supplant the need to verify who someone is and will be ubiquitous in the future.

Re: Asking for ID

xenon3030 — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:26:27 GMT

The main concern to avoid putting signature was only restaurants in the US (pick up CC from the customer's table to sweep it behind their own desk). Not sure why they do this and whether they may hide something from customers, while in Eurpoe, the restaurants would never do it. To prevent it, it might be better to pay with Android/Apple Pay for dining.

This might be one of the reasons that identity theft issues are far less in Europe (some other reasons: collecting significant amount of unnecessary personal information at various locations without sufficient data protection).

Re: Asking for ID

iced — Wed, 17 Aug 2022 13:27:25 GMT

@xenon3030 wrote:
The main concern to avoid putting signature was only restaurants in the US (pick up CC from the customer's table to sweep it behind their own desk). Not sure why they do this and whether they may hide something from customers, while in Eurpoe, the restaurants would never do it. To prevent it, it might be better to pay with Android/Apple Pay for dining.

This might be one of the reasons that identity theft issues are far less in Europe.

The good news is it seems the pandemic finally dislodged the US from its stubborn old ways. In 2019, I not once dined in a sit-down restaurant in the US that brought the reader to the table. Since then, around 50% of the restaurants I've dined in now bring the reader to the table and you do it right there.