topic Re: showing ID to cashiers in Credit Cards

showing ID to cashiers

in0wh3r3ul1v3 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:32:22 GMT

it was my understanding that a merchant cannot ask to see your ID when making a CC purchase.

just had an argument with a lady in my school's bookstore who refused to swipe my amex without seeing my ID. eventually i paid cash and left. i was kind of in a hurry.

was i in the wrong?

Re: showing ID to cashiers

mxp114 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:36:35 GMT

AFAIK merchants can ask for ID but cannot make it a condition of the sale. I always decline ID and simply tell them that by demanding it, it's a violation of the merchant agreement and they always back down lol I find it silly how you can go into Best Buy and buy a $4000 TV without ID but a small gift shop wants to card you for $8.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

cdtotten — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:39:45 GMT

This topic has been discussed multiple times on the forums - I'd do a search to find those topics.

That being said, if memory serves me correctly, the merchant does not have the right according to their merchant agreement to see a photo I.D.. By signing the card, you agree to the terms and conditions with that creditor and your agreement is with them, not the merchant. If the card is not signed, then it is a different story.

You will always have stores that ask for an ID in an attempt to limit fraud, but from what I understand, you have the ability to report the merchant to the card provider (mastercard, visa) and alert them they denied you usage.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

KingAdrock — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:46:04 GMT

@mxp114 wrote:
AFAIK merchants can ask for ID but cannot make it a condition of the sale. I always decline ID and simply tell them that by demanding it, it's a violation of the merchant agreement and they always back down lol I find it silly how you can go into Best Buy and buy a $4000 TV without ID but a small gift shop wants to card you for $8.

This is correct. Merchants can ask for ID, (and they should, IMO) but per VISA, MC and Amex rules they cannot refuse the transaction if you don't have it, unless the items are age restricted. (ie booze or tobacco)

The CCC's seem to honestly think signature verification is sufficient to thart CC fraud. *facepalm*

Re: showing ID to cashiers

mxp114 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:49:59 GMT

What is the point of showing ID? I'm sincerely curious about that. If someone has a fake ID or even an ill-intentioned cardholder using their own card, do you expect the cashier to remember they saw a customers ID weeks/months later when a chargeback hits? They should just go with smartchips and PINs.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

scottwagnon — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:03:34 GMT

they ONLY have the right to ask for an ID if they have determined that the signature of your credit/debit card does not match that of the pad/receipt signature. then they will probably refuse if your ID/DL name does not match that of the credit/debit card. it doesn't matter anyway. the company has the right to refuse service. requesting a DL/ID prior to the first step is in violation of the privacy rights of the customer. i personally don't care anyway as none of my cards are signed, as i would rather they check my id. amex has designated it intentionally for the merchants to understand that a signature is not required for their usage. as to why merchants have not caught on yet is beyond me.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:33:50 GMT

I would rather they asked for my ID... an extra level of protection helps! I also dont sign the back of my cards, so I get asked often for my ID... I dont really mind showing them my DL...

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:00:12 GMT

I used to be a supervisor at CVS/Pharmacy during my years in college. As an organization, CVS had countless incidents of stolen credit cards being used to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of gift cards. This was a huge problem during the holidays. I made it a point to ask for an ID for any suspicious gift card transaction over $100. There were a few instances of customers snatching the card out of my hand and fleeing the store. I have no problem showing my ID after experiencing situations like that.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

luvsandyshores — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:03:06 GMT

No one asks my son for ID when he uses my card. It's handy, but sometimes it bugs me...he is obviously not female, so it obviously isn't his card.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

CS800 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:12:13 GMT

Majority of places I go around here don't even check ID since at the back of my card, I don't sign I always write in bold ' SEE ID'

But only 10% of the times do they evne look at the back of the card. They normally just swipe it and hand it back. Generally your typical teenager ready to continue texting and in a hurry.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:22:32 GMT

@mxp114 wrote:
AFAIK merchants can ask for ID but cannot make it a condition of the sale. I always decline ID and simply tell them that by demanding it, it's a violation of the merchant agreement and they always back down lol I find it silly how you can go into Best Buy and buy a $4000 TV without ID but a small gift shop wants to card you for $8.

Its because the small merchant is living on the stores profit while bestt buy just reports it as a loss to there stockholders

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:26:34 GMT

I wish they WOULD ask to see my ID. I write "SEE ID" on the signature bar on all of my cards and nobody ever asks to see it.

Somewhat off topic but I went into USPS a while back and paid for the shipping with my credit card. The cashier would not accept my card unless I signed it. I refused to sign the card (that I had already written "SEE ID" on) and she refused to accept it. I had her get me her supervisor and the supervisor processed it.

Edit: Actually, it depends on where I am. If I'm home in Hawai'i 99% of cashiers will ask to see my ID. Here in St. Louis, MO absolutely no one asks for my ID. I was at the grocery store once and the cashier bagged my groceries in an absolutely ridiculous way -- eggs on the bottom of the bag, etc. I asked them not to bag things that way and they gave me an attitude so I asked to speak to their supervisor. Not only did I complain about the bagging, I also asked the supervisor what their policy was on checking ID's on credit cards and he told me they only check if the card says "See ID" on it. I showed him my card, told him the cashier didn't ask for it, and he actually told the cashier to go home for the day. Point of the story is I know the cashiers at this particular store are supposed to check, yet they never do. I guess it doesn't really matter though considering nearly every store has self checkout these days.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:51:01 GMT

@mxp114 wrote:
AFAIK merchants can ask for ID but cannot make it a condition of the sale. I always decline ID and simply tell them that by demanding it, it's a violation of the merchant agreement and they always back down lol I find it silly how you can go into Best Buy and buy a $4000 TV without ID but a small gift shop wants to card you for $8.

In Las Vegas if you do not show your ID they denied the transaction...what all you guys have to hide?? I got no problem showing it. Fraud is something real and merchant have all the rights to protect themselves.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

n777ua — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:00:07 GMT

Irked at an Amex merchant? Go here:

https://www152.americanexpress.com/EformsWeb/un/ViewSuppressionPage.do?loc_str=en_US&utype=internet&origin=6

Whenever someone doesn't take Amex, I fill this out

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:05:24 GMT

I can't quote right now for some reason, but in response to daylove (

According to responses in this thread, the merchant actually does not have the right to refuse your purchase just because you don't have your ID.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 22:20:49 GMT

I do not sign the back of my cards, and I've never ever been asked for my ID, like someone else has said, they usually just swipe the card and hand it back. I would gladly show my ID if I were asked to tho.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

mxp114 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:43:01 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Its because the small merchant is living on the stores profit while bestt buy just reports it as a loss to there stockholders

Yeah I understand that but that's one of the risks associated with taking plastic. Each business has to decide if the risk is worth the effort to accept cards.

@Anonymous wrote:
In Las Vegas if you do not show your ID they denied the transaction...what all you guys have to hide?? I got no problem showing it. Fraud is something real and merchant have all the rights to protect themselves.

Nope I was just in Vegas last spring and used my card everywhere, never denied even when I declined to show ID. I just tell them that they are not allowed to make showing my ID a condition of the sale and they always comply. The merchants do not have a right to violate the agreement they consented to in order to accept and process credit card payments. I never show ID nor will I for any transaction with the exception of goods or services that legally require it such as alcohol, etc.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:52:53 GMT

@KingAdrock wrote:
This is correct. Merchants can ask for ID, (and they should, IMO) but per VISA, MC and Amex rules they cannot refuse the transaction if you don't have it, unless the items are age restricted. (ie booze or tobacco)

Visa and MC wanted to change that to "let the cashier decide", and I'm not sure whether that has already happened. As you probably implied, with Discover, merchants are free to ask already now. As to my knowledge, only Amex has not said anything about a change of their policy up to now.

I don't really mind any cashier looking at my ID, and my Amex has my photograph on it, so I have never been asked for ID with that one so far.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:57:47 GMT

I think it's all great that we exercise our legal rights, and if that means we don't have to show ID, then everyone should be entitled to not have to.

However, I still don't mind if I'm asked, because it makes me feel a little safer to know that people still do care (whether their job says to or not). We all know that if we lost a card, we'd be backed up by our bank and not responsible for fraudulent charges...but if we became a society where no one even cared about asking for an ID, I think it would encourage thieves to steal more often...so I think it puts that at a minimum....

Just my two cents.

Re: showing ID to cashiers

laz98 — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 00:13:25 GMT

i was at the converse outlet over the weekend, & the guy asked for ID. i gave it to him, but asked him if anyone ever said no. he said no one had, but if they did, then he wouldn't sell them the merchandise. i left it at that.