another credit card dbag

[Dreamstalker]

Nah, I would never do that to him, how would he get his 55-gallon drums of catnip then? He doesn't have pockets to carry the cash in.

My mom has an Amex card where the signature strip will not hold a mark for long--the only thing we haven't tried is sharpie as we haven't found one with a fine enough tip (it looks as if they just put a frosted finish on that part of the card plastic). So there are the occasions where the card doesn't look signed. That never seems to warrant further ID checks; maybe most clerks have dealt with the particular card and its flaws.

I used to own a book that detailed, among other things, how to change or replace card signature strips (techniques that wouldn't work now unless a clerk really dropped the ball).

[CarcinogenCrunchies]

I sign my cards, and also write ASK FOR ID above my signature. In the 4+ years I have been doing this, I can only recall two incidents where I was actually asked for my ID. Of course, most places have been self-swipe for ages now.

[queenbb]

But by then, the sale is all rung up.
I know that requiring an ID for a charge isn't foolproof (IDs can obviously be faked), but I can't come up with one good reason why it's a bad idea to check anyway.

i have had people try to give me fake ids, i have a fraud detector light that will show them up.

[Mordecai]

Here in Los Angeles, you frequently only need the street name and number to find a home. So if I live at 123 Main St. And you make me show my id when I buy that new $10k home theater setup, what's to stop you and your friends from coming by and swiping it while I'm at work? Or Mr. Pedophile Store Clerk from thinking my young child is cute and coming to kidnap her?

Call it alarmist, but as a consumer you should be giving out as little personal information as humanly possible. I've known people who could see and retain license information, and as a consumer that scares the crap out of me. Just because you wouldn't use it for bad doesn't mean someone else wouldn't.

But then why would you give them your credit card? Couldn't they also retain the information from that, as well?

[Kirkygirl]

But then why would you give them your credit card? Couldn't they also retain the information from that, as well?

For most places, like chain stores and the big box stores, the information goes onto a server, which is then saved under VERY high security. I don't even know who or if anyone could get information at the store level.

I know a lot of places in the US are self-swipe, but don't try and pull it with me. The machines don't work that way. I am the one who will swipe your card, and no, it will not be a debit card. I don't care what it says anywhere on the card, the system will treat it as a credit card if it has Visa, MC or Amex ANYWHERE on it.

As such, any credit card that comes through my till is going to be checked for two things. a). do the last four numbers on the card and the receipt match? If not, you had either be prepared to face our mighty RCMP or you better be Donovan Bailey. b). Signatures. I don't care if your mug is on the CC itself. If your card has a missing, or illegable signatue, or if the VOID signs are showing, I'm axing for a government issued photo ID. Not willing to show it to me? I'm not letting you walk out the door with the groceries. Oh mister manager? Will you lend me a hand please?

Much to my surprise, many people actually appreciate it when I ask them for ID. Some of these people even put things like "ask for ID", "C.I.D." etc, and are really happy that I care about their financial well being.

/threadjack

[icmedia]

I think it's hilarious that a cat could be approved for a credit card, while I couldn't get approved for one if "Little Baby Jesus, all sleeping in his manger, 8 pound 7 ounce baby Jesus," came down from Heaven above and vouched for me himself. Not now, not when I was 18 and a college student, not even when I was making the big bucks at any of my management jobs.
Apparently I am less creditworthy than a Calico.

[Ironclad Alibi]

My mom has an Amex card where the signature strip will not hold a mark for long--the only thing we haven't tried is sharpie as we haven't found one with a fine enough tip (it looks as if they just put a frosted finish on that part of the card plastic).

When I sign my credit cards, I put a piece of transparent tape over the signature. The tape preserves the signature so it doesn't rub off.

[jedimaster91]

When I sign my credit cards, I put a piece of transparent tape over the signature. The tape preserves the signature so it doesn't rub off.

Dangit, I was going to say that.

My husband taught me that trick and it works wonders.

[prb]

When I'm asked for ID with a Visa purchase, I mention that it's against the VISA Merchant Agreement for them to require it, ask if the purchase will be refused if I do not provide it, mention that I will provide it this time only, and then send a letter to VISA, my bank and the store explaining it.

[Dreamstalker]

When I sign my credit cards, I put a piece of transparent tape over the signature. The tape preserves the signature so it doesn't rub off.

I've actually had to do that on my coffee cards (Peets and DD apparently only use thermal printing on plastic so the card number can go bye-bye quickly). I'll mention that to her next time the issue comes up.

[MoonChild2007]

I always say "no thank you" when asked for id with my signed credit card. The invariable response is "well, it's for your protection" to which I reply "I appreciate your concern, but I prefer to take care of my own personal information security." If I make it to the store manager and they still won't relent, I get the necessary info to file a complaint and leave without purchasing. I'm always calm and polite with them, as they are generally just misinformed about policies and laws.

And these companies ALSO have their policies as well to prevent some idiot from
scamming them out of money. You wouldn't believe how many times my company have been scammed because of FAKE credit cards, fraudulent charges, chargebacks and guess who gets in trouble, WE do. And also, not too many cashiers have credit cards so how are they supposed to know of these policies?
So please, back off those who don't want to get in trouble just because certain people refuse to show ID. Also, we the cashier just look a mere 10 seconds at the ID just to see if the signature matches, that's it. What would WE need and gain from YOUR information? I have dealt with 4,000 + customers every year i have been a cashier, now really, how would i remember one ID that I check?

Also, what about fake IDS and credit cards?

I am just frustrated with people like that cause I have been screwed over TOO many times and ALMOST lost my job because i was stupid enough to NOT ask for ID.

I mean, with that logic, we shouldn't card people if they cash a check because it has their signature on it.

[otakuneko]

If a cashier compared signatures, they'd probably end up calling the cops on me, or at least giving me a funny look. The signature on my license is very different from what I quickly scrawl on a receipt. The "See ID" also rubbed off on both my debit cards and my credit card.

I've never had anyone do that though. Except for the cashier at the liquor store I went to on my 21st bday.

[queenbb]

yah i ask for id always because of the fraud issue, i had a few people who had identity theft happen to them.

when i have a real problem with people showing id, then i will ask lp to get involved,

since i work in the auto center, we dont get it that often but sometimes we do. im gonna print that page that some one provided a link to and ask about the policies again.

[MoonChild2007]

Amidst my rant, I forgot to mention the fact that it also depends on the situation. If a customer is buying 30-50 worth of food or something, i could understand not showing ID, however if its a 2,000 item or 2,000 worth of items, be certain that we will ask for another from of ID. Those happen to be the most high risk for fraud
and frankly, its all about paranoia. Some way or form, our information is going to be there. Banks have our information, employers have our information, the government has our information. Now really, why punish the people who are trying to AVOID identity theft by asking for ID?

[Enjis]

30 years in retail ...things have sure changed in credit card acceptance...

I used to work at Macy's. They now have these PIN pads that take credit and debit cards. The customer swipes the card thru the pad, and pushes either Credit or Debit. The customer signs the screen.
We never see the card OR the signiture. It does not show up on our register screens.
We never have the card in our hands at all.
So...no comparing siggies, no checking to see what name is on the front...
Nuthin'.
You can imagine what our credit fraud scores were like.

Ah, for the days when we INSISTED on seeing ID if the name on the reciept did not match the name on the card...which WE held in our hot little hands.

What's even MORE fun are the MC and VISA gift cards. You fill them up with money (up to $500) and use them. Since thieves have learned how to encode the magnetic strip on the cards, they can steal someone's REAL credit card, encode the Gift Card with that person's info, and keep on buying and buying...And all the time, the real cardholder's info prints on the screen, instead of the 'VISA GIFT CARD' name as it should show.
We all learned who to look for in doing this scam, and insisted on grabbing their gift cards and swiping them ourselves. (they were almost always young men or young women, and would buy anything that totaled $500... )
The four digit code that printed on the reciept never matched the last four numbers on the card, so we always knew it was fraud. We'd hold onto the card, and tell the customer the sale was now void. We could call Security if they liked tho....! Strangely, they never stuck around for that, and left running....!
We also learned to not take off the security tags till the sale was deemed 'real'. (this was important as no one wanted to put aways a HUGE pile of clothes we had to retag and hang....)