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How common a practice is it to ask for ID for credit card purchases?

Locut0s

Locut0s

Lifer
As a side note to my earlier post about Asking for ID
I'm curious how common a practise do you find asking for ID for credit card purchases? At our store we ID all purchases over $50 on credit cards. We would probably ID even smaller purchases but the huge volume of transactions we do makes that impractical, we're a convince store. I've seen signs at some stores letting customers know that they may be asked for their ID for credit card purchases but am unaware how widespread the practice is. Most customers oblige willingly some don't seem to have ever heard of the idea.
 
For my company - we only check if it's unsigned, or it says SEEID or something similar. Personally, I write see ID on all of my cards, and make the cashiers check.
 
If anyone argues they are an idiot. The clerk has no clue who you are and its for your own protection. A friend of mine went as far as to tell people to check her ID, although I think that is kind of pointless.

But I am happy when they check my ID. Even if it's a $8 meal at Subway I don't want to be paying for some theif's free lunch.
 
Originally posted by: Ryan
For my company - we only check if it's unsigned, or it says SEEID or something similar. Personally, I write see ID on all of my cards, and make the cashiers check.
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Interesting. Because of the large volume of transactions we do per day, thousands, I get to see a LOT of credit cards. Most are either not signed or if they were at one time the signature has long since worn off.
 
Originally posted by: rscott
We check everything unless its one of those nify bank of america cards with your picture on the corner.
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I've seen a few of those, mainly from the US and Japan. Great idea if you ask me.
 
As a side note I was at an electronics store the other day and put over 140 bucks on my card and asked the clerk if he would like to see my ID for verification. The guy seemed to like the offer and took a quick glance but I could see he didn't do it as a rule. Seems crazy to me to put such large purchases through without asking for confirmation.
 
The pizza places around me always check your ID at drop off for cc orders. The giant eagle I get food at never checks my ID even for 200+ dollars.
 
It's not common enough because this is against the rules with the credit card companies. Merchants are never supposed to ask for ID, period. See ID and a blank signature on the card itself is, by visa's rules, supposed to make the card invalid, tho no one listens.
 
Originally posted by: Locut0s
As a side note I was at an electronics store the other day and put over 140 bucks on my card and asked the clerk if he would like to see my ID for verification. The guy seemed to like the offer and took a quick glance but I could see he didn't do it as a rule. Seems crazy to me to put such large purchases through without asking for confirmation.
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Why would you bother. It is not like he is going to catch you with a stolen credit card.
 
I get asked to see my ID all the time. But usually they check to see if the card is signed first. I don't see how the card being signed is proof that I am the true owner of the card though. To me the only true way to verify ownership is to check ID's.
 
EDITED

I had to edit this post because I said it was a violation of the merchant agreement to ask for identification. This is incorrect. I have heard it so much that I believed it.

I just looked at Visa's site and found their Rules for Visa Merchants (pdf warning). In it, there are a couple of instances where they actually tell you to check the cardholder's identification. Nowhere does it say that you cannot check ID.

Guess you learn something new everyday....
 
Why does Visa put my CC number on the back of the card in the same area I'm supposed to sign in? What's up with that.

How does a signature on the back of the card make it OK to use, no need to see ID? If I had a signed, stolen CC, I'd spend a little time practicing reproducing that signature.
 
I'd rather have a store check my ID then not check it.

I still prefer paying electronically using the PIN number.
(every store here in the Netherlands has the ability, alltough not for CC's but debit cards)
 
Originally posted by: Ryan
Personally, I write see ID on all of my cards, and make the cashiers check.
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Then all of your cards are actually invalid. Not that anyone actually enforces it.
From Rules for Visa Merchants:
"See ID" or "Ask for ID" is not a valid substitute for a signature. The customer must sign the card in your presence, as stated above.

Originally posted by: AaronB
EDITED

I had to edit this post because I said it was a violation of the merchant agreement to ask for identification. This is incorrect. I have heard it so much that I believed it.

I just looked at Visa's site and found their Rules for Visa Merchants (pdf warning). In it, there are a couple of instances where they actually tell you to check the cardholder's identification. Nowhere does it say that you cannot check ID.

Guess you learn something new everyday....
Click to expand...

No, it doesn't say you cannot check ID, but it DOES say you cannot deny a purchase if a consumer refuses to provide that ID. From page 29 of Rules for Visa Merchants:
"Although Visa rules do not preclude merchants from asking for cardholder ID, merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot refuse to complete a purchase transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID."
 
I tried to as much as possible back when I worked in Retail. But some people got absolutely violent when you asked.

I remember one lady, when she walking in my line I just thought to myself, "Great this lady is PISSED today". She was she was screaming at me and things, and her order total came up to well over $200. We ask to see the card for everything, so when I asked she threw the card at me and then started throwing things around my register at me. Me being the moron I was just stood there and took it without calling my supervisor over. 🙁

Another time I missed a coupon and the customer was angry even though I explained that they could go over to customer service and get their .25 back and that I was terribly sorry. So when it came time for him to sign he refused to sign the paper and stuff, and then he refused to even let me see his card. I was just like, sorry your card gets charged either way, and I cant let you leave if you don't sign or let me see your card. My supervisor caught sight and came over and helped though.

Don't even get me started on if their card doesn't work!! They act like I am the reason behind all the problems.

-Kevin
 
Meh, it's not like asking for ID is going to do a hell of a lot. If your card is stolen the thief is just going to say they aren't carrying their id and the transaction should still go through, or they are going to leave and go elsewhere.
 
Since I already pointed out where Visa prohibits merchants from requiring ID, here is what Mastercard says about it on page 48 of their Merchant rules:
"A merchant must not refuse to complete a MasterCard transaction solely because a cardholder who has complied with the conditions for presentment of a card at the POI refuses to provide additional identification information, except as specifically permitted or required by the Standards."

They do allow merchants to require ID for what the refer to as "Unique" transactions. But from what I can find, this seems to refer to things like using your card to get cash at a casino and other things besides normal purchases.

As far as Amex, it's my understanding that they don't prohibit merchants from requiring ID. But they do prohibit merchants from imposing different rules for customers using Amex vs Visa or MC. Which essentially means that if a merchant accepts only Amex, they could require ID, but if they accept Visa or MC in addition to Amex, they CANNOT require ID.
 
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I tried to as much as possible back when I worked in Retail. But some people got absolutely violent when you asked.
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Obviously nobody should get violoent over this, but the customers do have a right to be upset that stores are violating the CC policies. But it's not the cashiers fault. They are just doing what their boss told them to do.
 
Originally posted by: DT4K
Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
I tried to as much as possible back when I worked in Retail. But some people got absolutely violent when you asked.
Click to expand...
Obviously nobody should get violoent over this, but the customers do have a right to be upset that stores are violating the CC policies. But it's not the cashiers fault. They are just doing what their boss told them to do.
Click to expand...

One of the many reasons that I am now 18, in College, and never ever working in Retail again.

-Kevin
 
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