No I.D. required for credit card transactions?
“Can a store require an I.D. if I’m paying with a credit card?”
Tell this to your friend… they won’t believe you. Tell this to your mom… she won’t believe you. Tell this to a store… they definitely won’t believe you. But what I’m about to tell you… believe it…
You never need an I.D. to use your credit card!
Yes, I know that sounds crazy in an age of rampant identity theft and fraud, but it’s true. A merchant is not allowed to require your I.D. for a credit card transaction. You’re signature is all that is needed. Whether you’re buying Starbucks or a shopping spree on Rodeo Drive – no I.D. required!
Don’t believe me? I Know, most stores would never believe me. I bet the police wouldn’t buy it either. But I’ll prove it. Let’s start with the world’s most popular credit card… Visa. Below is an excerpt from their merchant rules:
“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. Visa believes merchants should not ask for ID as part of their regular card acceptance procedures.”
…and if you think I’m lying, you can view the official document here:
http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/rules_for_visa_merchants.pdf
Not only can a store not require a drivers license or other I.D., but Visa actually discourages them for asking for it! MasterCard also has an equivalent policy, which can be found here if you still don’t believe me:
http://www.mastercard.com/us/wce/PDF/MERC-Entire_Manual.pdf
American Express and Discover both have similar policies, and not only prohibit I.D. from being required, but also strongly discourage it.
Often when people hear of this, they are either delighted or discouraged. I’ll address the later, first. By federal law, you can only be held liable for up to $50 of fraudulent credit card charges. That was enacted decades ago, and today, I have never heard of any credit card company, even the scummy ones, enforcing the $50 deductible. Simply put, you’re not responsble for charges. So before you blow your stack, remember it’s not your money that’s liable!
Now that brings us to the question “If a store can’t ask me for I.D. to use a credit card, wouldn’t that hurt the credit card companies?” Well theoretically, yes, they take the liability. But with modern automatic fraud detection techniques, such as unusual spending patterns or use of card outside of your normal areas, the crime is usually caught (as in new charges prevented) early on, even if the consumer doesn’t notice them.
Credit card companies want their products to be as user-friendly as possible, and they know requiring I.D. isn’t exactly user-friendly. Therefore they’ve concluded they’d rather take the risk with their money.
Personally, I am glad merchants can’t require an I.D. for a purchase. There’s been countless times I don’t have an I.D. on me. Also I think requiring an I.D. for smaller purposes is too much of a hassle anyway. Plus let’s admit it, everyone nowadays has Photoshop and photo printers that can crank out a fake drivers license that would suffice anyway. In reality, requiring an I.D. is no foolproof way to prevent fraud at all. Criminals will simply turn to different avenues to use the stolen cards instead, such as on the internet.
Next time a store clerk asks for your I.D., you may want to point out the agreement they have with the credit card associations. If that doesn’t work, and you really feel wronged, you can file a complaint against them:
Visa: 1.800.VISA.911
MasterCard: 1-800.300.3069
So next time someone asks you “Do I need an I.D. to use a credit card?” you can tell them… no!
I don’t think any of you get get it. When the clerk says “may I see your photo ID”, They are really saying, “I don’t believe that credit card is yours and you must prove to me that is.”
Then the clerk tries to tell me that it is for “MY” protection. Really? MY protection? and exactly how is me showing him my ID protecting me at that moment? Protected from what?
I am offended by the request and won’t return to that business. Lately I have started using cash. I don’t need the credit card and I don’t need to be treated like a criminal for using it.
Andrew you are a dumb***, if the merchant is asking for your ID it is for yours and there protection because if it is not your card then the merchant is not being screwed out of their money. You know a credit card company will dip right back into the account to give you back your money if someone else used your card. Now what about the idiots that do not sign their card. You know merchants also have a right to refuse and if they do not know you and they want you to prove yourself and you refuse, well guess what at my store you can hand me cash or get the **** out of my store, I wont be ripped off by you.
You are wrong and are breaking the rules of the merchant agreement between your business and the credit card company. Do yourself a favor and read the merchant agreements on the websites for both Visa and MasterCard. You will see that not only do they discourage merchants from asking for ID but that merchants CANNOT make ID a requirement for purchase. Nor can the merchant arbitrarily refuse a sale when a customer refuses to present ID. I am astounded how you can conclude that because someone refuses to show ID that they are ‘ripping you off’. That statement speaks to your customer oriented attitude or lack thereof. The tone of your comments are childish, insulting and you should probably take a course or two in grammar.
I’m a business owner and if I get a fraudulent Visa, MC, Amex and Discover card charged in my business, none of the credit card companies will pay me. one person was doing business with me for 5 years and reported that I charged his card without authorization even though I showed Amex the UPS signature receipt that he signed for the package they refused to pay me.
you guys are unfair to business owners that ask for ID, you should be made to pay the full amount on fraudulent charges to your cards and see how us business owners feel when you knowingly charge some thing to your card and refuse to pay.
(My reply is in response to Jeff Hansen above.)
This author is very naive: “But with modern automatic fraud detection techniques, such as unusual spending patterns or use of card outside of your normal areas, the crime is usually caught (as in new charges prevented) early on, even if the consumer doesn’t notice them.” This is not always the case. Just as the technology for detecting fraud gets better, the fraudsters get better at cracking it. These days, INFORMATION is also more valuable than the money actually illicitly spent. Fraud might not be caught until it’s too late to catch the thieves, and it can long-term repercussions.
Think of the TJ Maxx fraud, which, granted, was a case where the company had not installed strong enough controls to prevent identity theft. Hundreds of thousands of customer information records were stolen a few years ago, but banks are still reporting lists of fraudulent transactions in these customers’ names today! AND: the thieves have not been caught. They are very organized, and very good at what they do.
You cannot always depend on a company, whether as a whole or individually by employee, to establish and enforce controls that protect them AND you from fraud. If a store clerk asks for your I.D., SHOW it to them. Don’t gripe; VS and MC only “strongly believe” and “discourage” merchants from asking for I.D. It is not breaking the law: key words are “should not”; it’s a SUGGESTION. Concerning the part where you can’t make asking for I.D. a condition of acceptance of the purchase or can’t refuse to make the transaction just because a customer doesn’t provide I.D.: fine. I don’t agree with it; I admit if a customer doesn’t have a picture I.D. on him or her I usually let it go. But I think it depends on the nature of the products you are selling or the dollar amount of the sale.
People, don’t lull yourself into a false sense of security. My card information has been compromised twice, and luckily it was caught by the bank in time. However, I don’t believe I’ve seen the last of it. It’s not a matter of WILL you be defrauded, it’s a matter of WHEN will you be defrauded.
My issue with showing my ID is largely the annoyance of having to take out the ID. I have switched to cash to avoid this problem entirely.
What I HATE is the merchant attitude that this is protecting ME when it is really quite obvious that they are protecting THEMSELVES. Do I have a huge problem with flashing my ID briefly (pretty sure they don’t have photographic memory)? Not really – it is more the principle of that being not part of the point of sale methods. If my card is signed – you are not supposed to require ID. What if all I have is my card? What if I changed my name and my license doesn’t match my card yet? The convenience of the CC is no longer convenient to me so I no longer use it.
I just don’t like the fact that merchants are all sales-y – “I’m doing this for you. I’m protecting you.” Just be honest and say, “we want you to be able to use your card but Code 10 is not enough to protect our assets from fraud so we require ID.” Fine. Fair enough. I can shop there or not.
Finally, if the criminal is using my stolen credit card he probably has my wallet so has access to my ID. If he has a credit card manufacturing device I am sure he also can make a fake ID. I do not really think that showing ID protects much of anyone.
As a cashier I have seen at Wal-Mart not only they asked for your ID but also for your zip code. It’s been happening allot lately too. I can tell you it’s not for your protection it’s theirs. Because think about it if any thing ever happen to your card the bank calls you up immediately and stops your card from being used ever again.
So the question remains do the stores or gas stations have the right to ask you more private questions when using your card? My thoughts are if a hacker hacks and receives all this information how much easier is it for them to take your identity from you.
If anyone comes into my business and don’t want to show ID I refuse the sale and send them to my competitor, rip him off and put him out of business.
As a sergeant in charge of an Identity Theft Unit at a major municipality I am amazed at the ignorance of the people who have commented on this story. If you could see and talk to the victim’s of Identity Theft that I deal with on a daily basis (I receive some 40 cases every week) you would understand the absolute preventative nature of something as simple as a requirement to see your ID before a credit card transaction is processed.
Yes, you may get your account reimbursed. But it won’t happen quickly and it won’t happen until you have been seriously inconvenienced by having to file police reports and signing numerous affidavits of forgery (for every transaction that occurred). Count on waiting it out several weeks or months before you see your money again. Once you have been a victim of ID Theft, believe me, you will thank the clerk the next time they ask you for your ID when you go to use your credit card.
Read “Dan S” comment….it’s the only one based in reality. Folks, there is a reason the credit card companies have policy not to ask for ID – and it isn’t because they are worried that the clerk has an interest in taking info from your driver’s license (they have your credit card information right in their hand if they wanted to conduct ID Theft for god sakes – wake up!). They have the policy because THEY WANT YOUR MONEY. And they want to make it as easy as possible for you to use their product (their credit card) so that they can get more of your money more quickly.
Unfortunately, the American people (and I’m one of them) never cease to disappoint me with their ignorance….
Unfortunately, law enforcement never ceases to disappoint me with its hebetude and myopia ….
The policy motivating recent case law (calif., en point) is expressed within the opinion of the holding: the offering of *any* (zip, etc.) identifiable information ameliorates identity theft, not hinders it.
Anecdotally, my credit card was putatively stolen. Guess the culprit. Indeed, it was a snoopy merchant whom I had made a purchase from and was using my CC# to make overseas purchases. My liability was nil and my identity not stolen.
I completely agree with you; I work for a small business, and for the last week I have been trying to remember to ask for I.D. whether or not the back of the card is signed. As part of my accounting major, I have been taking a forensic accounting class and my professor believes the laws regarding asking for I.D. are ineffective in preventing fraud: a good preventative measure IS to make sure the name on the credit card matches the name on a picture I.D., whether or not you’ve signed the back of the credit card.
Yesterday I asked for I.D. for a less than $25 purchase, and the man expressed astonishment and displeasure at having to show it to me. He walked out saying he was going to check the VISA and MASTERCARD contracts. I tried explaining to his wife why I was doing it; she seemed to understand. It made me frustrated though-I don’t write down customer information-and unless I am acquainted personally with the customer, names or numbers are immediately forgotten (I see too many customers in a day to remember them all). I truly want to make sure that customers AND the store are protected from fraudulent behavior.
Fraud has always been a problem, but it’s only in the last four or five decades that white-collar crime has received more attention and awareness from companies, individuals, and the media. Identity theft can be very hard to recover from: it can destroy the entire infrastructure of a company or an individual person’s life.
Thanks Jeff, I put on the back of all my credit cards in the signature box “Ask for ID” and I never sign them.
I appreciate your enlightenment.
Try having your credit card stolen and used by the thieves. Then would you want them to check ID? This recently happened to me and the back of all my cards says “SEE ID”. And if all the places my stolen credit card was used asked for ID, then I wouldnt still be searching for these good for nothing thieves. So why get mad if someone asks for your ID? They are doing their job and saving their ass in the long run and maybe yours.
If the back of your credit card says “SEE ID” but does not include your signature, the merchant should not accept the credit card. On the back of each of my credit cards, by the signature box, is the statement “Not valid unless signed.”
I know that it isn’t the consumer’s MONEY that’s at stake – but their time. Its a lot faster for me to show an ID than it is for me to issue and wait for a fraudulant charge to be disputed. Why has showing an ID become such an issue?
For the record, it is not the credit card companies money that is at stake. As a long-time employee of a small business, we have received several fraudulent transactions, which visa and mastercard have required us to pay for. Checking for photo identification is a simple precaution to protect customers and small business owners alike.
Now do you understand why the credit card companies don’t require the merchants to check ID’s? Because they don’t pick up the tab! Wow sounds similar to the fat cats that got away with the mortgage bailout….OH WAIT THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME. WAKE UP PEOPLE! WOW BUILD A BRIDGE SHOW YOUR ID AND GET OVER IT!
Of course all the complainers are customers and not merchants why:
Enough
with your worry of getting targeted with advertisements. All Merchants
are trying to do is protect their assets from being stolen. The credit
card company doesn’t pay when you dispute an item that was purchased
illegally on your card. They do what is called in the industry a
“CHARGE BACK” to the merchant who has to eat the cost of the theft.
Thus causing the merchant to charge more for their products or
services. Yes that’s right the complaining consumer, YOU, are the
loser. Next time, just get off your soap box and put your thumb over
your address and just let them see what they need to protect YOU and
THEM from theft: the picture to make sure it matches you standing in
front of them and the name on the Picture ID matches the credit card you
are using. Wow what a hardship….
Now do you understand why the credit card companies don’t require the merchants to check ID’s? Because they don’t pick up the tab! Wow sounds similar to the fat cats that got away with the mortgage bailout….OH WAIT THEY ARE ONE IN THE SAME. WAKE UP PEOPLE! WOW BUILD A BRIDGE SHOW YOUR ID AND GET OVER IT!
Wow there are a lot of foolish people on this site and blog. Gigi is 100% right! The credit card companies don’t care because if it’s stolen they will not cover the purchase which forces the Merchant (big or small) to cover the loss. So 2 things result, one the merchant has to charge more for products or services and 2nd this policy is in place by the merchant to protect them and you as the consumer as well. If your underage child took your cc and made purchase with out your permission would you want the store to stop it or not?
Wake up people everyone knows your name and address anyway! It only costs a couple dollars from an online search company. Help keep merchant/consumer cost down by showing your ID. You would think that they asked to see your genitals the way people are reacting!
“Gigi
This is not factually correct information above – it is not the credit card cos that are liable for fraudulent use of credit cards. The merchants take the loss. The cc co makes MORE $$ when a credit card charge back is filed by the card holder via a $15-$25 fee they charge the merchant.
So cc cos don’t care that not requiring id makes it easier for people to use stolen credit cards – in fact they like it. More $$ for them.
Gigi
And to those who want to insist that the merchants around them all follow this policy – you know that this just makes it easier for credit card thieves. They will be declining to show id when they use their stolen card. Sadly, it is card thieves who stand to benefit the most from a policy like this.
You all do realize too that the chances that NOT showing your id to a cashier is going to protect yourself from id theft is slim to none? That is NOT how id theft commonly happens.
If you’re want to protect yourself, get a paper shredder and get your name taken off the lists for receiving pre-approved credit offers. This is likely to make a difference. Cashiers memorizing addresses off ids that are shown to them is an incredibly rare way for id theft to happen. Stealing your pre-approved card offer from your mail and going through your garbage ARE the most common ways id theft happens.
Use your heads people!”
FURIOUS THAT THEY WOULDN’T BE REQUIRED TO ASK FOR ID!!!! My card has been stolen THREE times. All three times the card company covered the charges but it required a great deal of stress on myself and time to file complaints, time for the company to research the charges and time for me to be notified of the acceptance of my claim. I would much rather show my ID (with billing address) to prevent theft!!!!
I agree, Carol! The rest of society must be inconvenienced to show ID because you can’t be more careful with you credit cards. Three times?!
[love your hubby, Sgt. Jeff is so hunky!]
I also was forced to give the card PIN code
Thems be “debit”, the card for the bootstrapping proletariat (to remind them of a time before Providian/Capital One & ARM’s).
I hope all of you get fraud charges,especially Pete Roth and Kevin Kass that obviously have never worked with the public (how dare you belittle anyone making minimum wage-like its a choice or working at taco bell) as a” minimum wage” working clerk most customers appreciate me asking for an id when the card is not signed. If you check the signature area on the back it actually says its void unless signed. Most people do not want to go through the hassle of fraud issues. I know I wouldn’t.
Provide a credit card with an I.D. which is more than likely your billing address. Theft prevention.
Sorry to hear no one wants to show proof they are who they say they are. That same clerk that you are so scared to show your ID now needs it for the proof of age. Also if you want me to stop asking for ID Sign your card. Cause now you dropped the darn thing and the dishonest person behind you picked it up and knows the disclaimer signs it and uses your card and other information on your card. Identity theft is running rampant. I’m not memorizing your Address in those few seconds I have it to compare names. But I’m sure that the skimmer that is attached to various machines that your so willing to use as a convience then by all means be the victim. I get thanked for asking ID it protects you the store and the card companies. When you write a check I get your phone number address and your ID number so there are always ways. Sometimes people can be just stupid. You dont even have to have the ID leave your hand. Visa MC and the others need to wise up. Also on your card It states that if the card is not signed it is invalid!!!!
As a retail employee, it is a little frustrating when people tell you that you cannot ask for you ID. As Greatzky said, if the card is NOT signed… we have to ask for ID or you cannot make your purchase. I understand wanting to keep your personal information private, but we are also only asking most of the time because you did not sign your card.
If your card is simply blank, someone could take your card and sign your name in their handwriting and then we would not be required to ask for you ID. Something to think about…
Valid point.
However, the contention arrises from signed card transactions being aleatory on ubiquitous demands for identification–contravened above.
Tantamount to redlining, the requirement pervades california; not so much on the east coast.
what you are all missing is that…
Your Credit Card MUST BE SIGNED.
This is written right on the back of your card “Void if not signed”.. The main reason that Stores/vendors ask for I.D. is because the card is not signed. So your choice is either show I.D. that the card is yours or they can deny your card because your care is “VOID”.
How many people are complaining because they were asked to show I.D. because of a Signed card? Most of the complaints are because of cards that are not signed.
Follow your end of the User agreement just as the Businesses are following their side of the Acceptance/Processing Agreement.
Visa and Mastercard both sent a letter to our Company telling us that we are required to ask for identification if a card is not signed. Technically we SHOULDN’T be accepting the card at all as it is VOID and obviously the person can’t read and is probably not of sound mind.
No, it’s regional. I have traveled in many counties where you cannot complete a sale without showing ID using a signed credit card. It’s loopy.
While that’s technically true (although I suspect there will be a federal law making it illegal for the credit card companies to make such a rule), NO store of any type (including mine) will ever follow such preposterous rules. The credit card companies can get bent.
So, why do they have this “rule”? Because here’s how it works- let’s say a customer comes in my shop, and buys $400 worth of stuff with a visa. If it turns out that the person using the card was not the person named on the card, the funds will be INSTANTLY taken out of my account. Meanwhile, the merchandise is also gone. I LOSE. The card company doesn’t care. They put the loss on ME.
So, I (and every other merchant) REQUIRES an ID. There’s nothing the card companies can or will do about it.
Chargebacks suck and instill a modicum of helplessness.
Yet, when I was a retail slave, I prevailed by ensuring an accurate signature and faxing it back with the chargeback notification.
First of all, thanks for the information, very useful.
I for one am appalled knowing this. What about a debit card? My bank will not cover my fraudulent overages. I think it should be required to present photo i.d. as a basis of using any card. And not all photo i.d.’s have to have your personal information so if you are seriously worried about identity thieves working at Taco Bell (Have you seen how smart these employees are nowadays?) you can show them something as simple as your Costco card, or state-issued-photo i.d. In my state it costs $3 for an i.d. with your name and picture (and nothing else).
Personally, I would rather have to drive all the way back to my house to get my i.d. to present it than have some thief using my card for who knows how many $$$$. Point is if you are a business owner and you or your employees ignore the SEE ID ALWAYS in the signature line of my card, you are going to lose my business, PERIOD.
The real point here is:What are your legal rights and should you be FORCED to give up those rights.
Our local cable Co. (Charter) now has a sign posted at the counter declaring:You will be asked for an ID! Under certain conditions,such as opening a new account or changing an agreement with them,one should understand sound reasoning here!
However,to be asked for an ID simply to pay your bill with cash (WHEN YOU HAVE THE BILL IN YOUR HAND) is to me, very annoying! After all, I really do not believe anyone with half a brain would steal MY bill,and run down to the cable Co.and cough up fifty dollars (or even five dollars) ,while trying to aquire any of my personal information(WHICH THEY ALREADY HAVE IN THIER HAND WHEN THEY WALKED IN)!
Also, should you send somwone else to pay your bill,(AGAIN WITH CASH AND BILL IN HAND) CHARTER CABLE Co.NOT ONLY ASK’S THE NONHOLDER OF THE BILL FOR AN ID,BUT THEY WILL ASK THAT ANYONE WHO PAYS THE BILL BE ADDED TO YOUR ACCOUNT! ILLEGAL??? THEY, CHARTER ,TELL THE COUSTOMER:IT’S THE LAW!!
Also, the clerk specificly asks for your “DRIVERS LICENSE”! NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS!! I GUESS YOU CANT PAY YOUR BILL IF YOU DON’T HAVE ONE!
Personally, I refuse to produce an ID and CHARTER refuses to return my bill stub! Of course they don’t have a problem with keeping the money!
May be I should ask the clerk to write me a hand written receipt containing their name and employee number.After all! Do I have the right to know who is taking my personal information?Where do they live? I AM SURE THEY WOUD AT LEAST TRY TO TELL ME”IT’S NONE OF MY BUSINESS!
I could rant here a lot more but the point for me and the reason for this entry is: WHAT ARE YOUR LEAGLE RIGHTS AND ARE THOSE RIGHTS PROTECTED UNDER THE LAW? Whether it envolves credit cards cash or checks,really doesn’ matter!
YOU,AS AN !NDIVIDUAL SHOULD EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE LAW IN WHATEVER MANNER YOU SEE FIT!
I PERSONALLY AM NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A PHOTO NAME TAG ID JUST TO WALK DOWN THE STREET!
SOME COMMENTS MADE IN THIS FORUM BY ME ADMITTEDLY SARCASTIC , CONTAIN VERY LITTLE HUMOR ARE FROM PERSONAL ONGOING EXPERIENCES. I HAVE INTENTIONALLY RESERVED FURTHER COMMENT UNTIL SUCH TIME AS I MAY NEED TO EXERCISE MY RIGHTS,(IF I STILL HAVE ANY)!
They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me!!
The updated URL for reporting merchant violations to MasterCard is:
http://www.mastercard.us/support/merchant-violations.html
Never show ID with credit cards.
No ID required with credit cards. Merchants cannot require ID.
If a merchant tries to require ID, immediately call 1-800-VISA-911 to ensure they never do again.
VISA: 1-800-VISA-911
MasterCard: 1-800-300-3069
Also easily report merchant violations online:
http://www.mastercard.us/support/merchant-violations.html
Check the box that says “Merchant required ID”
Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.
No where in my credit card agreement says a retailer is NOT allowed to ask for id. I called my credit card company and they told me a retailer CAN set their own requirements for whether or not they check for id. My son stole my credit card and used it at a local retail store that doesn’t check for id. When I reported the fraudlent charge, VISA told me I was liable for ALL but $50. I contacted a lawyer and am still fighting with the credit card company after 2 years. So your information is NOT 100% correct. I wish all retailers would check for id. If your so afraid of the emoyee stealing your information, cover your address with your thumb and only show your name. Credit card reciepts by federal are only allowed to print the last 4-5 digits of your card for their records.
Those of you who are so afraid of an employee stealing your information, get a debit card or don’t have a credit card. I’m still fighting this charge. Why didn’t I just pay it, you might be thinking? It’s the principle of it. I didn’t authorize this charge and he is not on my account. The charge was over $2000, why didn’t VISA call me to notify me about this charge especially when it was done 4 states away from where I live and I haven’t used it in over a year.
I am a manager at a pizza joint, I ask for ID every purchase most people are happy to provide it, a good portion thank me, on a rare occasion I get cussed out, you keep saying it’s not for your protection but guess what, it is, what happens when you get $1000 suddenly droped out of your account because some guys got a hold of your card and went on a spending spree in your town. yes you will probably get your money back after a week or so, but what happens to the bills you have to pay, the food you need on the table, the gas you put in your car in that time. I would rather show my ID for 2 seconds than risk someone charging my card while i’m at work or sleeping. do not hand them your ID, have it in your hand give them about 3-4 seconds to verify name and face and pull it back, unless they have a photogenic memory they won’t remember anything.
I hate to tell you, but a merchant CAN require ID for purchases with a credit or debit card. The merchant has the right to set policies for purchases made in their business. For example I work in the hotel industry (for 25 years now) and it is standard policy at any hotel to ask for ID to verify card ownership, charge backs on hotel charges are to easy to get and the industry to fight this is requiring IDing the card user, as well the processing companies require it. As or the credit card companies themselves, when I have spoke with them they have ALL said requiring ID is the correct procedure!
Sorry, can’t set policy that supercedes law.
I know, “But that’s our policy and the way we’ve always done it…” (a cookie for anyone who can name the logical fallacy!)
I work in the Credit card industry… there are two sides of the Credit Card industry. The Issuer (those that provide credit cards) and the Acquirer (those that take the credit card for payment). When you call your issuer, they do not have any idea about the rules on the acquiring side. I work on the acquirer side and deal with merchants and their service provicers.
That being said… there is nothing to stop a Merchant from ASKING to see your ID. Nothing to prevent you from giving it. But the Merchant cannot require it for completion of the transaction.
So, yes you might get asked for an ID… and a Merchant can ask…that is not a violation. But the Cardholder can refuse. But seriously.. why would you?
I went to Florida last summer and they ALWAYS asked for ID for credit card purchases Disney World and Universal Studios. While in Universal Studios ID is required for just ticket purchases, in Disney World it’s required for EVERYTHING, including one bottle of Powerade! While I believe they’re trying to reduce unauthorized credit card purchases, they’re just going too overboard with it and is too strict. And that was before I read this article (I don’t see how its prohibited to ask for ID (when companies are just trying their anti theft measures) but I can see how annoying it is. Many companies do ask for zip code, though.
Interesting. Yes it’s easy to perform CC fraud with ID info. When I use my CapitalOne MC some still ask for ID but most don’t since they know it’s blatantly against TOS to ask (whereas Visa merely discourages it). The big box stores know better mostly (except the naive employee or two) but small time stores are big culprits for the contract breaching by asking for ID. The following didn’t ask: Albertsons, Target, WalMart. These DID. Best Buy, Kohls, Macy’s. Look’s like it’s homework time to make some ppl get fired or learn to work RIGHT and understand what a written contract means. Screw “fraud prevention”. In the eys of the law the only thing that counts is what is on paper.
CapitalOne=America Online
Hope you never have to dispute a charge. [you've got mail!]
Why not show ID? Say you are buying a $1500 HD TV at a store where the clerk is making $8 an hour. You have just told them where they can find it and either take it to their house or sell it for crack!
The protection is keeping your address out of the hands of ??????????????????
why does everyone care so much about flashing their drivers license anyway?!
Some retailers swipe it (ahem, target). Do you want all DL data stored in the same database as your CC#? Some of the more perspicacious states use your social for the DL#.
The reasons are manifold.
One recent decision was based on an invasion of privacy solely from a zip code request.
Your research isn’t thorough and your interpretation of what you have read is clearly biased by your point of view. As a merchant for almost 30 years, I have read all of our agreements. I have also been advised by the Visa/Mastercard company (First Data, the largest processor of Visa and Mastercard transactions) and AmEx to ask for information from the customer if the transaction seems dubious. They send tips to merchants annually and even conduct fraud protection courses with larger merchants. No, an i.d. cannot be REQUIRED but it is recommended, as is asking for a telephone number. Asking for telephone numbers or ids greatly reduces credit card fraud. Credit card fraud is expensive for everyone.
This message is to all credit card holders out there —-
Why is everyone making a big deal about merchants asking for your IDs when making a purchase with your credit card?????? Have you all consider twice about identify theft? Someone could be stealing yours or your spouse’s credit card and using it without you realizing it until you received your credit card statement….It doesn’t hurt to show your ID –just show it once and let the clerk finish his/her job.
So please stop filing complains when someone is trying to do his/her jobs….just for the safety of everyone. You should be glad they asked for your ID.
Have to agree with Laurie in Chicago. Ignorance is usually the winner with this situation; even when trying to deal with the credit card companies. I called Visa to complain about a Best Buy employee refusing a sale because I wouldn’t show my ID. The rep I talked to said, “we actually require you to show id”.
Another time, I called AmEx to question this practice and the rep I talked to that time, with a strong Indian accent, just didn’t help.
The stores don’t care and the companies don’t care, so you are left with the choice of capitulating to the store clerk who think this is them going above and beyond for your protectioin, or doing without the convenience of the card.
I ALWAYS have to show id in order to use my card. Yesterday I called Citicard who issued my Mastercard and spoke with account mgr Joann id#MD0081 who incorecctly insisted merchants have a right to ask for id. I sent a secure e-mail on Citicard’s web site reporting her. Either she is enforcing Citicard’s policy to ignore the rule NOT to ask for id, or she is just that stupid. Either way Citicard needs to train their employees of the CORRECT policy. Needless to say she refused to contact the merchant to ask them to stop requiring id. This merchant actually wrote down my driver’s license info on their copy of the receipt. I crossed it out and they refused the purchase.
Most consumers have zero liability when paying with a credit card, so the prevent fraud – for your own good BS is meaningless. As a consumer using a credit card I’m more worried about the cashier memorizing my driver’s license and perpetuating some sort of fraud than I am about some one stealing my card and using it with out my knowledge. Merchants agree to the terms. If they don’t like the terms or are concerned about their own personal liability they shouldn’t accept credit cards. Signing the card and refusing to show ID is the best way to protect you from fraud.
My Amex merchant’s agreement said that you were NOT to ask for ID for an authorized charge under penalty of having your acceptance privileges rescinded. If it was a bad charge and Amex authorized it, you’d never know, because the retailer always got paid.
Most credit card fraud is perpetrated by unscrupulous sales personnel. It’s much riskier for people to show their ID, which has personal information, for every credit card transaction than the risk for the more limited instances of unauthorized credit card use. Do you think maybe that the credit card companies have thought about the best procedures for credit card use?
And to those who want to insist that the merchants around them all follow this policy – you know that this just makes it easier for credit card thieves. They will be declining to show id when they use their stolen card. Sadly, it is card thieves who stand to benefit the most from a policy like this.
You all do realize too that the chances that NOT showing your id to a cashier is going to protect yourself from id theft is slim to none? That is NOT how id theft commonly happens.
If you’re want to protect yourself, get a paper shredder and get your name taken off the lists for receiving pre-approved credit offers. This is likely to make a difference. Cashiers memorizing addresses off ids that are shown to them is an incredibly rare way for id theft to happen. Stealing your pre-approved card offer from your mail and going through your garbage ARE the most common ways id theft happens.
Use your heads people!
This is not factually correct information above – it is not the credit card cos that are liable for fraudulent use of credit cards. The merchants take the loss. The cc co makes MORE $$ when a credit card charge back is filed by the card holder via a $15-$25 fee they charge the merchant.
So cc cos don’t care that not requiring id makes it easier for people to use stolen credit cards – in fact they like it. More $$ for them.
Does anyone have an easy way to report AMEX violations on the web? I hate to sit on hold to gripe that they required ID to complete the transaction.
My clients are so stupid they probably can’t read the document anyway. They’d hand over their own mothers if it would get them their purchase faster. Absolute sheep. Of course, they have nothing worth stealing anyway.
I’ve gotten a couple merchants shut-off from accepting credit cards over repeat violations of this issue (they usually change their practice within a few hours of being shut-off; it really gets their attention).
To report, simply call 1-800-VISA-911, press zero twice, and ask to file an “incident report” regarding a merchant violation/merchant who required ID. Crooked merchants shape-up quickly to avoid suspension. Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.
I was forced to show ID today to use a Visa (after the lady in front of me was denied her purchase because she didn’t have ID). I would have fought the guy, but I was in a hurry and needed my purchase.
I’m on hold with Visa right now, and the woman seemed to think it was allowed. I had to read off the document to her before she’d allow a complaint.
Obviously it is a major security and identity theft risk, extreme invasion of privacy, and a no-brainer to keep your ID to yourself. No reasonable adult would hand over their ID to some violating cashier on demand. The most important thing is making sure it never happens again, so if any violating merchant should ever pop-up in your community, make sure they are eliminated/brought back into line immediately – 1-800-VISA-911.
Never show ID with credit cards.
No ID required with credit cards. Merchants cannot require ID.
If a merchant tries to require ID, immediately call 1-800-VISA-911 to ensure they never do again.
VISA: 1-800-VISA-911
MasterCard: 1-800-300-3069
Also easily report merchant violations online:
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/contactus/merchantviolations.html
Check the box that says “Merchant required ID”
Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.
Gerry-
Thanks for posting the updated link for Visa. I changed it in the blogpost.
Thanks again,
C.C. Guru
I found the correct URL of the Visa document
http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/rules_for_visa_merchants.pdf
Mastercard pdf link is also bad
I just gave my ID to get a $3 transaction processed on my Visa card. No more. Now, if any merchant tries again, I’ll tell them ID can’t be required. If, as I suspect, they refuse to accept my card, now I know how to report them. I relish them getting hammered by Visa!
Our credit card number contacted us about the bad charges and never said anything about further action on our part. When the charges appeared on my statement, everyone from the bank to MC to the card services company said that I would have to file a police report, fill out two forms and get them notarized to start the process of getting the charges removed.
So I wish Walmart and several other chain stores had asked for ID.
CREDIT CARD SIGNATURE IS ALL THE ID NEEDED
When you pay for merchandise with a Visa card, MasterCard, or American Express any store that accepts these cards should accept yours too, no questions asked. It’s part of the deal that merchants agree to when they become participating members.
They must check your signature and the card – electronically or by telephone – to be sure it’s valid. Once the answer comes up yes, they can go ahead and charge. They can’t ask you for any further identification – not a license plate number, Social Security number, proof of address, phone number or photo ID.
Your personal ID isn’t needed because Visa, MasterCard, and American Express all guarantee payment on cards that have been properly checked. If the issuer mistakenly authorizes a sale on a bad card, it should make good. MasterCard says that merchants receive instant settlement. The contract MasterCard merchants sign specifically prevents them from asking for personal ID.
Unfortunately, not all merchants play by the rules. Some, apparently, haven’t read them.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
MasterCard wants to hear about merchants who break their rules. Send the name and address and an account of what happened to MasterCard WorldWide 2000 Purchase St. Purchase, NY 10577 or call 1-800-300-3069. The merchant’s bank will get a stiff letter, ordering it to investigate and bring the offending store into line – or pay a $2,000 fine. You may also report violations online:
http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/contactus/merchantviolations.html
Visa enforces the same rules as MasterCard. “When we hear about a violation, we ask the bank that signed the merchant to get together with the merchant and see that the practice is stopped,” Visa representative states. To report a merchant, send a letter to the bank that that issued your Visa card or call 1-800-VISA-911.
American Express also prohibits merchants from asking for IDs. “All a merchant is supposed to do is take an imprint, make sure the signature matches and swipe the card through the terminal, to get authorization.”
More people need to be aware of this and stand by their rights and refuse to show an ID. It is far more dangerous to give your home address, and birthday to every minimum wage clerk that requests it.
I am always looking for good relevant information and latest news about Visa Credit Card . Just found your blog, thx for the info!
This is an interesting article, your a very good writer,keep it up.
Why did Lindsay put that stupid smilely face on such a pretty credit card?