I don't like what happened to me at WalMart...

[debden]

I was checking out my groceries at walmart and a guy I haven't seen there before was at the register.I used a Gift Card to pay for part of my purchase and then used my credit card for the balance.While I was getting my credit card swiped I had set my little change purse on the counter with my Drivers License facing thru the plastic screen and while I was busy the check-out guy turned it around and looked at it to check against my credit card.
I did not say anything about it but I started getting really annoyed by the time I got to my car.I do not like what happened.I have never been ID'd for a credit card purchase and that is really sticking in my crawl...
Am I being too sensitive or was I descrimated against???
Any comments...
Just had to get that off my back...
Debbie

 

[SDFgirl]

I don't think it's discrimination. We occasionally have people ask to see our ID's to see if the names and/or signatures match the credit card. In fact, I always appreciate it when they do - if more clerks did this, maybe identity theft wouldn't be as big a problem. You probably just ran into a very by-the-book person.

Now...he probably should have asked first before touching your wallet, but I think he was only trying to do the right thing by checking.

 

[bicker]

The cashier's action may or may not have been impolite, but otherwise not remarkable given how much credit card fraud there is these days.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

I think you may be a bit sensitive. Your ID was being displayed. He may have thought that was your intention. I do it on purpose. I know that many stores ask as a precaution. I do not think you were being descriminated against.

That being said... I was checking out at Big Lots 2 weeks before Xmas, I was using my BF's credit card. Different Last name, same last initial. They asked for My Id, did a cursory glance and handed it back without any mention. They're just glancing. I thanked them for checking and walked out to my car. When I was a cashire at the register if the card wasn't signed I asked to see the DL because I woudln't accept the CC as it wasn't valid.

 

[chell]

With all of the credit card fraud lately lots of cashiers are now checking ID when someone buys things with a credit card. I have made a habit of asking everyone who uses a credit card for their id. Most people are happy to have someone check.

Here is my theory:

Many of the credit cards I see, easily 60-75%, are unsigned by the user. The more I noticed this the more I was determined to check ID and inform people that if they do not want to sign their card they need to at least write "See ID" or something similar on the back of the card. If you loose your card or it is stolen while unsigned anyone could sign the card and the signature will always match theirs. Even if someone has stolen the credit card and the signatures do not match you are not able to catch this until the purchase has been completed and the money has hit the individual's account. If something is suspicious the transaction can always be voided. But what if it is someone using a debit card as a credit card? We all know that money quickly gets taken out but takes for ever to be put back in an account.

So I check ID to protect my customers. Only one person has gotten an attitude with me but once I explained why I was checking they were fine with it.

Hope that makes you feel better. Maybe that store has had a lot of problems lately or maybe he worked at a store before that did? I really don't think he was trying to discriminate against you.

 

[chell]

But I do NOT think he should have touched it and turned it around. That is crossing a line in my book. Sorry I missed that the first time.

 

[bicker]

Yeah, that was my initial instinct, too, chell, but then I read Ursula's message, and revised mine... it could very well be that the cashier interpreted the OP's putting her little change purse on the counter as offering the ID; the cashier might even have been mistakenly miffed that the OP, seemingly (to the cashier) knowing the policy of having to present ID for credit card transactions, presented the ID in a manner that forced the cashier to have to reach over, turn it around, etc. So, it could have been just a misunderstanding.

 

[chell]

Yeah, that was my initial instinct, too, chell, but then I read Ursula's message, and revised mine... it could very well be that the cashier interpreted the OP's putting her little change purse on the counter as offering the ID; the cashier might even have been mistakenly miffed that the OP, seemingly (to the cashier) knowing the policy of having to present ID for credit card transactions, presented the ID in a manner that forced the cashier to have to reach over, turn it around, etc. So, it could have been just a misunderstanding.

True.

Then again maybe he has had a long shift and wasn't thinking. You never know.

 

[debden]

Yes,I do feel better about having my ID checked but not the way he went about it...I turned around just in time to see him turning my purse back around from checking my drivers license.I felt that was a 'sneaky' maneuver on his part so he had no choice but to tell me he had taken a look at my drivers license.
I'll put my purse in my coat pocket from now on so if they need to see it they can ask.
Thanks everbody,I do feel better knowing that.This is the first time I have ever been ID'd for a cc purchase.
Debbie

 

[tar heel]

It may be the first time, but it won't be the last. I live near a megamall, and you ALWAYS have to show an ID there -- that's been the case since it opened six or seven years ago. I would say I was asked to show an ID 75% of the time when I was Christmas shopping -- I prefer to be asked b/c it shows the store is making effort to ensure the card I'm using is my own.

The guy shouldn't have touched your stuff unless you handed it too him, though.

 

[Shugardrawers]

He should have asked for your ID and not touched your personal property without permission. Usually I like that they ask me for ID except the time we were at MGM and I wanted to pay using a credit card that's in my husband's name. Even though we have the same last name they wouldn't take it. The CM actually said I that for all he knew we could be getting divorced and me trying to run up the card out of spite. Gee, way to be magical there.

 

[GoofieRuthie]

He probably shouldn't have touched the change purse without you seeing, but I would be glad that he wanted to see your ID. I am a teller at a bank, and I'm amazed at how many people get furious that we ask to see their ID. It is for your own protection. You wouldn't want just anyone to walk in with your stolen check an cash it. If we get the ID we have something to go on if the check IS stolen. Same goes with IDs. Just before Christmas, I had a vendor tell me that there is a new CC scam where they are lifting the magnetic strip from cards and putting them on their own. So, he had to enter my last name. So, the names would match on the front of the stolen cards (if they asked to see their ID) but all of your info is on the strip. Make sense? Anyway, I urge everyone to gladly show your ID when using your CC or a check. If they don't ask for it, they aren't worried about who's you are using.

 

[bicker]

we were at MGM and I wanted to pay using a credit card that's in my husband's name. Even though we have the same last name they wouldn't take it. The CM actually said I that for all he knew we could be getting divorced and me trying to run up the card out of spite. Gee, way to be magical there.

Did you ask him for an explanation? or did he just volunteer that?

I suppose if you asked for an explanation, you deserved what you got! If he just volunteered that, actually saying "out of spite," that is a rather harsh way of wording it!

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

This is the first time I have ever been ID'd for a cc purchase.
Debbie

Wow, I am ID'd for my credit card purchases about 90% of the time. And I appreciate that they do it having been a victim of identity theft several years back.
He probably thought you put it there for him to check.

 

[aprilgail2]

It may be the first time, but it won't be the last. I live near a megamall, and you ALWAYS have to show an ID there -- that's been the case since it opened six or seven years ago. I would say I was asked to show an ID 75% of the time when I was Christmas shopping -- I prefer to be asked b/c it shows the store is making effort to ensure the card I'm using is my own.
.

Wow, I actually do not even sign my credit cards...I just write in big letters ASK FOR ID in the signiture spot....and all through Christmas in all different stores only ONE asked me and that was about out of 40 times using it! The others didnt even glance at the back!!

 

[GoofieRuthie]

I refuse to sign the back of my cards also. I write SEE PHOTO ID! Many times, mine doesn't get asked for either. If someone asks for my ID, I always thank them. I also think those little keychain cards are the worst idea ever. If I lose my keys, I've lost my CC too!

 

[Olaf]

I don't sign the back of my credit cards, and as a result I'm ID'd virtually everytime I use the card. It's for my protection. That being said, he should have asked rather than just grab your ID.

 

[Aimee K]

It's been awhile, but I used to be a retail store manager. We had communications from Visa/ Mastercard that we were not to accept any credit card unless it was signed. 'See ID' did not count. A son who shares his name with his father could have taken the card. The signatures must match. It was a rough Christmas season that year, with a lot of upset customers, but if you read the back of your card, it says on it "Not Valid Unless Signed".

I do sign mine, but also write 'please see ID' next to it.

 

[DisTeach1]

It's not like he grabbed her wallet out of her purse or rifled through her purse looking for her I.D. She set the wallet out, and he turned it around to look at the I.D. Big Deal. He probably thought that she didn't realize it was upside down. Wow, if you get upset about this, I'd hate to see what effect the "big" things have on you. This is so minor, really.

 

[phorsenuf]

Sounds to me like he thought you were putting it up there for him to look at. Certainly wouldn't have bothered me at all. At least he was being cautious.