Shopping RANT...plus a question...

[pigletgirl]

Today I went out and got some shirts for my dad at Macys for christmas. As I was checking out, the gal had asked me for my SS#. I said WHAT?! She says, yeah, it picks random people to ask all these questions for security reasons.

Well of course at the time, I didn't know any better and I did it. When I received the receipt, it said I had save $49. I told her that the items were not on sale, and came to the conclusion that she signed me up for the darn credit card!!!!!!!

By this time I was so stinking mad, I just wanted to book it out of there.

But now, I have a CC coming to my house!

I'm going to cancel it when it comes

But I wanted to know is....is there anything extra action I should take? Would you guys write a letter or talk to someone?

I'm just really worried that the gal is going to steal my identity........

 

[MinnieMe87]

I'd be calling their customer service ASAP. I didn't know that stores could legally do that kind of thing without your approval. I would not have given my ss# though without asking what it was for, etc. If it still sounded fishy after the worker explained, I would ask for a manager. There's no need for a store to ask for your ss# unless you do sign up for the card..and then they should only ask if you WANT to get the card. I hope you get this resolved.

 

[Sparx]

i don't have any advice, but i would be SO mad! i hope you get it worked out soon.

 

[taylor3297]

Somethng isn't right. A sales person at any store cannot ask for your SS#! If you were applying for a card, you have to still fill out the form which may ask for your SS#. Call the store immediately and tell them what happened.

 

[Briarmom]

Um, I am not sure, but I can't imagine that they can sign you up without an address, phone number, work information, and running a credit check at the bare minimum?

But yeah, never give out your SS#.

 

[dislaney]

Yikes, I would call the store.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I would have reported this to the manager right then and there.

 

[cglaura]

If you didn't fill out and sign anything I'd call all 3 credit bureaus and put a fraud alert asap.

You might be able to do it online, not sure.

Did you pay by credit card, check or give them your driver's license. Anything with any other personally identifying info?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The employee ID number will be on your receipt so they can track which employee did it. I would go back tomorrow and go to customer service, and even demand to see someone from the security department.

 

[pigletgirl]

I would have reported this to the manager right then and there.

The manager was standing next to her and she said 'oh well, we can't cancel the account right now, but we'll give you the $49 off of your bill'.

If you didn't fill out and sign anything I'd call all 3 credit bureaus and put a fraud alert asap.

You might be able to do it online, not sure.

Did you pay by credit card, check or give them your driver's license. Anything with any other personally identifying info?

Yeah she asked for my drivers license, phone #, address, and then signed the darn card machine

I'm totally kicking myself in the rear right now.....

So should I do the fraud alert anyways????????

My biggest problem is the fact that she lied to me, and i've now buried myself into a giant hole

But she didn't see (i don't think) my ss#....

 

[Katieinwonderland]

I work in a department store over Christmas (actually for Macy's sister company!)

When we open a card, it goes like this:

-You hand over your driver's license and another major credit card we can run to check your credit (we don't see a credit score or anything, it's all done behind the scenes)
-We fill out your info on the computer from your driver's license, and you have to put your social security number into the keypad (we don't see it)
-We give you a pamphlet with the terms and conditions etc, we give you time to read it (most people don't bother, but they have the option) then they sign the keypad to say they understand them

Did you do any of this other than giving your social? I would guess that Macy's would be similar to our store since they're owned by the family. You shouldn't have had to TELL your social security number to anyone for any reason.

I'd be furious if I were you!!! She totally lied to you, telling you "it was for security reasons" if it was to open a credit card!

I'd go back to the store and talk to a manager, or at least call them...they NEED to know if they're associates' are doing this. FWIW, associates' get extra cash for opening accounts, so she probably made money off this.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

There are many levels of managers in department stores and my guess is the one next to her was an entry level junior manager. I would raise heck in customer service and report both the salesgirl and the manager. They promote the cards and are supposed to open as many as possible, but they should not be doing it by lying. I would still speak with someone in security as well.

 

[monarchsfan16]

Raising heck in customer service isn't going to do anything. Most Macy's stores have gotten rid of their customer service areas.
As someone who works in a department store, and is pressured to push cards on people, I'm appalled by this. I've never heard of anyone going to that length to get someone to open a card.
Take a look at your receipt. Down toward the bottom there should be a "tell us what you think" website. Up at the top is her employee ID number. GO TO THAT WEBSITE. Comments left there ARE read by managers and the scores you provide DO affect the store.
That being said, you also need to contact credit (Macy's credit), and corporate. If her manager had that attitude, I'm afraid that it may be a storewide attitude. Unfortunately stores are judged on the amount of credit accounts they open. Individual stores do REALLY stupid things to get their associates to open accounts. You need to bring this to a level higher than the store.

 

[RunningGirl]

Sounds illegal to me. I'd speak to the store manager!

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Well of course at the time, I didn't know any better and I did it. When I received the receipt, it said I had save $49. I told her that the items were not on sale, and came to the conclusion that she signed me up for the darn credit card!!!!!!!

I'm confused. How did you not realize she hadn't asked you for any money even though she handed you your receipt? Anyways, very shady. It's been awhile since I signed up for my Macy's card, but I believe I had to sign the computer an actual paper. If that's the case, then that card shouldn't be valid if you ask me. If you go to www.experian.com, you can put a 90 day fraud alert on your credit, and it will transfer the information to the other two bureaus.

 

[pigletgirl]

I work in a department store over Christmas (actually for Macy's sister company!)

When we open a card, it goes like this:

-You hand over your driver's license and another major credit card we can run to check your credit (we don't see a credit score or anything, it's all done behind the scenes)
-We fill out your info on the computer from your driver's license, and you have to put your social security number into the keypad (we don't see it)
-We give you a pamphlet with the terms and conditions etc, we give you time to read it (most people don't bother, but they have the option) then they sign the keypad to say they understand them

Did you do any of this other than giving your social? I would guess that Macy's would be similar to our store since they're owned by the family. You shouldn't have had to TELL your social security number to anyone for any reason.

I'd be furious if I were you!!! She totally lied to you, telling you "it was for security reasons" if it was to open a credit card!

I'd go back to the store and talk to a manager, or at least call them...they NEED to know if they're associates' are doing this. FWIW, associates' get extra cash for opening accounts, so she probably made money off this.

Nope, I didn't verbally give her my ss#. It was on the pin pad.
She didn't go thru any of the terms and conditons, and just put the pamphlet in my bag because the manager was watching her. Otherwise I probably would not of gotten one.

I'm going in tomorrow.

There are many levels of managers in department stores and my guess is the one next to her was an entry level junior manager. I would raise heck in customer service and report both the salesgirl and the manager. They promote the cards and are supposed to open as many as possible, but they should not be doing it by lying. I would still speak with someone in security as well.

The security people in the mall? Or police?

Thanks for helping me!

 

[pigletgirl]

I'm confused. How did you not realize she hadn't asked you for any money even though she handed you your receipt? Anyways, very shady. It's been awhile since I signed up for my Macy's card, but I believe I had to sign the computer an actual paper. If that's the case, then that card shouldn't be valid if you ask me. If you go to www.experian.com, you can put a 90 day fraud alert on your credit, and it will transfer the information to the other two bureaus.

Because as soon as I signed my name the receipt was printed......

I had no idea she was charging me and i had my debit card out ready to swipe.

 

[Planogirl]

You can also add the alert by phone through Experian's automated system. I had to do this once when something happened with DH's credit.

It sounds like maybe this clerk had a quota to meet and is doing it sneakily.

 

[WhateverLolaWants]

Because as soon as I signed my name the receipt was printed......

I had no idea she was charging me and i had my debit card out ready to swipe.

Ahhhh, gotcha. I think you definitely need to raise heck. I'd start with the store manager ASAP, and if you don't get a satisfactory answer, then request the information for the regional manager and corporate after that. Credit cards affect credit scores, and I would be furious if someone was so desperate for a dollar or whatever amount Macy's associates earn for a CC application that they would screw up my credit score.

 

[redlight]

Never give out your SSN.