Shopping RANT...plus a question...

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Thanks ZuZugal.

Looks to me like Shelly F has the correct answer, and it is very logical.
In her first post the OP says she was asked for her SS # to verify identity...but OP had not even given the clerk a means of payment yet. They might ask to see a driver's license AFTER you have shown your credit/debit card, not before. Then in a later post the OP states "yeah, she asked for my DL# phone # and address". Then she signs the pad without having ever given any type of payment, and a manager is standing right there.

I would never myself give out any sort of info to a sales clerk much less my SS#, DL#, phone # and address. So the OP had no idea what was going on after giving out all of this info and a manager was standing right there?

 

[C.Ann]

I would NEVER give my SS# to a sales clerk - and if they insisted, I would tell them to take their merchandise and stuff it..
I won't even give them my zip code or phone# - both of which have been asked for.. There's no "legitimate" reason for them to have that info - end of story..

Hope you can get it straightened out..

 

[maxiesmom]

And I don't know what they're giving the clerks for getting people to sign up for those cards, but it must be some serious incentive, because I got one too. It wasn't by deceit, though, it was by downright begging. She had been very nice and attentive (and patient!) while my DDs and I were trying on many pairs of shoes, and when I went to check out, she asked me if I could PLEASE help her out for Christmas by signing up for a credit card, that it would really mean a lot to her.

I don't work at Macy's, but I do work retail. So I can tell you that each store keeps track of how many credit accounts each associate opens. At my store, it is huge part of our yearly review. A part that I stink at, as I hate nagging people to open a credit card. Espcially in this ecomony! But not opening charge cards does cause me quite a bit of grief at work.

 

[Jennasis]

Sounds like a tactic to boost their credit card signup numbers. My aunt works in Macy's and they get bonuses based on how many new cards they sign up.

 

[happygirl]

I know for a fact that some stores do have a random type thing that will every so many customers ask for a zip code or phone number or even birthdate it has to do with demographics of there customers.

I don't mind giving zip code, birthdate or even phone number. I'm never going to give them SS#

 

[imabrat]

Looks to me like Shelly F has the correct answer, and it is very logical.
In her first post the OP says she was asked for her SS # to verify identity...but OP had not even given the clerk a means of payment yet. They might ask to see a driver's license AFTER you have shown your credit/debit card, not before. Then in a later post the OP states "yeah, she asked for my DL# phone # and address". Then she signs the pad without having ever given any type of payment, and a manager is standing right there.

I would never myself give out any sort of info to a sales clerk much less my SS#, DL#, phone # and address. So the OP had no idea what was going on after giving out all of this info and a manager was standing right there?

She says she gave her card to the clerk and the clerk swiped the debit/credit card, and then she was asked for the ssn. And around here, the usually ask for your drivers license with the debit/credit. They don't ask after, but sometimes they ask before.

 

[Carly_Roach]

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.

And that would have been the end of my transaction with her and that store. I can understand wanting some ID to prove that I'm the person who belongs to the card, but there's nothing on either the card or my DL that states my SS# so there's no reason for the store to have it, either.

If she had pushed the matter, I'd have had her back everything out of the register and taken my business elsewhere. There are far too many hurting retailers in Michigan who'd prefer my actual dollars in their pockets instead of losing my business by fooling around trying to trick me into getting their 30% interest credit card.

You don't a SS# to sell me some shirts.

I wish you the best of luck getting this straightened out. Totally up to you, but if this had happened to me Macy's would never get my business back.

 

[pezheadmeg]

Call the store first thing tomorrow morning. Get the office manager on the phone. You will have the store manager either on the phone or calling you back in a matter of minutes.

I haven't worked sales in several years, but I can tell you I've known of numerous employees who have gotten fired for doing exactly that. It's a huge security issue that they don't take lightly.

It probably wasn't even a permanent manager that was standing next to her at the register. They hire "managers" to handle crowd and flow for Christmas flow. A normal permanent store line exec would've bent over backwards to appease you with the situation.

 

[monarchsfan16]

How? By being asked for your license, phone number, and address? They do it to me all the time and not once have I been sent a credit card for the store. How could she be fully aware of them signing her up for a credit card? Like she said, she was led under the guise that the social was for "security purposes", not for a credit card. Your statement isn't logical at all.

Ok, I wasn't going to say it, but I work for Macy's. One of the signatures that's required is an acceptance of the terms and agreements. Granted, our electronic sinature things are horrible, so it'd be easy enough to miss, especially when you're cashing out and expecting to be asked for a signature anyway, but if you read it, some red flag SHOULD be raised. And if the debit card was what was swiped, an even bigger red flag should have gone off if it asked for a signature, as Macy's pad ask for a PIN automatically, and you have to go through a process to use it as credit. This time of year, I can understand how not everyone would know that as there are many that only shop at Macy's for Christmas, but a regular is familiar with it. So at some point, something shouldn't have seemed right.

That being said, the associate, and the manager were absolutely in the wrong. While I'd like to side with everyone that says it was probably a holiday manager, the reality is, the managers at all levels bend over backwards to do two things: make customers happy, and OPEN CREDIT ACCOUNTS. I've seen too many stupid things to believe that it was definitely a holiday manager. Unfortunately it COULD have been a regular manager. And unfortunately, it's not BS that the account couldn't have been cancelled right then. Well, they COULD have called credit for the OP, and had her talk to the person at credit, but nothing can be done about cancelling an account at the register itself. I will echo again that this does NOT jeopardize the OP's security, and the associate and the manager would never have seen the OP's SSN. It's all dealt with within the computer. Macy's no longer requires a paper form to be filled out, in fact the booklet no longer has an application form. The information is simply entered into the computer as it appears on the license, and then is approved by the customer. A credit or debit card is also swiped to check credit/prove identity. Nothing is charged to that first card.

And as an aside, it's against the terms with the credit card companies for stores to ask for ID when you use a debit or credit card.

 

[imabrat]

Ok, I wasn't going to say it, but I work for Macy's. One of the signatures that's required is an acceptance of the terms and agreements. Granted, our electronic sinature things are horrible, so it'd be easy enough to miss, especially when you're cashing out and expecting to be asked for a signature anyway, but if you read it, some red flag SHOULD be raised. And if the debit card was what was swiped, an even bigger red flag should have gone off if it asked for a signature, as Macy's pad ask for a PIN automatically, and you have to go through a process to use it as credit. This time of year, I can understand how not everyone would know that as there are many that only shop at Macy's for Christmas, but a regular is familiar with it. So at some point, something shouldn't have seemed right.

That being said, the associate, and the manager were absolutely in the wrong. While I'd like to side with everyone that says it was probably a holiday manager, the reality is, the managers at all levels bend over backwards to do two things: make customers happy, and OPEN CREDIT ACCOUNTS. I've seen too many stupid things to believe that it was definitely a holiday manager. Unfortunately it COULD have been a regular manager. And unfortunately, it's not BS that the account couldn't have been cancelled right then. Well, they COULD have called credit for the OP, and had her talk to the person at credit, but nothing can be done about cancelling an account at the register itself. I will echo again that this does NOT jeopardize the OP's security, and the associate and the manager would never have seen the OP's SSN. It's all dealt with within the computer. Macy's no longer requires a paper form to be filled out, in fact the booklet no longer has an application form. The information is simply entered into the computer as it appears on the license, and then is approved by the customer. A credit or debit card is also swiped to check credit/prove identity. Nothing is charged to that first card.

And as an aside, it's against the terms with the credit card companies for stores to ask for ID when you use a debit or credit card.

No, I totally agree. I'm not sure if you're disagreeing with me or something else? I've seen an ID asked when using credit, but never debit. Wouldn't surprise me if the stores where I saw this we doing something shady, but whatever.

I just took it as the OP was in a rush - it's prime time for holiday season and she probably just wanted to get the heck out of there. Yes it was a mistake putting her social in, but she probably wasn't thinking at the time. It happens to all of us, we're only human.

And FTR, I HATE how the first thing most stores ask you is "Would you like to open a credit account today?" to anyone and everyone. A few months ago, in Sears, I had a cashier INSIST!! (she was being very pushy) that I absolutely needed a credit account. I told her "I'm only 16! I have no income right now" but she kept going on "You don't look 16, so would you like to open an account today and save 20% off your purchase?". It's not even like I was buying anything big, it was a little 15$ dress shirt.

 

[ZuZugal]

She says she gave her card to the clerk and the clerk swiped the debit/credit card, and then she was asked for the ssn. And around here, the usually ask for your drivers license with the debit/credit. They don't ask after, but sometimes they ask before.

Per the OP's post below, she states that her debit card is in her hand the whole time but is not swiped...

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.

So the clerk asked for her ss#, phone #, address, DL# before any type of payment was used. My point is why in the heck would anyone give that much info to a clerk for supposed "identity" purposes when no form of payment had even been given yet? What was the clerk comparing too/looking at to prove identity? The OP had her debit card in her own hand. It is hard for me to believe the OP had no idea what was going on. The clerk could be in the wrong as well but each of us must protect ourselves the best we can and ask questions along the way if we don't understand what is going on. Plain and simple.

 

[imabrat]

Per the OP's post below, she states that her debit card is in her hand the whole time but is not swiped...



So the clerk asked for her ss#, phone #, address, DL# before any type of payment was used. My point is why in the heck would anyone give that much info to a clerk for supposed "identity" purposes when no form of payment had even been given yet? What was the clerk comparing too/looking at to prove identity? The OP had her debit card in her own hand. It is hard for me to believe the OP had no idea what was going on. The clerk could be in the wrong as well but each of us must protect ourselves the best we can and ask questions along the way if we don't understand what is going on. Plain and simple.

This:

Now that I think about it, I did, and when I did, thats when the keypad asked me for my social...

Oh, you all are making me feel better about this!

I will be going in tomorrow to straighten things out. I will keep you all posted.

 

[ZuZugal]

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.

Looking at the above statement makes it seem as if the entire transaction took place without ever swiping a card. Then later she states something about swiping.

Since the OP has not been back for a while I don't know if we'll ever understand the order in which things took place.

Like I posted earlier, it does seem as if the clerk was trying to get her to open a credit line with that store and the OP let it happen. Yes, let it happen. She gave the clerk much more than just her SS# (as she stated in her original post.) If people are going to give away their private information without asking a single question about what is going on then there will be ramifications. The op is now in a bind.

If this had happened to my daughter, I would hope that she would first learn the lesson of personal prudence, not to first blame someone else.

 

[golfgal]

Since you entered everything on the keypad you are most likely safe from her stealing your info. They should have their system secure enough so that the employees do not have any access to your personal information.

They are probably pushing the employees to get X number of new credit card accounts. This employee has found that this tactic works for getting people to sign up. That's my guess at what happened. She will probably get a gift or bonus if she gets so many people signed up.

As soon as your first bill comes pay the bill in full and close the account. That shouldn't have too much of an effect on your credit score. But you can have a note put on all 3 credit reports stating that you did not knowingly open this account.

This is probably exactly what happened. I worked for Macy's several years ago and every once in a while we would get extra money for how ever accounts we opened and the one with the most opened got a nice sized check. How she opened would NOT have been an acceptable practice when I was there. I would call the store manager and make sure he/she knows what is going on. It is very possible the manager of that department told them to do it that way because THEY get a bonus too.

 

[imabrat]

Looking at the above statement makes it seem as if the entire transaction took place without ever swiping a card. Then later she states something about swiping.

Since the OP has not been back for a while I don't know if we'll ever understand the order in which things took place.

Like I posted earlier, it does seem as if the clerk was trying to get her to open a credit line with that store and the OP let it happen. Yes, let it happen. She gave the clerk much more than just her SS# (as she stated in her original post.) If people are going to give away their private information without asking a single question about what is going on then there will be ramifications. The op is now in a bind.

If this had happened to my daughter, I would hope that she would first learn the lesson of personal prudence, not to first blame someone else.

I know the OP. Trust me, Emily knows enough NOT to give out her SSN. Which is why I said it was probably an honest mistake; we're human and it happens. If she was looking for people to tell her not to give her SSN out, she would've asked, but she's asking people what she can do to reverse the situation. Accidents happen, but they can also be fixed. I'm not getting snippy with you or anyone else so please don't think that, but I honestly fail to see how this was ALL her fault. Anyone here can NOT tell me they've never been in an instance where they didn't think and they just wanted to get the heck out of dodge. I think this is what has happened to Emily, and obviously it's been a lesson well learned.

I just fail to see how all of this is her fault. Why is it perfectly okay for a cashier to be sly and sneaky to get someone to open a stupid little account, but it's not okay for someone to have an honest, innocent mistake? Honestly, it was a bad decision for Macy's too. If it were me or just about 99% of the people I know, I/we would NEVER shop in Macy's again!

 

[Katieinwonderland]

To the OP, I hope you manage to get things settled. Please come back and tell us what the outcome is! I relayed this story to my managers at my department store today and they couldn't believe it! They told me if I'd done that, I'd be fired.

The part that makes me most mad is that she lied to you when she asked for your social security number!

I think when you tell a story like this, there is always someone who will tell you it was your fault!

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would NEVER give my SS# to a sales clerk - and if they insisted, I would tell them to take their merchandise and stuff it..
I won't even give them my zip code or phone# - both of which have been asked for.. There's no "legitimate" reason for them to have that info - end of story..

Hope you can get it straightened out..

Unless you're the only person/household in your ZIP code, this is NONidentifying information used solely for general marketing purposes.

If you are the only person in the country in that ZIP code, then I agree - I'd refuse to provide even that innocuous information.

 

[kwelch10377]

I would NEVER give my SS# to a sales clerk - and if they insisted, I would tell them to take their merchandise and stuff it..
I won't even give them my zip code or phone# - both of which have been asked for.. There's no "legitimate" reason for them to have that info - end of story..

Hope you can get it straightened out..

I would never give out SSN or Phone, but zip codes are actually very helpful for a company to have without giving info out that is just personal to you. They use the zip codes to determine the towns that the customers are coming from and to see what areas there would be an opportunity to put another location in. It may help you out by giving the zip code bc they could put a location of your favorite retailer closer to you!

 

[MaumeeMom]

I would NEVER give my SS# to a sales clerk - and if they insisted, I would tell them to take their merchandise and stuff it..
I won't even give them my zip code or phone# - both of which have been asked for.. There's no "legitimate" reason for them to have that info - end of story..

Hope you can get it straightened out..

I can see giving out the zipcode, it is for the store to help target their marketing audience.

I will give out my phone # to certain retailers because it is a way to get coupons. Bath & Body Works is great with this and so is Victoria's Secret. I get coupons for a free pair of panties about every two months. I haven't paid for underwear for years.

OP, I hope that you can get everything straightened out.

 

[Maddle]

Don't feel so bad, OP. - FWIW - a similar thing happened to me last year. Usually I avoid using store credit cards because it's just one more thing to keep track of at bill paying time. Ordinarily I use the Macy's coupons, but last year at Christmas time I was in the store, and the promotion if you used the store card was terrific. I had picked up quite a bit of merchandise, but wasn't carrying the card. The clerk offered to look it up using my mastercard info and something else, probably SSN. Now, I'm thinking she is just tracking down my store account number - but by the end of the dance, I was signed up for a new Macy's Visa. Can you believe it? I didn't even know they HAD a branded Visa. Boy was I mad. So, the card shows up, and I called the customer service on the back of the card, and cancelled it. Yes, I suppose it dinged my credit just a bit, but I just wanted OUT!

So - it can happen to the best of us. I think it is a stinky way to do business.

Maddle