Credit card problem at your store

The other day I tried to request a credit from circuit city, I gave my
ID and they said that was fake, and refuse to return my ID until the
next day, is this legal? the next day I went with the manager and he
was sorry, but I don′t know if they can stole my information or
what.

A regional manager just called me to apologize for the store "making
up their own rules" (his words). He said it is written company policy
that stores must follow the Visa/MC policies (naturally). He said it
is corporate policy to NOT ask for ID, but that sometimes store
manager or employees see this happen at other places and think it's a
good idea. And THAT is exactly why I make a point to fight this, so
prevent it becoming commonplace.

Take my business elsewhere? I'll be happy to. When they pull the
Visa/MC logo off their door, so I know they don't take them, I will.
If I see the Visa/MC logo, then it is reasonable to assume that they
actually follow the contract they have with Visa/MC. If the store
doesn't like the rules, they can take their business elsewhere. For
example, Diner's Club does let merchants require ID.

The ID requirement doesn't stop anyone from using a card
fraudulently.
You can print up a fake ID in a couple minutes on your home inkjet or
at Kinko's. Most fraudulent card use is done online or at self-serve
card machines like gas stations.

I'm a Visa/MC merchant myself and I'm very familiar with the card
agreement. Every merchant gets the same basic one. There are details
like rates and dollar limits, but the basic rules are the same for
all
of us.

Some people just don't think before they speak, or in this case, type.
I am actually glad when someone ask me for my ID when I am using my
CC. In the off chance someone stole you CC, I would think that you
would be glad that they are asking for ID. If they didn't, you would
then be on this site, and others, complaining about it. I even offer
my DL to the clerk as extra ID most of the time, since I don't always
look as amazing in my CC picture.

I really don't understand why the other respondents are giving you
such a hard time. You make a very valid point.

Unfortunately there are many merchants who do not follow their credit
card agreements. (such as charging surcharges to used credit or
establishing a minimum dollar amount to use credit or in the case of
online stores, charging a card before the merchandise ships).

I am a retail shop owner and have also had my personal credit card
stolen and used fraudulently. So I can understand both sides of the
argument.

However, if the credit card was signed (which the letter writer says
it was) and there was nothing to arouse any suspicion regarding the
sale (which there does not seem to be as the letter writer says he has
shopped their previously) I have to agree that the store should have
followed the policies of the Visa agreement - which does not require a
photo ID.

We do not know that the letter writer has no ID of any kind; he may
have simply not have had it on him at the time of the transaction.

And for commentors (such as the one below) to jump to the conclusion
that the letter writer considers it a matter of discrimination (when
race was never mentioned anywhere in the letter) is extremely unfair.

You downloaded visas rules but does that mean HF has the same
agreement with them?

I would think that as a credit card customer you would find some
satisfaction knowing that the business was taking some type of
precaution against credit card fraud. But no, your ego got in the way
and you feel wounded so you write a letter of complaint instead of
thanking them for taking extra precautions in this time when credit
card fraud is so prevelant.

You need to get a state photo ID and if not then take your business
somewhere else.

The card was signed. Nothing in my post would indicate otherwise.
It's signed and gets used very heavily, without this ID issue. And in
fact I ended up using it at another one of this company's stores a few
miles away the next day, just bought something small, to see if this
was a new policy or just one rogue store. It looks like it's just the
one store.

Technically the merchant was doing you a favor since every credit card
says NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED. He could have refused to take your
credit card period without asking for government issued ID. He was
doing YOU a favor if the card was unsigned.

While the verbage you state is in that document as a general
statement, elsewhere on the same page it states that if a card is not
signed the first thing the CSR should do is to ask for a government
issued id.

Carlos,

There must have been a reason or an assumtion that forced the merchant
to ask for ID.

I for one, if some low life was using my cc, would appreciate greatly
that they cross verified exactly who was tendering the cc.

BillR.