They Can't Ask for A License

[Jill]

I always ask for the customer to write their phone number on the cc receipt. Rarely does anyone refuse. I have only ever used the phone numbers to call people after they leave their card or package at my booth - this does happen once or twice a year. I have noticed that more people are not signing the back of their cards, and many cards are so worn out that you cannot compare the signature, which I always do. Some people think it's okay to use their partner's or family member's card, but if I accept it and then the charge is disputed, I'm up the creek.

Years ago a local video store would not give me a membership without three pieces of ID, I only had two, so they demanded my SIN number. I refused and had them call the manager, and he wouldn't let me get a membership so I never went back. All this hassle for a video, the store was referred to as VIDEO FASCHISTS from then on by me and my boyfriend. But we are the kind of customers that hold a grudge for poor service. Once the boyfriend took his microwave in for servicing, and the repair place said they would order a part asap, and six months later they called us. So for years, every time we drove past the place we would shake our fists and yell, "Screw you, St.James TV!"

[NancyGoodenough]

So am I breaking the law by making the retailer break the law by asking them to ask me for ID?
Susan

Nope. the rules prohibit a merchant from denying the sale if you don't show your ID

Actually, no, Terry, the rules do not prohibit a merchant from denying this sale. You are actually required to make the customer sign the card and show ID.

Here's the verbage from the Visa pdf mentioned above:

Cards
While checking card security features, you should also make sure that the card
is signed . An unsigned card is considered invalid and should not be accepted . If a
customer gives you an unsigned card, the following steps must be taken:

• Check the cardholder’s ID . Ask the cardholder for some form of official
government identification, such as a driver’s license or passport . Where
permissible by law, the ID serial number and expiration date should be
written on the sales receipt before you complete the transaction .

• Ask the customer to sign the card . The card should be signed within your
full view, and the signature checked against the customer’s signature on the
ID . A refusal to sign means the card is still invalid and cannot be accepted .
Ask the customer for another signed Visa card .

• Compare the signature on the card to the signature on the ID .

If the cardholder refuses to sign the card, and you accept it, you may end up with
financial liability for the transaction should the cardholder later dispute the charge .

“See ID”
Some customers write “See ID” or “Ask for ID” in the signature panel, thinking
that this is a deterrent against fraud or forgery; that is, if their signature is not on
the card, a fraudster will not be able to forge it . In reality, criminals don’t take the
time to practice signatures: they use cards as quickly as possible after a theft and
prior to the accounts being blocked . They are actually counting on you not to look
at the back of the card and compare signatures—they may even have access to
counterfeit identification with a signature in their own handwriting .
“See ID” or “Ask for ID” is not a valid substitute for a signature . The customer
must sign the card in your presence, as stated above .

The words “Not
Valid Without
Signature”
appear above,
below, or beside
the signature
panel on all Visa
cards.