Wal Mart- wanted my drivers license to confirm my credit card in Massachusetts???WHY, and NO WAY?

Question

I went to the same Wal MArt I have used for years. For the first time the cashier demanded to see my drivers licence with my credit card...I said NO, my social is still on the licence, she was beligerant, so I went to the head cashier. SHe also said I needed a drivers licence with a credit card. I made the store manager come over and HE told me all they needed was a second look at my signature! BUT is thal legal in Massachusetts, and it was humiliating, as though I were a thief.
I never have had to do that in the past, and I still don't have to do that in any New Hampshire Wal MArt...SO, fact and oppinions friends??????????????????

Answer 1

If the person above me works in the credit card industry as is claimed, you better start looking for another job since your answer is about as wrong as it could be.

I'll make it short and sweet. Merchants CANNOT require ID as long as they check the signature against the card. I will quote from Visa's Rules for Visa Merchants. "...merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot refuse to complete a purchase transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID. Visa believes merchants should NOT ask for ID as part of their regular card acceptance procedure." You can check the Mastercard site, they have similar wording. For the people who think "See ID" is a solution, read the link I provided below. It is not a solution.

Visa and Mastercard do NOT want merchants to require ID! You can call and report that Wal-Mart to either Visa or Mastercard and they will follow up with the store.

Answer 2

I agree with likepepsi

While it is not against the law, it is against Visa, MC and Amex policy for merchants to require ID to complete a sale when the credit card is properly signed.

It is against the law in some states for a merchant to place a fee on a sale when a credit card is used, though being charged a fee is not illegal when a debit card is used.

You do have the option to file a complaint with Visa, MC or Amex - whichever one you were using. And to file a complaint with your card provider as well.

The merchant could face a warning, a fine or the loss of being able to take that type of card.

I agree that having your SSN on your drivers license these days is not a good idea. You should go to the DMV and request a DL without your SSN on it.

As for the ID theft people talk about, they fail to realize that when they are providing their drivers license, they are giving someone access to a great deal of information.
If they think that ID theft cannot happen because someone has the info from their DL, they should think again because it does happen.

Visa, MC and Amex will protect you for any theft charges over $50.
You do not have the same protection when someone steals and uses the info on your ID to gain credit.



There is no such agreement between Walmart and the credit card companies. It is credit card company policy to "not" require ID's be checked. Credit card companies would not bypass their own policy to force Walmart to check ID's.

Answer 3

Illegal immigrants cannot get anything in that they are illegal and so if they get caught they get thrown out of the country. RE: Can illegal immigrants get a driver's license, health insurance, credit cards, etc..?

Answer 4

it's just a way to make sure that there is no identity theft...some people will put "see ID" on the signature line on the back of their credit card instead of using a signature, in case the card gets lost and then the finder will have the number and signature to forge it when they use it themselves...showing your ID is just a secure way to use your cards...they don't look at it close enough to copy down any numbers off your license...it's just for identification purposes only...and when you use your cards, always try to hide your numbers so that the people behind you in line can't use a camera phone to take a pic of the number...there are too many dishonest people in the world today...

Answer 5

You wouldnt be asking that question if your card had ever been stolen and used by another party. Showing the identification prevents consumer fraud and while you shop there often, you simply cannot expect the cashier to remember your name and face from the hundreds they see every day. Remember that paying with a credit card is a priviledge and not a right, millions of dollars are lost by merchants who did not practice proper card identification thereby causing card acceptance rates to skyrocket. When a store signs the agreement allowing them to accept cards they are agreeing to practice proper card acceptance, checking identification at the point of sale being rule number one. Laws are constantly reviewed and updated to protect both the stores and the cardholders from identity theft and fraud, be grateful that we have that priviledge - nothing worse than needing cash when the banks are closed. Have your id ready at the point of sale, make the cashiers life simple.

If you are that concerned about your social, get it off your drivers license - most states have changed the rules about listing it on the license with all of your other information. Why would you have your ssn printed on something that has your full name, home address and DOB? You may as well get a billboard.

Better question is what are you doing shopping at a store that owns sweat shops in third world countries? They are able to offer those low prices because they dont pay the people that manufacture their products jack, they are exploiters of those that cant defend themselves and you should find another place to spend your money.

Answer 6

Go to the Registry and get a license without your social on it.
If that store wanted further ID, it's far from "humiliating". Take a breath...they're just trying to stop fraud. Maybe it was a new policy to that store, but it's 100% legal to ask for ID on a credit transaction. How can you think it wouldn;t be?

Answer 7

I worked at Walmart in California. If the register prompts the cashier to ask for ID, they HAVE to ask for it, and are not allowed to finish the sale without seeing the ID. It is for your protection, because for all they know, it could have not been your card. Even though the store you went to for years obviously knew you and therefore did not card you, they still should have if prompted by the register. Now, this MAY vary from state to state, but I don't think so.
Remember, if you are carded for using your credit card, it is for YOUR protection. I have heard so many cases where the owner of a card was always asked for ID and willingly showed it when shopping, and the one time no one asked for ID, the card turned out to be stolen. You don't want to one day realize that you don't have your card and that is was stolen, and since no cashier bothered to ask for ID, you now have a huge bill you didn't rack up.

Answer 8

They do it here if you are purchasing over $100. Personally, I like it. If someone stole or found my card, I would appreciate Wal-Mart or anyone else checking for ID. And yes, it's legal because you have the option to shop elsewhere.

Answer 9

Yes it is legal. They are just double checking your signature. As long as they don't write down your SS#, I wouldn't worry about it. Next time ask if you can show something else with your signature. And as someone else suggested, you can NOT have a state issued ID and a Drivers licence in NH. One or the other.

Answer 10

This seems standard to me.
Cashiers are SUPPOSED to check i.d. with Credit Cards.
They are trained to do it that way. Be glad they checked.
If someone had taken your card, they would have caught them.
Wal-Marts are huge. I visit mine often & have done so for years, also. If someone asked me, I might be taken a back, but would have readily complied.
It is a safety issue.