You Need My ID???

[AmericanZero8503]

So we had this check up at the service desk because a person found it in the lot and brought it in to us. It appeared to be a Christmas gift, so someone at my store must have got ahold of the person and they were coming in to get it.

So this kid comes in at 5 and when I asked if he needed help he says, "Oh there it is." The check was hanging on a bulletin board behind me. So I asked him if that was his check, he said yes and I asked to see his ID. I'm not going to just hand the check over to anyone.

He gets annoyed! And claims he doesn't have a state ID. And he starts getting pissed at me. Mumbling under his breath. I told him if he has anything on him to prove he is who he says he is. So he gets out his school ID and slams it on the counter.

It was him, so I gave him the check.

Was I wrong to ask for ID before I released this out of 'Lost and Found'? If it were my check I'd be happy that they asked for my ID. I didn't even get a thanks. The kid just snatches the check and runs off. I should have gotten the name of the people who wrote the check to make sure this kid deserves the christmas gift he got.

[chainedbarista]

no, you did the right thing; it might have been his check, but he still has to prove it-getting pissed is stupid. you were looking out for the owner of that check; he should be grateful that an honest person found it for him, rather than some dirtbag.

[DesignFox]

I see nothing wrong with what you did. He should have been grateful that you double checked- it means you would not have given the check out to someone it didn't rightfully belong to. In the first place, he should have been happy someone was honest enough to bring it in...AND that you even held onto it!

[powerboy]

You were in the right, to ask for ID. I would have done that in your case also. It is only common sense, to ask to Verify if it was them or not

[hawkchick11]

At the clothing store I use to work at, if someone left behind a debit/credit card, we had to see their id before we even got it out of the lock box... we had a list in one of our binders of names from the debit/credit cards we had in the box. I had several people get pissed off when I asked for an id, about half of them didn't have their id on them and would get really pissed when I wouldn't give them their card.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

When you do something considerate for someone (and what you did WAS considerate) and they react this way, remember this: You don't do the right thing because of the kind of person the recipient is. You do it because of the kind of person YOU are.

[Banrion]

Yes, you were right in asking for ID, however, please promise me that you will NEVER EVER EVER again, post a check on a bulletin board. There is very sensitive personal information on a check that anyone could steal. Checks are actually easier than credit cards in the propagation of identity theft because the name and address are on the check.

[SuperB]

You had every right to ask for ID. What I always tell people who get irate is that they would be thanking me if it were someone else trying to use their cc account or claiming something we promised to hold for them.

[Noelegy]

When you do something considerate for someone (and what you did WAS considerate) and they react this way, remember this: You don't do the right thing because of the kind of person the recipient is. You do it because of the kind of person YOU are.

I like that. It's useful in other situations, too. Thanks!

When I worked retail, I could not believe how bent out of shape people would get if we asked for an ID when they would write a check (this was over 10 years ago and before debit cards really got off the ground). For one thing, it was surprising how many people leave the house without their driver's licenses.

The worst example of asked-for-ID rudeness I ever encountered was when I was fairly new at checking out groceries in a chain supermarket. Trainees were told to ask for ID EVERY time a customer wrote a check, and we had a little grid that we filled out with DL #, height, DOB...I'm sure you're familiar with the process.

I'd been checking out an older (60s) couple who'd been very nice up to that point, very chatty and friendly. They'd had $100 or so worth of groceries. He wrote a check with both their names on it, and when I asked for ID, she showed me HER driver's license. We'd been told in that situation to ask for the ID of the person who wrote the check. So I politely asked for his ID.

It was a real Jekyll/Hyde moment. This nice older couple all of a sudden got VERY hostile. They told me they shopped in there all the time and never got asked for ID (I explained I was new, and it was a 24-hour grocery store with 13 registers and that I had to ask). The man said, "Fine, we'll PLAY your little game," and literally THREW his ID at me. These were well-dressed, genteel folk. We're not talking Cletus and Brandine here. I was so dumbfounded that my innocent attempt to enforce store policy had turned these nice folk into snarling jackals that I was nearly in tears.

The next people in line witnessed the whole thing and were VERY nice to me.

When I worked at the book/music/video store several years later, I once saw a man leave $50 or so worth of merch in the store rather than go out to the car and get his ID. He insisted on talking to the manager, who promptly pissed him off by...asking to see his ID.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Good grief.

My husband used to give out Sacajawea dollars to clerks who asked for his ID. He really appreciated it, especially since his debt card had "ask for ID" written on the back.

He didn't give out many, because so few ask for it. But who the heck gets mad when someone wants to make sure nobody's using your stolen credit card?

I gotta think these same yabbos would have a fit if someone DID steal their cards and then got to use it unimpeded by clerks checking ID.

[Coconut]

Whenever I had to ask for ID, I would always get these people that said, "the number's on the check," meaning the DL number. So many people didn't get the fact that I literally needed to see their identification.

I definitely got some rolled eyes over it.

[SuperB]

Good grief.

My husband used to give out Sacajawea dollars to clerks who asked for his ID. He really appreciated it, especially since his debt card had "ask for ID" written on the back.

I've had people write that on their cards, only to get angry when I did and they had to fetch their ID from the car.

[tenaciousb]

Whenever I had to ask for ID, I would always get these people that said, "the number's on the check," meaning the DL number. So many people didn't get the fact that I literally needed to see their identification.

I definitely got some rolled eyes over it.

The ones that get smart like that are the worst of all. I feel like stepping on their face. Nice try asshat, but you don't get it, actually.

[Becks]

I keep telling you, if it makes sense, it's not allowed.

[friendofjimmyk]

When you do something considerate for someone (and what you did WAS considerate) and they react this way, remember this: You don't do the right thing because of the kind of person the recipient is. You do it because of the kind of person YOU are.

Wow. Those are awesome words to remember.