Bring your folder! Please!

[Tama]

Those of you who are cashiers know that when you are doing a WIC transaction you MUST see the person's WIC folder with their name and the other various names of whoever's covered or can sign for it.

Me: -glances over WIC check- Can I see your folder?
SC: Are you serious?
Me: We're obligated to see your folder, can't check you out without it.

The SC snatched away her check and left her milk and veggies just sitting there.

Seriously, don't they tell you that you need to have your folder on you when utilizing a WIC check?





As a bonus, almost as if to make the above better (as these both happened tonight), about an hour later there were several people in my line.

Toward the end of one order was some gum and a loaf of bread. Apparently they belonged to Customer B and not Customer A, who'd ended up paying for it.

CA just handed CB his stuff and at my apologies just said "it's okay, it was only like two bucks." You're awesome, CA. Even if it WAS only two bucks.

[Der Cute]

Is the Folder thing a company policy?
I'm on WIC, and I never EVER have to bring my folder. I do show my ID, which matches my name at the bottom right of the check.

It might also be your state's rules too.

Cutenoob

[Tama]

As far as I know, I can be fired for not seeing someone's WIC folder. They do checks all the time for this sort of thing. (I'm in Virginia)

From what I've been told that is.

[kpzra]

Hmm, no folders up here, at least I never got one. I do have to show my ID and it has to match the name on the check.

[ArcticChicken]

In PA we only need to see their WIC ID. In fact, as long as the ID number matches the number on the check, it doesn't matter who's using it. At least, that's how they did it in my store, and they were pretty serious about being an authorized WIC...thingy, so I don't imagine they were wrong.

Actually, I'm pretty sure they don't get a special folder in PA, just a clear plastic thingy with a WIC brochure, a pocket for their checks, and their WIC ID.

[MelodiousBubbles]

I think it varies by state. In Maine, we're required to see the folder as well. The store could lose it WIC privileges, and the employee would be fired if someone were to learn that you had taken one without it.

[Imogene]

As an ocassional WIC ringer outer, I've never needed to see any ID for it. Of course, we have it on cards... so...?

[Jay 2K Winger]

Oof. WIC orders. I remember those from my summer as a cashier at "Huge Food."

Thankfully, the wholesale club doesn't take WIC transactions, though we do accept EBT. Those can be a pain when the customer doesn't understand the limitations on what is covered by EBT, but nowhere near as much as WIC.

[bainsidhe]

Of course, we have it on cards... so...?

I wish we had cards! We have a WIC ID and the name and signature & child's name have to match the information on the check. WIC keeps expanding the list of items people can get with WIC (a good thing), but unfortunately that means more people mess up which brand/size/flavor/kind qualifies. Too many people can't see past "bread" and will pick the mega-huge-organic-multigrain-uberspecial-and-expensive-loaf because that's what they like, but it's not what qualifies. Sad part is, a lot of these customers are nice and polite, the list of qualifying products is just confusing as hell. That makes it frustrating for everyone.