That's Not Your Name. (Credit Card Woes)

[SourRobot]

I use my husband's card all the time. We don't even have the same last name, I kept mine when we got married. Never had a problem. Sometimes his mom sends me out to pick up her medications or for something specific from Kroger and I use her card. Still never have a problem. Granted most places I go to we just slide the card and they never handle it. I don't know. When I was a cashier we were never instructed to look at the name on the card, and by the time the name popped up on the screen, it was already approved and charged.

Just be glad you're not ringing up your stuff with me then, because there just might be a problem. Don't think I'm saying that to be a jerk; it's just something that'd come up.

At my job it's kind of the same way with the cards. Where I used to work we had to take the card and key in some numbers from it, but now in a different location the customers can slide the cards if they want, and I don't have to touch the cards. The name will show up at the end of the transaction, though, and I've managed to speak up a couple times when it got to that.

[Sapphire Silk]

I, for one, am glad you stick to the rules.

My debit card has my photo on it, which I like. Saves me from having to get out my ID.

[thatcrazyredhead]

When I worked for Sears, I absolutely would not accept a credit card from someone without checking ID. No matchy, no use-y. Period. Some people were cool with it (some even thanked me!), some people would gripe, argue, and eventually go away, and one person demanded to speak with a manager. It was the only time I can remember a manager there backing me up on anything.

Personally, all of my cards say "See Photo ID." I used to write it with a Sharpie on the front of the cards, too. Most of the time, I hand my card and my driver's license to the cashier at the same time. If I forget, nine out of ten times I don't get asked for my ID. I've watched cashiers turn the card over, read what's written there, look at me, say nothing, and swipe the card.

[wagegoth]

I always verified the signature. If the signature did not match, and they refused to produce ID, then I voided the sale. If they got abusive, I called security. And that was at Nordstrom, where you're required to bend over daily.

[wheeitsme]

Some of these stories are why, in addition to my signature, I write "check picture ID" on the back of all my credit cards.

[Mytical]

Sadly see id on the back doesn't work. I've been testing it for 2 years almost..and been asked once during that whole time. Another favorite thing of mine is when you refuse a credit card because of mismatched id..they call on the phone to the person who supposedly owns the card and want you to talk to them on the phone to get it ok'd. Yeah...no. Not gonna happen.

[Andara Bledin]

I've watched cashiers turn the card over, read what's written there, look at me, say nothing, and swipe the card.

Unfortunately, cashiers are in a very peculiar position: the credit card terms of service with the company (Visa and Mastercard - American Express doesn't, but does say that if you accept the others, you have to apply their terms to AmEx, too) actually state that they aren't allowed to ask for ID. Most people don't know this, and a good percentage of those don't care and/or ignore it. But there are a variety of corporate rules about how to handle them that may or may not be in direct conflict with the TOS or local regulations.

All that said, there's no use in getting upset at the cashier for them looking or not looking; they're just following the directions handed down by their management, who are, more often than not, following the instructions of their own superiors.

^-.-^

[PatchO'Black]

Ah, this reminds me of one of the more memorable transactions I had almost a decade ago. A woman came in with a card and, naturally, I asked for ID. She complained that she left it in the car, and I politely responded I would ether need her to get it or I could accept another form of payment. She huffed off and got her ID. It was then that I noticed that the name on the card was typically a man's name, and of course the name on her ID didn't match. She said that it was her husband's card and, when I said I would need to speak to my manager before I could accept the card, she angrily asked if she would have to get her husband, who was blind, out of the car. Then, not waiting for me to answer, tromped out, got her blind husband, and nastily DEMANDED I run the card. I apologized to the husband, and explained to him that we really couldn't take a card when we couldn't be sure we could identify the owner. Of course, the woman proclaimed they were never coming back. Afterward an employee who had come from another store said they had dealt with them at the other location and the woman would act like that over there as well, including promising never to come back. Of course, she would then come back later and complain all over again....

[Ironclad Alibi]

... It was then that I noticed that the name on the card was typically a man's name, and of course the name on her ID didn't match. She said that it was her husband's card and ... Of course, she would then come back later and complain all over again....

Because doing that over and over again is so much easier than just getting a card with her name on it.

Getting a card with her name on it might be the easy way, but it's not the Sucky Customer Way™.

[Jack Doe]

My retail job recently told us that if a card is signed, we're not supposed to ask for ID. When I asked about male name/female person or vice versa, I got a blank look....

This is because it's a standard clause in Visa, MC's, and Discover's merchant agreements that you are not to ask for ID, that cards must be signed, and that the signature must be compared on the back of the card with the signature slip. They don't match, you reverse teh transaction and contact the card company. In fact, Visa states that people who put "check ID" on their card are actually invalidating the card, as "check ID" is not a valid signature and the card classifies as a financial document/proof.

Sad thing is, you "check ID" and that takes away your personal consideration, whereas comparing squiggles really gets you the chance to decline something if you feel it's wrong.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

This is because it's a standard clause in Visa, MC's, and Discover's merchant agreements that you are not to ask for ID, that cards must be signed, and that the signature must be compared on the back of the card with the signature slip. They don't match, you reverse teh transaction and contact the card company. In fact, Visa states that people who put "check ID" on their card are actually invalidating the card, as "check ID" is not a valid signature and the card classifies as a financial document/proof.

Sad thing is, you "check ID" and that takes away your personal consideration, whereas comparing squiggles really gets you the chance to decline something if you feel it's wrong.

What if you sign your name AND write see ID?

[Andara Bledin]

In fact, Visa states that people who put "check ID" on their card are actually invalidating the card, as "check ID" is not a valid signature and the card classifies as a financial document/proof.

Actually, your signature can be literally anything that you want it to be. You could, if you chose, use "check ID" as your signature. It'd likely be more than a bit dickish, but also valid and legal.

^-.-^

[wolfie]

I actually called a manager once, and she told me that as long as the customer's last name matched up to the last name on the card, to let her go ahead and use it.

Do you know anyone with "sticky fingers" and the same last name as that (mis)manager? After all, by his instructions in this case, he approved the use of his card by anyone with the same last name.

[SourRobot]

Do you know anyone with "sticky fingers" and the same last name as that (mis)manager? After all, by his instructions in this case, he approved the use of his card by anyone with the same last name.

Ha! No, my manager at the time had a pretty uncommon last name.

[Lumina]

When in doubt, Get ID. Never ever let management tell you otherwise. It's both Illegal and Immoral.

If a Company is Often having you go and get stuff. They should be giving you a Company Credit Card. (Specifically with a low daily limit, they can ALWAYS phone and get a larger purchase ok'd on it; it's a 5 minute procedure).