Best Buy & Geek Squad Policies

[Resolution]

Another victim’s story:

I wandered over to Best Buy on my lunch break to pick up two copies of the latest Harry Potter movie (one for myself and one for my niece, not that it matters) and went to the cashier to pay for them. Once I got the total I swiped my credit card, signed the pad and put my card away.

I was asked for ID. I said no, my license is for driving, not a permit for me to use my credit card. The cashier said that I could not have my items if I didn't show it. Note that I had already approved the purchase and signed the pad.

The cashier proceeded to argue with me that it was company policy. I asked for a manager as there was a line staring behind me now and I still had to get something to eat. The manager said the same thing, company policy. I asked for it and was told that I couldn't see it.  They had to do it to make sure I wasn't trying to defraud them. I told him that if I was, do you think I'd be getting more than two copies of the same movie?

After much back and forth and showing the little credit card PDF of the NO ID rules, the manager finally sighed, threw his hands up in the air and told the cashier to give me my items and walked off.

My call to Best Buy customer service in my car confirmed that they aren't supposed to do that and I filed a report.

[Resolution]

CREDIT CARD SIGNATURE IS ALL THE ID NEEDED

When you pay for merchandise with a Visa card, MasterCard, or American Express any store that accepts these cards should accept yours too, no questions asked. It's part of the deal that merchants agree to when they become participating members.

They must check your signature and the card - electronically or by telephone - to be sure it's valid. Once the answer comes up yes, they can go ahead and charge. They can't ask you for any further identification - not a license plate number, Social Security number, proof of address, phone number or photo ID.

Your personal ID isn't needed because Visa, MasterCard, and American Express all guarantee payment on cards that have been properly checked. If the issuer mistakenly authorizes a sale on a bad card, it should make good. MasterCard says that merchants receive instant settlement. The contract MasterCard merchants sign specifically prevents them from asking for personal ID.

Unfortunately, not all merchants play by the rules. Some, apparently, haven't read them.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

MasterCard wants to hear about merchants who break their rules. Send the name and address and an account of what happened to MasterCard WorldWide 2000 Purchase St. Purchase, NY 10577 or call 1-800-300-3069. The merchant's bank will get a stiff letter, ordering it to investigate and bring the offending store into line - or pay a $2,000 fine. You may also report violations online:

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/contactus/merchantviolations.html

Visa enforces the same rules as MasterCard. "When we hear about a violation, we ask the bank that signed the merchant to get together with the merchant and see that the practice is stopped," Visa representative states. Violations of Visa’s Operating Regulations result in fines of no less than $5,000. To report a merchant, write to Visa Inc. P.O. Box 8999 San Francisco, CA 94128-8999 or call 1-800-VISA-911.

American Express also prohibits merchants from asking for IDs. "All a merchant is supposed to do is make sure the signature matches and swipe the card through the terminal, to get authorization." Report violations to: American Express P.O. Box 297812 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33329-7812 or call 1-800-528-4800 or report online: http://americanexpress.com/yourchoice

[CrimsonRain]

I didn't think this topic warranted a new thread... I think you should just start using cash if it bothers you so much.

[Nokia]

I'd like to ask all the regular users to please not respond to any of this user's posts. He is a troll, and the only way to fight a troll is to starve them. The mods will deal with him when they can.

[Resolution]

The other topic is currently locked, and this is a different incident.  

No one should be inconvenienced by having to use cash.  The most important thing is making sure it never happens again, so if any violating merchant such as this should ever pop-up in your community, make sure they are eliminated/brought back into line immediately - 1-800-VISA-911.

To report, simply call 1-800-VISA-911, press zero twice, and ask to file an "incident report" regarding a merchant violation/merchant who required ID.

Also easily report merchant violations online:

http://www.mastercard.com/us/personal/en/contactus/merchantviolations.html

Check the box that says “Merchant required ID”

Make sure your community is 100% violation-free.

[Entropy]

Not stated in these posts:

If the card itself is not signed by the user (preventing the aforementioned signature verification), to my knowledge, card companies CAN require ID in that case.  In fact, I believe (but can't be certain) that if a card is not signed, merchants are always supposed to ask for ID.

[cr_client]

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Entropy wrote:

Not stated in these posts:

If the card itself is not signed by the user (preventing the aforementioned signature verification), to my knowledge, card companies CAN require ID in that case.  In fact, I believe (but can't be certain) that if a card is not signed, merchants are always supposed to ask for ID.

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Actually, if a card is not signed, it's not a valid card, and can't be used, even with an ID, according to cardholder policies (which is why it says on the back, "This card not valid unless signed."