ID checks, minimum purchase rules a no-no with credit cards on clarkhoward.com

Have you ever used your credit card and been asked for ID or told you'd have to make a minimum purchase? Both stipulations are against the merchant guidelines that govern Visa and MasterCard.

Clark is not upset when he's asked for ID; he sees it as another safeguard, even if it is against the guidelines. However, there is some recourse available if you are peeved.

MasterCard has a simple-to-use form where you can alert them if a merchant required ID or a minimum purchase. Clark has no idea what becomes of this info once you submit it to MasterCard.

Visa, on other hand, has no such procedure in place. So they have a rule, but no enforcement.

The underlying issue here is that we're still using '60-era magnetic strip technology for credit cards. Europe and Asia, meanwhile, are years ahead of us with their smart chip technology. With the smart chip, you're required to enter a secret code to use your credit card. But the banks that issue cards don't want to spend the money to have a safe system on our shores!

What others are saying

credit card signature
I work for the U.S. Postal Service as a retail associate, and I had a customer tell me that Clark Howard said on his show that you should never sign your credit card. Well the U.S. Postal Service policy is that we cannot accept a credit card that does not have a signature, what we are told to do is to match the signature on the Drivers Liscence with the signature on the back of the credit card. Also every credit card says on the back that the card is not valid unless signed, plus it says Authorized signature. We do not require this on debit cards. So next time your in your local Post Office ask them about their credit card signature policy.
By Waldemar Borrero @ 10/07/08 08:40:25 PMreport abuse
No signature
VISA/Mastercard agreements permit merchants to not require a signature if under a certain amount (usually $25), if they sign up for that program. The fee they are charged is different, but it speeds up transactions at the point of purchase, so many large retailers concerned about speed of service are moving that way. They pay a slightly higher fee because VISA/Mastercard accept a higher risk, but most credit card fraud is usually in large dollar purchases, not the small ones. When charged a fee for using a credit card, you can report it (must provide copy of sales slip), and get the fee credited back to your account.
By David @ 10/04/08 11:38:01 AMreport abuse
RFID
Chip and Pin is coming to Canada for credit and debit cards
By IDID @ 09/05/08 06:26:51 PMreport abuse
RFID
A chip and pin is good, so is a digital watermark, but c.c. companies want to go with RFID - which can be easily cloned
By Cheapo Groovo @ 08/13/08 05:42:37 PMreport abuse
merchant required ID
where a merchant requires ID, try having them call MC concerning the issue. in my experience the MC employee will not only lack knowledge of this policy but will back up the merchant
By deadbeat dad @ 08/12/08 10:13:21 PMreport abuse
ID checks, minimum purchase rules a no-no with credit cards
i've had the post office require a minimum of a $1.00 purchase. i have also had wal-mart ask for id when my purchase was over $100.00.
By charlotte @ 08/12/08 06:58:55 PMreport abuse
Gas savings
I use a Walmart credit card to purchase gas at Walmart which gets me another $.03 a gal off the posted price. they are generally the cheapest gas anyway, plus I get 1% cash back on all purchases. those who don't want the credit card can get a reloadable card at the store which still gets you the $.03 off at the pump. hope this saves people money
By Jack Barrett @ 08/12/08 03:42:59 PMreport abuse
id checks
Home Depot requires this for credit card purchases.
By red @ 08/12/08 12:53:31 PMreport abuse
Credit Cards & ID Checks
I have written on the back of all my cards "ID Required" and they seldom even look. I want them to identify me for my protection.
By Sue Powell @ 08/12/08 12:38:48 PMreport abuse
Credit Cards & ID checks
I think the worst thing is that some places don't require even a signature if the purchase is under a certain amount. Home Depot and Walgreens are the worse offenders
By mary @ 08/12/08 08:02:04 AMreport abuse
ID Checks
I disagree with Clark. If checking ID is for my protection, I should have a choice to be protected or not. The fees we pay for using credit cards (interest, etc.) are not only for the use of the money. The fee is also for the convenience of using the card. By requiring ID the merchant is taking away some of the convenience.
By PJ @ 08/12/08 05:16:42 AMreport abuse
Chargeback
Buy extra merchandise and then dispute the charge with your credit card company citing the merchant's minimum purchase requirement. The merchant is extorting money from the customer.
By Enoch Drebber @ 08/12/08 12:39:24 AMreport abuse
credit card
I read about 10 years ago in a paper in Ca. the small news clip said" retail places could not charge a higher price for their product if a customer used their card over cash." Gas stations are the biggest breaker of this Law? Or is there no law? Or only Visa/MasterCard rule? How can one in force it? This is in Ca.
By Raymond @ 08/11/08 09:30:38 PMreport abuse
They should require, not forbid, ID checks!
They should require, not forbid, ID checks!
By MC @ 08/11/08 05:13:27 PMreport abuse
Speedway / SuperAmerica
Speedway has started requiring holders of their Chase Speedway Mastercard to enter their zip code when paying at the pump. This is very annoying and may be a violation. I have complained to them, to no avail. I have now submitted a claim to MasterCard. We'll see what happens.
By Pete @ 08/11/08 04:52:15 PMreport abuse

credit card signature

I work for the U.S. Postal Service as a retail associate, and I had a customer tell me that Clark Howard said on his show that you should never sign your credit card. Well the U.S. Postal Service policy is that we cannot accept a credit card that does not have a signature, what we are told to do is to match the signature on the Drivers Liscence with the signature on the back of the credit card. Also every credit card says on the back that the card is not valid unless signed, plus it says Authorized signature. We do not require this on debit cards. So next time your in your local Post Office ask them about their credit card signature policy.

By Waldemar Borrero @ 10/07/08 08:40:25 PMreport abuse

No signature

VISA/Mastercard agreements permit merchants to not require a signature if under a certain amount (usually $25), if they sign up for that program. The fee they are charged is different, but it speeds up transactions at the point of purchase, so many large retailers concerned about speed of service are moving that way. They pay a slightly higher fee because VISA/Mastercard accept a higher risk, but most credit card fraud is usually in large dollar purchases, not the small ones. When charged a fee for using a credit card, you can report it (must provide copy of sales slip), and get the fee credited back to your account.

By David @ 10/04/08 11:38:01 AMreport abuse

RFID

Chip and Pin is coming to Canada for credit and debit cards

By IDID @ 09/05/08 06:26:51 PMreport abuse

A chip and pin is good, so is a digital watermark, but c.c. companies want to go with RFID - which can be easily cloned

By Cheapo Groovo @ 08/13/08 05:42:37 PMreport abuse

merchant required ID

where a merchant requires ID, try having them call MC concerning the issue. in my experience the MC employee will not only lack knowledge of this policy but will back up the merchant

By deadbeat dad @ 08/12/08 10:13:21 PMreport abuse

ID checks, minimum purchase rules a no-no with credit cards

i've had the post office require a minimum of a $1.00 purchase. i have also had wal-mart ask for id when my purchase was over $100.00.

By charlotte @ 08/12/08 06:58:55 PMreport abuse

Gas savings

I use a Walmart credit card to purchase gas at Walmart which gets me another $.03 a gal off the posted price. they are generally the cheapest gas anyway, plus I get 1% cash back on all purchases. those who don't want the credit card can get a reloadable card at the store which still gets you the $.03 off at the pump. hope this saves people money

By Jack Barrett @ 08/12/08 03:42:59 PMreport abuse

id checks

Home Depot requires this for credit card purchases.

By red @ 08/12/08 12:53:31 PMreport abuse

Credit Cards & ID Checks

I have written on the back of all my cards "ID Required" and they seldom even look. I want them to identify me for my protection.

By Sue Powell @ 08/12/08 12:38:48 PMreport abuse

Credit Cards & ID checks

I think the worst thing is that some places don't require even a signature if the purchase is under a certain amount. Home Depot and Walgreens are the worse offenders

By mary @ 08/12/08 08:02:04 AMreport abuse

ID Checks

I disagree with Clark. If checking ID is for my protection, I should have a choice to be protected or not. The fees we pay for using credit cards (interest, etc.) are not only for the use of the money. The fee is also for the convenience of using the card. By requiring ID the merchant is taking away some of the convenience.

By PJ @ 08/12/08 05:16:42 AMreport abuse

Chargeback

Buy extra merchandise and then dispute the charge with your credit card company citing the merchant's minimum purchase requirement. The merchant is extorting money from the customer.

By Enoch Drebber @ 08/12/08 12:39:24 AMreport abuse

credit card

I read about 10 years ago in a paper in Ca. the small news clip said" retail places could not charge a higher price for their product if a customer used their card over cash." Gas stations are the biggest breaker of this Law? Or is there no law? Or only Visa/MasterCard rule? How can one in force it? This is in Ca.

By Raymond @ 08/11/08 09:30:38 PMreport abuse

They should require, not forbid, ID checks!

By MC @ 08/11/08 05:13:27 PMreport abuse

Speedway / SuperAmerica

Speedway has started requiring holders of their Chase Speedway Mastercard to enter their zip code when paying at the pump. This is very annoying and may be a violation. I have complained to them, to no avail. I have now submitted a claim to MasterCard. We'll see what happens.

By Pete @ 08/11/08 04:52:15 PMreport abuse

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Aug 11, 2008 -- ID checks, minimum purchase rules a no-no with credit cards

What others are saying