Originally Posted by
JEFFJAGUAR
I did get one of my local supermarkets to change its policy regarding checking ID with a letter to them with the above quote from the visa operating manual after a long heated discussion with the manager who gave me the bs the checking of ID was for my protection. It is of course a fact that showing ID with any sort of confidential information (driver's license number, birth date, ss #) while highly unlikely to do so most certainly increases from 0 the possibility of identity theft by some clerk with a photographic memory. Again not likely but...
I agree that it's unlikely any ID theft would occur, but disseminating such information increases the risk by a nonzero probability. It is not for your protection because you are not liable for fraudulent purchases. It's not for the merchant's protection either because checking ID does not absolve a merchant from chargebacks or change a merchant's liability whatsoever.
Originally Posted by
JEFFJAGUAR
Unfortunately the vast majority of my charges outside the USA are generally small and in those instances where simply reasoning with the manager and being told they had no control over dcc, I will not resort to cash which is one of the purposes of this scam. I simply follow what we have agreed upon should be the procedure (writing on the charge slip local currency not offered and circling the amount in local currency) and following through with a complaint when I get home. Invariably, they will not charge it back but rather give me a courtesy credit for the disputed amount which is what allows this scam to continue. Let the merchants have to deal with a few chargebacks and it will begin to die on the vine. But too many people, far too many, actually feel the merchant is doing them a favor by telling them exactly how much something costs in a currency they understand.
I fortunately haven't been in a situation where I've had to deface the receipt and call the bank yet. As I've said multiple times before, the courtesy credit isn't the best solution since our banks shouldn't have to absorb a merchant's bad behavior, but at least it placates us and we're not out any money.
What infuriates me are those who know about DCC, recognize that it's a scam, but they don't do anything if they get hit by it. They just sheepishly shrug it off rather than expressing righteous indignation that I or someone like
percysmith would. The result is that far too many merchants go unchecked that perpetuates this scam.
As for the people who ask, "How much is this in
real money?!" and don't take kindly to your guidance that DCC is a markup, I would say let the merchants charge them for their ignorance.