The Photo ID craze: We need reciprocity!
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Bye Delta
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, IHG Plat, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Plat, Nat'l Exec Elite, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 16,297
Provider - Citi Card, AA Platinum, 1-888-766-2428. I called them, entered my card # and some other details and when I got through to a rep I said I was standing in front of a clerk and the manager at a store and they were refusing to complete a transaction without seeing my ID. I was passed to another person in about 10 seconds and they asked for the address, phone # and managers name (which I asked the manager for and relayed to the person at Citi, not really all that difficult is it?). They called in less than 20 seconds later, asked for the manager by name and identified themselves and asked for confirmation of their merchant number, hence determining they were talking to the right establishment. They also offered to have the manager call them back if he was in any doubt as to whom he was talking to.
They conferenced me in on the call so I could clearly hear what was going on. The front-line person passed me onto a specific person, who knew exactly how to handle the situation. I don't recall if they identified their department or not. I wish I recorded and notarized the interaction and then uploaded to Youtube, then perhaps you would believe me, apologies in advance....
Paranoia or not, I like to stand on principle, which includes not showing my papers to any random person who has no right or need to see them. Nothing to do with SSN.
They conferenced me in on the call so I could clearly hear what was going on. The front-line person passed me onto a specific person, who knew exactly how to handle the situation. I don't recall if they identified their department or not. I wish I recorded and notarized the interaction and then uploaded to Youtube, then perhaps you would believe me, apologies in advance....
Paranoia or not, I like to stand on principle, which includes not showing my papers to any random person who has no right or need to see them. Nothing to do with SSN.
I always refuse to show ID when demanded by cashiers if I'm paying with a credit card. Nice to see them lay the smackdown.
#62
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Utah
Posts: 454
That was my first thought as well but they definitely ask for everyone's IDs. Last time I was in Phoenix (November of last year) I was getting fed up with this procedure and finally asked the front desk manager about she. She was apologetic and seemed embarrassed about the policy and ended up handing me a photocopied print out of the ordinance to explain the situation. I guess I wasn't the only one bothered by it.
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 31,019
I wonder how many folks would be glad to have the cable guy, gas meter reader, electric meter reader, etc. ask for your ID, reciprocally, as they show you their ID when coming to your house on a a service call.
#64
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Utah
Posts: 454
Leviticus, pretty much every hotel I've ever stayed in in the USA asks for driving license and credit card on check-in unless you have a loyalty program account with the chain in which case all your info is on their computer to start with. On a recent driving (September) trip from Canada covering about 12-15 states to Arizona and back, most if not all hotels I stopped in asked for ID, except the chain I have an account with. Phoenix is not unique in that regard at all.
Perhaps I just value my privacy a little more than others by not enjoying the idea of my personal detail sitting in a box for years to come.
Although still much better than places like Iran where they are legally required to hold on to your passport while staying in the hotel
#65
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: KWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 806
<response to deleted post>
I've been in a few places like this and wondered, what do you do if the police stop you and ask for your passport? Which is quite normal in some places. In Slovenia I was stopped several times (though I had my passport). In Argentina we were told to be expected to be escorted back to the hotel. Or we could pass a bribe. After this thread I'm starting to think that I just look suspicious.
Transiting through LHR security would always remark that my name sounded really Irish and that I was coincidentally selected for random screening. Heh. Multiple times on the same connection... On every one of my LHR connections.
Transiting through LHR security would always remark that my name sounded really Irish and that I was coincidentally selected for random screening. Heh. Multiple times on the same connection... On every one of my LHR connections.
Last edited by JY1024; Apr 4, 2014 at 6:35 pm Reason: Redactions by moderator
#66
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Utah
Posts: 454
I've been in a few places like this and wondered, what do you do if the police stop you and ask for your passport? Which is quite normal in some places. In Slovenia I was stopped several times (though I had my passport). In Argentina we were told to be expected to be escorted back to the hotel. Or we could pass a bribe. After this thread I'm starting to think that I just look suspicious.
I think that would really depend on where you are specifically. Iran is actually less corrupt than one may think and the police are aware of this law. While passing through check points my driver and a guide would routinely be ID-d but I was ignored. When travelling I usually keep a photo copy of my passport on me at all times, it really helps in situations like this. Also if you are in Europe, one could always just leave a national ID card with the hotel or vice versa.
#67
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
<response to deleted post>
I've been in a few places like this and wondered, what do you do if the police stop you and ask for your passport? Which is quite normal in some places. In Slovenia I was stopped several times (though I had my passport). In Argentina we were told to be expected to be escorted back to the hotel. Or we could pass a bribe. After this thread I'm starting to think that I just look suspicious.
Transiting through LHR security would always remark that my name sounded really Irish and that I was coincidentally selected for random screening. Heh. Multiple times on the same connection... On every one of my LHR connections.
I've been in a few places like this and wondered, what do you do if the police stop you and ask for your passport? Which is quite normal in some places. In Slovenia I was stopped several times (though I had my passport). In Argentina we were told to be expected to be escorted back to the hotel. Or we could pass a bribe. After this thread I'm starting to think that I just look suspicious.
Transiting through LHR security would always remark that my name sounded really Irish and that I was coincidentally selected for random screening. Heh. Multiple times on the same connection... On every one of my LHR connections.
In Italy on the street by a tourist attraction in a mid-size town with ID check targeting those who appeared to be non-European: our passports are with the hotel; ok, where are you from; we are all from the US and Scandinavia; ok, bye.
In Argentina, I've either shown a passport photo copy or nothing and spoke to them in English; they skipped me but not the local drivers if in a vehicle. Worst case for me is they'd drag me to the hotel to check or get a reprimand from a higher up for wasting their time or both -- but it's never come to that for me.
Last edited by JY1024; Apr 4, 2014 at 6:32 pm
#68
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: KWI
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 806
I'm sure it could be random, but it felt like racial profiling the way they said it. I have no hard feelings. Maybe that was just British humo(u)r.
#69
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Scotland - ABZ
Programs: Qantas LTG, BA-Blue, KLM -Gold, SAS - Silver
Posts: 2,060
I used to get the grilling at LHR in the eighties, foreigner with Irish name, well-known profile for funders of terrorism etc. As long as I didn't miss my connection I tolerated it. I just held their gaze until they looked away, answered questions calmly. They were just doing their job and i was just retaining my dignity. Never happened at my local airport.
Human rights types weren't interested in us anyway.
Human rights types weren't interested in us anyway.
#70
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I avoid LHR like the plague now, though for different reasons, but those were mostly AA and BA flights. Some originating/arriving in the UK, some in continental Europe (Schengen and non-schengen), some in the USA. Mostly between 2005-2009.
I'm sure it could be random, but it felt like racial profiling the way they said it. I have no hard feelings. Maybe that was just British humo(u)r.
I'm sure it could be random, but it felt like racial profiling the way they said it. I have no hard feelings. Maybe that was just British humo(u)r.
#71
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,422
Let's stay on topic please!
Over 3 dozen off-topic posts have had to br removed. (Apologies if there are some slight inconsistencies due to the deletions...) Thanks for your understanding and cooperation. /Moderator
Over 3 dozen off-topic posts have had to br removed. (Apologies if there are some slight inconsistencies due to the deletions...) Thanks for your understanding and cooperation. /Moderator
#72
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Posts: 3,360
"An unsigned card is considered invalid and should not be accepted. If a customer gives you an unsigned card, the following steps must be taken:
Source (pdf):- Check the cardholders ID. Ask the cardholder for some form of official government identification, such as a drivers license or passport. Where permissible by law, the ID serial number and expiration date should be written on the sales receipt before you complete the transaction.
- Ask the customer to sign the card. The card should be signed within your full view, and the signature checked against the customers signature on the ID.
- Compare the signature on the card to the signature on the ID."
http://usa.visa.com/download/merchan...-merchants.pdf
#73
Moderator: Manufactured Spending
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,584
An unsigned card (or worn off signature) is one of the few cases when a cashier can ask for your ID as an requirement to process the charge. From page 36 of the Visa Merchant Agreement:
http://usa.visa.com/download/merchan...-merchants.pdf
"An unsigned card is considered invalid and should not be accepted. If a customer gives you an unsigned card, the following steps must be taken:
Source (pdf):- Check the cardholders ID. Ask the cardholder for some form of official government identification, such as a drivers license or passport. Where permissible by law, the ID serial number and expiration date should be written on the sales receipt before you complete the transaction.
- Ask the customer to sign the card. The card should be signed within your full view, and the signature checked against the customers signature on the ID.
- Compare the signature on the card to the signature on the ID."
http://usa.visa.com/download/merchan...-merchants.pdf
#74
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: East Anglia UK
Programs: BA-S UA LH-Sen KLM/AF-Plat.
Posts: 1,627
Are some of the inconsistencies to do with the value of the purchase rather than a following of rules? I've shopped in DC where the card is put into that hand roller thing, I sign, get the tear off and leave without the vendor ever looking at either the signature on the card or the counterfoil. At the Taj in Boston they checked the passport sig. against the card sig. and what I wrote in the check-in details. Same card. Sounds sensible to follow procedures when, as a storekeeper/hotel you could be ripped off for $$$$ rather than $.