Protect yourself from identity theft!

It is an identity thief's hayday out there.

As it turns out (and I'm finding that not many people know this) stores can be heavily fined for asking for ID with a credit/debit card transaction, unless the back of the card states "See ID" or "Ask for ID."

Several months ago, I asked (as I always did) to see someone's ID for a credit card transaction. He proceeded to lecture me about how he didn't have to, it's unconstitutional, blah blah blah. Management ended up telling me just to let him pay and get out. I chalked it up to just a cranky [cough*democrat*cough] customer.

A few months later, it came down from the Borders corporate hierarchy that we were never, EVER to ask for ID unless it explicitly says so on the back of the credit/debit card. Apparently it is a clause in the creditor/merchant agreement, and Borders has been heavily fined several times. Basically, a disgruntled customer can call and report you to their credit card company, who will then take measures such as fining, or even pulling your business after enough complaint. Imagine a large corporate chain like ours having to tell customers that we can't take Visa or Master Card! They're never going to let that happen.

So friends, if you are in agreement that customers should identify themselves when using their credit or debit card, write it on the back of your card and pass the word along.