I have to admit: as a retail employee, the amount of training I have ever at any point received on the proper authentication and authorization of credit cards has been about zero hours. That said, having worked in restaurants and retail since my sophomore year of high school, I’ve developed some rules:
1. If the card is not signed, or says ‘Check ID’ on the signature line, I always ask for an ID.
Yeah, that’s pretty much it.
So when this guy stepped up to my register this afternoon, I didn’t think of asking him for his ID when there was no signature across the back of his American Express. I mean, look, this guy’s been in the store before, I’m sure I’ve asked him for his ID before. At the same time, guess what? We’ve got famous people who shop at the Bookstore, and even in the cases when I know the person paying with Bill Kristol’s credit card is Bill Kristol himself, guess what? I still ask: “Might I please see your ID, sir?”
I do it to everyone: young, old, cops, celebrities, heck, I’ve even asked coworkers — people I’ve worked with for nearly two years! – for photo ID if the back of their card isn’t signed.
So this random guy’s reaction to being asked for his ID blew me away.
He flipped his top.
Like, people in line were looking kind of embarrassed for this guy just loudly proclaiming how ridiculous this was. I, meanwhile, the consummate professional, repeated that if the card was not signed, I simply needed to see a photo identification to proceed with the transaction.
Meanwhile, he was trying everything he could not to show his ID:
“This transaction is so small, this is ridiculous!”
Well, that may be so, but even if you were trying to buy a fifty-cent candy with an unsigned credit card, I’d still ask for your ID.
“The card is signed! The signature is just faded!”
If the signature is not visible, then as far as I’m concerned, the card is unsigned. Go fuck yourself.
“Give me back the card!”
Yeah … see, again? Without photo ID? Why would I return a card that might or might not be yours?
“I’m going to complain to your boss!”
Let me tell you how that’s going to work: they’re going to listen to your story, they’re going to nod their head sympathetically, and then they’re going to ask, “Well, so sorry about that. Let’s get you on your way. Because this card isn’t signed, can I please see your identification?”
“I’m going to call the police!”
I would be more than happy to call them for you. Really.
Finally, when he realized I wasn’t going to cave to his insanity — and, look, we’re not talking about a rough-clothed homeless guy reeking of urine, but a well dressed and obviously wealthy individual — he finally flashed his passport in front of my face, snapped it shut, then accused me of putting him through all of this for no reason, as I’d barely looked at the ID he’d presented.
For what it’s worth, I don’t actually know if I can use a passport as a valid photo ID, but I do anyway since it’s government issued. When people aren’t being douchebags, I’ll also let them present college and employment photo IDs, too.
Anyway, so he grabbed his stuff and stormed off in search of a manager to rant at. He found one, because he was loud enough everyone in the store could hear him. Then he stalked out of the store, throwing me nasty looks as I checked more customers out and asked them for their IDs.
The manager came over a minute later: “That guy’s an idiot. Consider yourself reprimanded.”
Me: “But I did the right thing!”
Him: “The customer is always right.”
Me: “The customer is always wrong, you mean.”
Customer: “For what it’s worth, I’d've been pissed if you didn’t check my ID!”
And that wonderful lady? Got 25% off her book for making me feel better.