Why do some cashiers at certain retail stores check certain people for ID when a credit card is used?

Question

I've seen cashiers that will check some people for ID when a credit card is used, but then they do not check other people. It seems discriminatory to me. Check a minority, but let a non-minority use a credit card with no problem. What is up with this?

Answer 1

It's been my experience to look

for certain things when people

use credit cards.  Perhaps,

nervousness, suspicious

behavior, etc.

Skin color isn't a factor.

So, it's to make sure the

person with the credit card

is the owner.

Answer 2

I've never personally discriminated in who I ask for an ID, but asked persons who have not signed their card. If the person hasn't signed their card by law a cashier is supposed to ask for the ID. It is one way to stop identity theft. Some people the lady in question had may have signed their cards & when they signed the slip the signatures may have matched. Some with unsigned cards may have had to verify they were the person named on the card. It could have nothing to do with race at all. I've seem crooks from all races.

Answer 3

I never checked Identification based on race and If that is truly what you have observed you need to report it to the ACLU.

When I worked in Retail as a Cashier and Management I always checked I.D. for "big dollar purchases" especially if the person acted nervous or bought quite a few of the same item. For example 15 pregnancy tests, 10 packs of batteries or 5 cartons of cigarettes.

Thieves steal credit cards/debit cards and run right to a store to max it out before it can be canceled, so it's helpful if the store personnel is observant and stops the misuse of someones credit card/debit card.

Answer 4

Lots of credit card fraud lately.

Answer 5

Some credit card companies require them to do it and others don't. It also depends on the newness of the card and sadly it sometimes depends on the person using the card. I know that at a large chain department store they used to check certain sales tickets of people going out the door but I guess after numerous complaints they now check every ones sales slips.  

Answer 6

Some people write ask for ID in the back of their cards.  Some cashiers just do it when they remember too.  Some cashiers will check because the person has not signed their card.  It's all random.  If a specific cashier checks minorities more than other people, they are the ones who are guitly of being discriminatory.  But there are alot of other factors involved.

Frankly, cashiers should check everyone for ID.