Concerned about identity theft, Seth had a fun time recently when he tried to get Sovereign bank to tell him why they need to record his driver’s license number when he withdrew $2.75. The teller kept saying, “It’s our policy,” but even when they finally showed the policy in writing, it only said “must record form of ID” and nothing about writing down license numbers.
- As the teller was completing my transaction, I noticed her copying my driver license number.
“Excuse me,” I said. “Can you please not write that down? I’m not really comfortable with my driver license number being written on my withdrawal slip.”
“I’m sorry, that’s bank policy,” she said.
“Well, um, you saw my license. You know it’s me,” I said. “Why do you need to write down my license information? Identity theft is a really big problem these days.”
“That’s our policy,” she said.
“Can I see the policy? I’ve asked before and I’ve never seen it. It seems like every branch seems to have a different interpretation,” I said. “So I’d really like to see it.”
At this point, the employee next to the teller, who turned out to be a customer service manager, decided to “help” with the situation…
(Photo: BOMBMAN)
“This is our policy. If you don’t allow us to record that information next time, you can’t withdraw funds,” the manager informed me.
I explained again that I didn’t see any reason to record this information since the bank now knew who I was. In addition, it was bad practice in protecting customers from identity theft. Before he could explain again that it was “policy,” I said I wanted to see the policy. In writing.
This is when things became, well, pretty lame, in my opinion.
After waiting for a bit, the manager produced some documents, which in a fit of apparent pique, he spent some time highlighting with a yellow marker.
For a moment I actually thought I was going to be shown some piece of bank literature which plainly stated Sovereign’s policy, something I had carelessly discarded from my statement.
But the manager handed me a sheet which said at the bottom:
Must record form of ID.
“This says you must record my form of ID,” I said. “Where does it say you have to write down customer’s license number? Or any other personal information?”
“Sir, what if there was a problem with this transaction? How then would we be able to prove it was you?” said the manager.
I was a little dumbfounded. “I guess you could have a policy where you carefully check the person’s identification,” I volunteered. “And then you could say, ‘We have a very strict policy of checking people’s ID.’”
I didn’t want to mention that writing down my license number proved nothing or in fact that writing down my number could actually … well, you get the idea.
I noticed the manager had taken back my copy of the policy. I said there was no point in going around in circles and asked for the policy back so I could complain.
“I can’t give that to you,” he said. “It’s an internal document.”
“How are customers supposed to know what the policy is?” I asked. “Is this a secret policy?”
“I just told you,” he said.
Again, I asked for something showing the policy so I could draft a complaint.
“I can’t give this to you. What if we change it in two weeks?”
Ah. I really felt like I was starting to understand why… I never seemed to understand Sovereign’s security policies. I noticed that the tellers were now whispering to each other and looking at me, so I decided to take my tinfoil hat and leave. But that wasn’t before the manager looked at me and said: “Sir, you have to trust us.”
-Seth”
Seth is right to contest places unnecessarily writing down his personal information, and writing it down on an insecure document. Identity theft is rampant, and it’s thanks in good part to places like this asinine bank. — BEN POPKEN
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I was driving cross country & had an uncashed payroll check drawn on LaSalle Bank(for some reason a lot of entertainment industry checks are run outta payroll companies in Chicago) I was in the middle of an Illinois rainstorm @ rush hour in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago(if you’ve been there, I’m painting a pretty ugly picture, I know) I noticed a LaSalle Bank so instead this crap-of any surprises on the road(who knew Arkansas Credit Unions aren’t in the Co-Op & will merrily charge you $1.50 per withdrawal?) I pulled in to cash it. I of course gave the clerk my drivers license, they wanted the thumbprint & I’m used to that one so I made like an Iraqi voter. Then the perky clerk pointed at my credit card in my wallet & chirped, “I’m going to need the number off of that”. Excuse me? Same story, they called over a “customer service guy” who acted like the Whammyburger Manager in “Falling Down”. We went in circles, I gave no attitude, I said “You’re the bank, your logo is on MY payroll check-this company is down the road(we were in Northbrook, where they shot all the John Hughes movies) you know the assets of these guys-why do I have to give you my credit card #?” And his reply made me realize why it was so easy for John Dillinger to make a living around there, the guy said, “You’re from California-right? So technically I don’t have to cash this check @ all”
These banks are something else. I tried to deposit cash into someone else’s account at North Fork Bank and I was told that because of the new anti-terrorism laws, I had to either provide some official identification or open an account. After a few minutes of debate regarding privacy and identity theft, I finally submitted and allowed the bank guy to take my driver’s license. He printed out a slip which I had to sign. After obliging him, I asked for a copy of the document. He adamantly denied my request nor would he produce some documentation stating how my information would be used. An I am not even a customer of that bank. I really hate where all this personal information data gathering is headed…
Why are all the comments in bloody italics?
Kudos to Seth for standing up to be counted. We should all question business practices that we feel are crazy. About fifteen years ago I went to the Kelly Springfield tire store in Cumberland, Maryland for a new set of tires. The counter person asked for my Social Security number (I was paying cash.) When I refused to give it he told me that the company required it. I left and bought the tires elsewhere.
@Seth_Went_to_the_Bank: you’re right, but those records weren’t stolen off transaction receipts. in the grand scheme, i’d be less worried about a pen & paper record & i’d be more worried that your SSN, DL#, name, address, acct #’s, PINs, phone #, picture & signature are all probably stored in a single digital file that if cracked will be a treasure trove for thieves all around the world.
i don’t like the policies any more than you, but the policies are reactionary to federal laws. blame your congresspeople for voting on legislation they neglect to read.
Well, I would worry about both. One thing I didn’t mention in my previous response is that we very often (almost never) get a chance to know the source when one is a victim of identity theft. So in many people’s opinion, including mine, eliminating bad practices is crucial.
In fact, I worry more about handing my driver license to a bank employee precisely because I can control that and the disaster that is electronic records security I have very little control over.
As you commented on, each bank interprets the Patriot Act differently. I haven’t heard of many banks requiring your DL number be written down during a withdrawal. I agree that Patriot Act is bad legislation.
I appreciate all the comments (from all).