Make sure you record all dubious events on your cell phone video camera next time, then sue the pants off idiots.

You can then get detained for not having any ID on your person. At least in Florida, I'm pretty sure other states have similar laws.

Yes, it's a violation of the merchant agreement...but I personally think it's bizarre when an individual is averse to showing ID when using a credit card. I don't mind showing ID at all, because having your identity stolen blows, and when someone checks your ID, they're just verifying that it is, indeed, YOUR card. Which I personally feel is a positive thing, as long as they're not entering my personal information into their marketing database.

Will someone who disagrees please explain to me why you are opposed to showing ID when using your credit card? I'm not criticizing, but I really just don't understand this guy's reasoning, and I'd like to.

@Jaysyn:

Really? I wasn't aware this was Cold War Era Germany already.

"Papers?"
"Er no....I...lost them!"
"Off to the gulag with him! Schnell! Schnell!

@Jaysyn: He doesn't lack ID, he just doesn't have to produce that ID for IHOP.

@Jaysyn: I don't think you have to show any ID, just state your name and address, unless you are operating a vehicle and in that case you must then present the appropriate license (driver's, pilot's, etc). when asked.

I noticed you always seem to ignore the subsequent phrase "except as specifically permitted or required by the Standards".

What are these Standards?

Partial information is useless. Or if you are a sitting 43rd president, extremely useful for manipulation.

On the other hand, as a repeated victim of credit card fraud, I applaud the store's effort to protect me and other victims and potential victims. Thanks, IHOP!

I think they didn't call you back because you have no idea what their actual agreement says, since you weren't a party to it, and presume awful much.

You are supposed to sign your card then sign the transaction slip. The only verification they get is to compare the signatures. "CID" is not cool, ask the Post Office.

I'm not showing my receipt and I'm not showing ID and I'm not going to let you search my bag. They can go pound sand. I will take my money elsewhere.

@lesspopmorefizz:
It's only a violation of the merchant agreement if the consumer has signed the back of his (or her) card. if the consumer hasn't signed the back of his (or her) card, then the cardholder is in violation, and the card is "not valid unless signed."

I too think that being so righteous in the "I refuse to show my ID b/c it says I don't have to, how DARE YOU" argument is kind of old and annoying. Yeah it is against Mastercard Policy but I mean, what is really goint come of you flashing your ID for a second at them? Now if they were writing down things from your ID I could see the problem.

It is your prerogitave to never eat there again but raising a stink over something so mundane is childish. I bet the people behind you were really pleased that you took a stand. /sarcasm

@Buran: It's a little bit of both. I don't believe you're required to show ID; you're only required to prove your identity. At the same time, what constitutes proof of identity varies greatly from person to person and company to company.

I'm with lesspopmorefizz. If you have your ID on you, show it. It takes next to no time or effort since you have to get your wallet/billfold out anyway, it's no erosion of your rights to comply with the request of an IHOP clerk and if anything, the request shows that the clerk asking actually cares enough to make sure it's YOU using YOUR card. That's rare in today's world and while it doesn't deserve kissing one's feet, it hardly deserves a refusal to comply with a request.

This place overreacted severely, but in principle, refusing to show ID when asked makes no sense to me at all.

It may be apocryphal, but I was pulled over a few years ago and didn't have my license on me. I knew the number though, and it matched what they have on file. Most police departments these days have fancy-pants laptops that as soon as they run your plate they know if you've got a license or not and if it's been suspended or expired or if you've got a warrant. A picture shows up of the owner of the vehicle, and if you match that picture it's not such a big deal if you don't have your license on you. Some cops are dicks though, but even still I think you've got something like 10 days to show up at the court to present your license or sign an affidavit saying you lost it.

Jaysyn is right. In Florida you are required to have a form of identification on you at all times. While this law isn't strictly enforced, it is in effect and can be acted on by "officials" at any time.

I find it rather unconstitutional.. but hey.. it's Florida right?

It sounds like he had an ID, but just didn't want to show it.

If the card isn't signed can they ask for ID? If the card says "SEE ID" can they ask for ID?

@Jaysyn:

We are not yet at the point of "Papers please" when walking outside. Driving is another story of course

@unklegwar:
A merchant may require additional ID if the information is required to complete the transaction, for example when shipping an item.

i spoke to someone about the whole id thing. apparently its about getting more money from the credit card companies, because they can be more certain of the card's validity, and therefore don't have to worry about chargebacks...
sounds stupid to me, but either way

@lesspopmorefizz: I'm with you. I thought I was going a service to my customers when I asked for an ID with every credit card purchase. Most people don't mind and are grateful. Additionally, merchants WILL ask for an ID if there is no signature on the back or if the signature is worn down and illegible.

@lesspopmorefizz: Because they're too paranoid/selfish/lazy to expend the effort and don't consider that yes, really, they're not taking down your information (except in very rare cases in which case I support this, but I've never had that happen) and don't care about anyone else.

This has nothing to do with "privacy" and EVERYTHING to do with fraud prevention, and a lot of people are too shortsighted to see that. I've even been attacked, to my face and called names, by the super-paranoid AFTER explaining that I'm a victim. Talk about nerve...

Feel free to return your partially digested waffles to the IHOP in question.

In a paper bag.

Lit on fire.

Right in front of their door.

@FreeMarketGravy: Oh, I do show it -- and say THANK YOU for preventing me from being re-victimized and for helping save others from being hit in the first place.

When they are checking your ID they are trying to help fight against identity theft. Just because you want to make a scene doesnt mean you get to come here and act like you arent being an idiot.

It's best not to use the "merchant agreement" argument. The one that was posted here awhile ago was a generic guide. Merchants may have different agreements with their banks.

Here's a line from the Visa site:
"The Visa USA Operating Regulations are rules that govern the use of the Visa payment system by Visa members only and do not supersede any contractual agreement between a merchant and its acquiring financial institution."

Providing your credit card and access to the personal information contained on your drivers license to some unknown cashier is placing you at more risk of identity theft.

I can't believe someone is comparing IHOP to Nazi Germany. If someone really wants your information, they going to get it from your credit card alone. This paranoia over showing ID and bringing the police into it is beyond belief.

@Buran: I agree and in a case like this if somebody were to steal his card and then use at IHOP and they were to accept you know he would be all "I can't believe IHOP just accepted my card without verifying a THING".

Clearly they want to cover their own bum as well as protect the customer and to challenge them for that is just stupid. If the OP was so concerned with privacy and his credit card rights and is so willing to throw down with anybody who stands in his way why doesn't he just carry cash?

@Project Thanatos:
Is that only "enforced" for Florida residents? I know I "forgot" my wallet a few times at parties when cops came to bust the party up.

@Jaysyn: Wow you guys allow that?

Thats kinda blatantly against federal law there bub. How the hell did Florida pass that and why the hell hasnt it been challenge yet.

I don't know about you, but I wish that id checks were mandatory. I know I don't want some random hoodlum running rampant with my card, and if an ID check or my picture on the card is necessary, so be it. That's a small price to pay for keeping a thief from stealing your month's pay. Honestly, it's three seconds out of your day, and your ssn isn't even on your driver's license (at least not mine).

Granted, calling the police was stupid. But let's say that somebody took your card to the restaurant, wouldn't you like to know why they let a stranger use your card?

I generally don't have this problem ... I prefer using cash.

I have also found that when I carry cash, I tend to spend it less quickly than I did when I lived on plastic.

Gotta agree with the "this isn't a big deal" crowd. I'm normally more upset when they don't ask, since I specifically have "See ID" on my card. Flashing my ID is no problem. Now, if they're asking to RECORD information that's totally different, but geez, it's just an IHOP, and they probably get tons of fraud.

File this under "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should" (or have to). They were doing it for their own protection and by extension, the cardholder's protection (to be sure a fraudulent card wasn't in use)

How weird, usually when you pay in a resto, even one with a checkout, you don't need any sort of ID.

Where are the necessary comments about how unpleasant it is to eat at IHOP? It's a vortex of stick and grease. Folks, be sure to check the caps of those thermal coffee pots for mold--I sure wish I had before I drank my 3rd cup. It's also recommended to check the syrup containers before tipping them over your puffcakes. I love the way Jered includes the full expression of the IHOP acronym, just in case.

@Saboth: this is nothing like Cold war era Germany at all

and secondly.

JUST SHOW YOUR DAMN ID! First off the credit card people DO NOT GIVE A CRAP about it's users and their policies are never enforced.

By the guy refusing not to show his ID it made it seem like he stole the card.

@jblake1:

If they can get your number, it's all they need. Expiration dates and Zip codes can be easily guessed and checked.

I'm GLAD IHOP did this. And I wish the Consumerist would stop running these stories where the consumer is at fault. IHOP was just trying to help with card theft, and I wish more places would do this. Not showing ID just to be difficult, and then digging out a M/C contract to prove himself, is absurd. I don't carry a credit card without ID either, if that was the issue. But it's not clear from this article exactly why he wanted to do this.

I signed my debit card in red ballpoint, and then I wrote over that in bold black Sharpie, "ASK FOR PHOTO ID." In eighteen months of using the card in the US, I've had a cashier ask for my ID only twice. I just got back from a two-week business trip in Scotland, and out of fifteen shopping transactions in which I used my debit card, fifteen cashiers checked the back of my card and asked for the photo ID. Caledonia for the win...

@Buran:

I just did a little research & you're absolutely right. I was lied to by a cop, I guess that shouldn't come as a big surprise these days.

@LorneReams: Actually, we are at that point, at least legally. In Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada in 2004, the Supreme Court ruled that people stopped by police under the "reasonable suspicion" standard (police would almost always be able to justify having reasonable suspicion to stop someone) could be required to identify themselves to policy. While I believe that in this case the guy refused to even identify himself verbally, and providing of a driver's license of other ID hasn't been specifically addressed by the court, they declined to strike down state laws requiring people to carry ID, which a broadly written decision going the other way might have done.

So yes, for now it is constitutional (or at least not directly tested) for states to pass laws requiring people carry ID at all times, and many of them have.

[www.cnn.com]

@Justin42: If you don't sign your card it actually isn't valid, and putting 'see id" could cause a merchant to refuse the card. Signing your card is basically signing that you agree to their terms and conditions, so if something were to happen with your card they could back out of protecting you b/c you never officially agreed to their terms by signing the card. I know that was long winded, but you should really sign your cards.

Fuck IHOP. Their food sucks anyways.

@Buran: That wasn't really directed at you, the second part. I was more referring in general to the people who get a smug, self-righteous thrill out of refusing to show a clerk their ID because is THEIR ID and THEY have THEIR right not to show YOU THEIR ID and so forth.

Walmart did the same thing to me only because I was in the self check out lane never before @the regular checkout lane.
I raised hell and I threatened to call the police but my wife calmed me down I wanted a police report to stick in the store managers face the next day and call cooperate while i was in his office the next day, but my wife won .B.T.W. Kudo;s to soboth this is America not Russia or Nazi Germany .

@Project Thanatos:

Actually I was incorrect. I couldn't find an actual statute, but I think the ACLU may know what they are talking about.

[www.gainesvillesun.com]

I'm kind of up in the air on this one.

ALL of my credit AND debit cards have " PLEASE ASK FOR ID " written in the signature strip. I had a wallet stolen and the LAST thing I want to do is go through this again.

Of course, I also had a very ignorant woman once REFUSE to take my Platinum Visa because she stated: I had not signed it. I told her that my signature is on my driver's licence and is my proof of ownership of said card and if she didn't want to protect both herself as well as me, the consumer, she could shove her merchandise where the sun doesn't shine.

@Falconfire: Probably for the same reason that the rule in the merchant agreement isn't enforced... because as soon as someone gripes about it, everyone else says "Just shut up and show your ID..."

"To stand in silence when they should be protesting makes cowards out of men" - Abraham Lincoln

"The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding." -Louis D. Brandeis

Sigh, more of the consumer not showing ID because they don't want too...

I'm just a little annoyed because it always seems that the business at fault. It's pretty simple they just seem to be protecting your ID. I'm glad some companies still do this.

Is your driver license picture that bad?

@specialed5000: and have you ever been personally asked to show paper work while randomly walking around?

probably not so again this isn't Nazi Germany Russia or even Franco Spain.

So stop with the propaganda.

@AnderBobo:

You are wrong. The signature that matters is the one on the application & the reciept you sign.

The signature line on the back of the card is simply so the merchant can match it to your reciept.

@