I went to the doctor today and she suggested that I try Zyrtec for my allergies instead of a prescription. On my way back to work, I stopped by a Giant Food Store to buy some. As I was checking out, the cashier asked me if I was 30. I said no, that I am only 29 and gave him my ID. He said that he would go ahead and sell me my medicine, but not to tell anyone that he did so. When I asked why, he said that they are not allowed to sell anyone Zyrtec (and possibly other medications, but I didn’t ask) to people under 30. Luckily I had my doctor’s recommendations in my purse with me if there had been any problems, but I found the age limit of 30 to be a bit high….

Amie

We suspected this guy was just hitting on you, so we called Giant Foods and confirmed that they had no age restrictions on over-the-counter allergy medicines. Feel free to complain to the manager of the store where this apron-wearing lothario works.

This afternoon I visited the Kohl's store in Moline, Illinois. When I was checking out I elected to pay with my Visa card. After sliding my card through the card reader I signed the screen when prompted. My cashier asked to see the card, which I handed over to her. She handed my card back to me and then asked to see my identification, to which I respectfully declined. She said I had to show my ID or I could not leave the store with my purchases...

I explained to her that customers using Visa credit cards do not have to show identification as a condition of purchase as long as the back of the card is signed (mine is) and to compel them to do so is a violation of the store's agreement with the credit card company.

She flatly denied that this was true and again asked for my ID. It was at this point I realized I was dealing with someone who through her persistent need to argue with me has no interest in customer service and told her I was not going to show her my ID and demanded she void the transaction. I told her I did not need to give Kohl's my money if they were going to argue with me about something which I know to be fact.

I found her request especially odd since she took my Visa card, handed it back, and then asked for my ID. What was she going to do with the information on my ID?

I thought I would bring this matter to your attention. Perhaps the management team at the Moline store need to be brought up to speed on merchant's agreements with credit card companies.

If there are questions about this matter, I direct you and the Moline store's management to please see page 29 "Rules For VISA Merchants."

Therein you will find:

"Although Visa rules do not preclude merchants from asking for cardholder ID, merchants cannot make an ID a condition of acceptance. Therefore, merchants cannot refuse to complete a purchase transaction because a cardholder refuses to provide ID. Visa believes merchants should not ask for ID as part of their regular card acceptance procedures. Laws in several states also make it illegal for merchants to write a cardholder’s personal information, such as an address or phone number, on a sales receipt."

Afterwards, I went to the Target store next door and made a similar purchase with my Visa card and did not have to surrender my personal identification to do so. After that I visited Best Buy, a local grocer, and another department store and not one of them batted an eye at my Visa card or asked for my ID.

So, please, enlighten me: what is going on at Kohl's where a customer is treated in such a manner?

In these days of rampant identity theft I find it unreasonable beyond belief that a small, simple purchase in a department store warrants me handing over my "government papers" to a retail cashier when it clearly is not necessary.

Your former customer.

Asking for identification is a one-way street, and you are the traffic cop. Let's review:

• Good: Stores accepting your credit card without requesting identification.
• Good: Writing "Ask for ID" on the back of your credit card, allowing merchants to request identification.
• BAD: Stores demanding identification as a condition of using your credit card.

See the difference? You have the power. If you don't want to show identification, don't. Nothing a store says or does can make you provide identification.

Straighten out ill-trained merchants by reporting them. Here's how to contact Visa:

Visa
Phone Number: 1-800-VISA-911 (International: 1-410-581-9994). Or call the number on the back of your card
Mailing Address:
Visa U.S.A. Inc.
P.O. Box 194607
San Francisco, California 94119-4607
Online: Your card issuer's website may let you send them complaints about merchant violations and start a dispute if your were charged a fee to use your card.

Visa will fire off a stern letter to the store in question, and your next shopping experience should be hassle-free.

PREVIOUSLY: Writing "Ask For ID" On Your Credit Card Won't Stop Fraud, But It's Still A Good Idea
How To Report Merchants For Requiring A Minimum Purchase Or Making You Show ID
(Photo: Getty)

I went to IHOP(INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES) on March 30th with my wife to eat. After our meal I went to the counter to pay and presented my Visa as payment. I was asked for photo ID, and kindly declined. I was then told that they were not going to be able to accept my card without photo ID.

I then offered my MasterCard(so that I could later fill out a complaint) and was also told a photo ID would be required. I then explained that I had no other form of payment, that it was against both Visa & MasterCard's merchant rules. I was then directed to the manager, who I politely explained to that if he expected to be paid for the meal he offered me, he had the choice of accepting and honoring my card, or not getting paid.

At this point the manager called the police and was attempting to have me arrested for Dine-and-Dash, even though I was the one trying in good faith to present payment, and they were the one's refusing, based on a 'store policy' that was in a direct breach of contract, their merchant agreement. My wife then showed her Visa(same account number) and her ID, and was fully embarrassed and outraged that they were trying to have me arrested because THEY refused to accept payment. I found this completely unacceptable, I called their Corporate Headquarters in Glendale, California, as did my wife, and filed complaints. We were told a Field Rep for the area would call us, but none ever did. I'd plan on going back there with just my card and no ID and let the police come, but as a matter of principal I can simply not got back there after something like that.

— Jered,

MasterCard Merchant Manual (PDF) [MC]

At epassportphoto you upload your photo, crop it according to your country's standard guidelines, and save the resulting 4x6" image—that's six 2x2" ID shots—to your computer to print wherever you like, whether it's at home, from an online service, or at that same CVS with the myopic camera operator.

Not only will you be able to control the photo lighting and quality (and retake the photo until you're happy with it), but you'll have four more 2x2" shots than you get for $8 at CVS or Walgreens. And if you need any more incentive to cut the drugstore out of the process, consider that they also produce sets of six photos at a time—they just refuse to give you more than two unless you pay extra:

While we waited for the photos to print out, I saw (with my own eyes) that the photographs were printed on a 4″ x 6″ photo paper - and there were 6 copies on it. Then the dude coolly cut away 4 copies, disposed them, and handed us the remaining two copies.

I have a friend that moved to NYC a little while ago from Iowa. She hadn't switched to a NYS Photo ID yet, as she isn't sure if this is going to be a permanent move, so she has been using her Iowa State Photo ID (non-Driver's License, which is important as you'll see) around town.

Yesterday morning, she left her wallet in a taxi in midtown, and didn't realize until it was too late to get the medallion number. In her wallet was her Iowa ID, a college photo ID, and her social security card (yes, she knows it's not a good idea to carry it on her at all times, especially now).

So basically she is without ID right now. We're supposed to be flying out of town next Wednesday, but obviously she won't be able to board a plane without ID. The lovely folks at the Iowa Department of Transportation - Motor Vehicle Divisionhave informed her that they cannot issue a replacement ID for non-Driver's Licenses without her going to Iowa, in person, to request one. Were it a Driver's License, they'd send out a temporary one until a new Photo Driver's License was completed — but for non-Driver's License, State Issued IDs they have no method for providing replacements. At all.

She does have a filed police report, as well as a Birth Certificate. Will she be able to fly? What more can she do to try to get some sort of valid ID?

Well Dan, the good news is that she'll probably be able to fly. The bad news is that we can't definitively say that she will be able to board a plane without ID because the laws regarding IDs and planes are secret. Yes, these laws are considered "SSI" or Sensitive Security Information. A civil liberty activist recently petitioned the Supreme Court to disclose the law, but his petition was denied.

So, the answer is we don't know if you're legally required to show ID or not, but we do know that people have, in the past, been allowed to board planes without showing ID. To board a plane without ID, you should explain your situation to the TSA agent. Bring any documentation you have, and expect to go through secondary screening.

As for your question about how your friend can go about getting her ID back, this is going to get a little complicated.

Unless she is willing to go back to Iowa, here is the best way we found for her to get her ID mess sorted out:

1) She can use her birth certificate, credit cards, library cards, atm cards, and a witness to apply in person for a US Passport OR Ask her college to send her a new student ID. To get a passport without showing photo ID, the witness will need to bring ID, fill out a form DS-71 in the presence of a passport agent, have known her at least 2 years, and be a US citizen.

2) Once she has a new student ID and/or a passport, she can apply for a new Social Security Card. She will need her birth certificate and either the passport or the student ID.

3) Once she has a social security card, she can apply for a New York State ID Card.

The moral of this story is not to carry your social security card. In addition to dealing with this mess, your friend is going to want to check out the FTC's ID Theft page, as well as contact the Iowa Attorney General's Office to see what programs Iowa has in place. We'd also suggest complaining about their lack of a replacement program for ID cards. Good luck, and be sure to say "Hi" to the TSA for us.

If she's still feeling nervous about flying without ID, NPR has a helpful story she can listen to. Heck, some people refuse to show ID on principle!—MEGHANN MARCO

(Photo: Ben Tubby)