Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: Credit Card tip Mon 12 Nov 2007, 8:07 pm

I noticed the other day when DH and I were shopping,,we put a few items on the charge card at a JCPenneys.I stopped at 2 different places in the store and made purchases.Both times,,no one asked for ID.They just took the card and ran it through and handed it back to me.

With holidays comming up,,stealing ,purse snatching etc happens more and more.One thing I remembered when I worked a side job at a retail store last year,,a few people had written on their credit cards in black marker,,,"SEE ID"
I thought this was a simple but smart thing to do.

Subject: Re: Credit Card tip Mon 12 Nov 2007, 8:25 pm

On the flipside, a man 'went off' at me a few years ago for making him re-sign his credit card slip as he only scribbled half of his long surname. He called me pedantic! Shocked

I simply replied that he'd think I was being reasonable if someone had stolen his card and was trying to forge his signature. He then agreed with me and re-signed. When I worked on a service desk we had several women (try to) use their husband's credit cards. I NEVER accepted if the card said Mr.
It's more difficult when it's just an initial and surname, harder to tell when the signature is very similar.
On another occasion I was relieving someone at a register and a lady signed the credit slip for her husband's card who was with her but in a wheelchair. She also flipped when I refused to process it without his signature. She said it was easier for her to sign it for obvious reasons. I told her if the card had her name on it then it wouldn't be a problem. Her husband simply signed it for me but she wasn't happy. Maybe she got her own after that (but I doubt it Rolling Eyes

).
Register operators actually get abused for trying to enforce this, I'm a meanie!!! Evil or Very Mad

But I do admit that often when I'm shopping, many cashiers don't really check signatures.
I have a discount card through work that I can use in other stores too. Some cashiers ask to see i.d. when I use the card, others don't. Not a lot of consistency!
I've heard this tip of writing 'Ask for i.d.'...it would be useful if they actually read it Laughing

_________________
~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Credit Card tip Mon 12 Nov 2007, 8:35 pm

Oh, another idea.
You are right in this being the time of year when purse-snatching and stealing seems to increase. My neighbour actually had hers stolen from her bag 2 Christmases back while in a shopping centre with both girls, one in the pram. She was distracted by the girls at the time. The police told her she'd probably been watched for a while as the thieves/purse-snatchers look for vulnerable and easy targets i.e. Mums, Elderly, People with lots of bags/parcels.

If you carry cash it'd probably be better to spread it around in different pockets etc. Always keep your handbag fastened, zipped up or clasped. I certainly don't intend to make it easy for anyone to pick-pocket me Laughing

I also keep receipts in my purse, don't leave them in the bag with the item, makes it too easy to lift it and walk back to the shop for a refund!

Very sad subject but it happens.
_________________
~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Credit Card tip Tue 13 Nov 2007, 10:42 am

I like to thank the clerks that check my signature, Lord knows they don't get alot thanks in this day and age. At my local Walmart store one of the clerks always asks for ID, and while this isn't store policy (or CC company policy) she has caught more thanone stolen credit card. Try to put safety on brain alert while still enjoying the holidays, be more careful while driving as holiday distractions can cause accidents, festive candles can cause fires, etc. So be alert and safe and enjoy your holidays healthy, wealthy, and wise!
_________________
Dear Lord, help me remember how lucky I am on both the good and the bad days!