VISA now has an online merchant violation report form

[Mike]

https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp

It's a little ambiguous over whether ther merchant may require ID - however, i thik it fare to say a refusal to accept the card is a refusal to accept the card!

 

[since9]

Nice! Especially now that I've switched from Mastercard to Visa.

 

[carracer]

Huh, wonder what would happen if I report the State Of Idaho Motor Vehicle Department for adding 3% on every cred card transaction?

 

[golddigger14s]

Reply from VISA

Thank you for contacting Visa. We value your business and appreciate your writing to clarify merchant practices.

Visa has certain regulations that all merchants which accept Visa cards must follow. Visa merchants are not permitted to:

Minimum/Maximum – Debit
Visa merchants in the U.S. are not permitted to establish minimum or maximum transaction amounts on debit card transactions, even on sale items.

Minimum/Maximum – Credit
A new U.S. law (effective July 21, 2010) has gone into effect, which now allows retailers to establish a minimum purchase amount on credit card transactions. The minimum purchase amount must not exceed $10. This minimum purchase amount does not apply to transactions made with a debit card.

Visa merchants are not permitted to establish maximum transaction amounts on credit card transactions. However, some government agencies and institutions of higher education may establish a maximum purchase requirement on a credit card transaction.

Dishonored Check
Visa merchants in the U.S. are not permitted to submit a Visa sales draft for a dishonored check.

Check Out Fees (Surcharges)
In general, Visa merchants in the U.S. are not permitted to pass on the merchant's transaction fee to the cardholder as a Visa "service charge," "service fee," or surcharge," even on sale items. A merchant may offer a discount for cash, check, and, effective July 21, 2010, debit, credit or prepaid. However, the cardholder must be made aware of this prior to entering into the transaction.

No Amount on Sales Draft
Visa merchants in the U.S. are not permitted to require a Visa cardholder to sign a sales draft that does not have a specific amount indicated.

Supplemental ID or Information
U.S. merchants may not refuse to honor a Visa card simply because the cardholder refuses a request for supplementary information or Identification.

In addition, Visa International Operating Regulations are now available on the visa.com website. For your convenience, here is the link:
http://corporate.visa.com/about-visa/our-business/operating-regulations.shtml

Please notify the disputes area of the financial institution that issued your card of any merchant practices that you feel are inappropriate. Your card issuing bank has access to the appropriate Visa rules and regulations as well as to the Visa complaint forms, which should be used by your bank to document and file merchant complaints. It is not necessary for your bank to be the offending merchant's financial institution in order to file a complaint for you.

As an alternative, to report merchant practices that you feel are inappropriate, you may wish to contact the Visa Global Customer Care Services at 1-800-VISA-911 (1-800-847-2911) or go to our website at www.visa.com. When calling, please advise the representative that you were referred to file a complaint. The staff will be able to initiate a complaint form over the phone.

We hope this information proves helpful and thank you for writing.

Visa Webmaster

 

[Beau]

So funny. I was in a Ihop the other day and when I got up to the register to pay I noticed signs stating that they require ID for all credit/debit transactions. I refused to show ID and they had a fit. I told them Visa policy and they told me that they had special permission from Visa to require ID for card transactions. I called them on it and told them either you take my card without ID or you don't get paid for my meal. Unfortunately I ended up paying for my meal.

 

[jbone]

So funny. I was in a Ihop the other day and when I got up to the register to pay I noticed signs stating that they require ID for all credit/debit transactions. I refused to show ID and they had a fit. I told them Visa policy and they told me that they had special permission from Visa to require ID for card transactions. I called them on it and told them either you take my card without ID or you don't get paid for my meal. Unfortunately I ended up paying for my meal.

Now you can just tell them you are illegal and the meal will be free.

 

[gogodawgs]

https://usa.visa.com/checkoutfees/contact.jsp

It's a little ambiguous over whether ther merchant may require ID - however, i thik it fare to say a refusal to accept the card is a refusal to accept the card!

I have worked in management in retail for 20+ years and have followed this for all of those years.

If your card is signed and the signature matches then the merchant may not ask for ID. If the signature is worn off then the merchant may ask for ID.
If you wrote "CID" or "See ID" or some other variation on your card then you have invalidated your card and the merchant may refuse to take the card.

I always sign my card and when it get's worn call my bank and ask for a replacement. I never show ID with my card. I have had lot's of conversations with cashier's about this (including Cabela's and other national chains) and they swear they are correct. I tell them call the store manager and we will call VISA together and I will wait. (Thus stalling that register). They all back off...

 

[1245A Defender]

Well,,,

I,, understand that the Card is meant to be a "bearer instrument", but...
Many merchants will accept a card, from an obviouse thug/theif,
that is buying cartons of smokes, cans of DEW and sticks of jerkey,
with a card he probably just stole from a church lady, named ginger molsby!

I have two cards, they have 10,000 and 20,000$ limits,
I only use them for major purchaces, last time, was this very computor, about 3 years ago.

When the clerk asks me for pic ID.... I show it... then I thank them for being carefull..
When they check the extra ID, they are protecting my credit from fraud,,, I like that.

 

[MKEgal]

Huh, wonder what would happen if I report the State Of Idaho Motor Vehicle Department for adding 3% on every cred card transaction?

I think that every ad I've seen on gunbroker.com also charges a 3-5% fee for credit card transactions.

When they check the extra ID, they are protecting my credit from fraud

No, they're protecting themselves.
You're protected by your end of the credit card agreement, as well as a host of laws.
If they accept a fraudulent charge & it's contested by the victim/owner of the card, they're out the product (to the thief) & the money (returned to the cc co.).

Of course, all they have to do is check the signature on the purchase slip against the signature on the card, & make sure that their company policy & training manuals clearly state that, so they can tell the cc co. that their employees checked the signatures & they matched.

Another thing that courts have ruled constitutes requiring ID for purposes of a cc transaction is those "enter your zip code" prompts at gas pumps (& other merchants, but those are the most common).
If I run into one of those, I drive to a less crime-ridden area to spend my money.

 

[1245A Defender]

Well,,,

I am glad that their are protections on the agreement.
My dad had a credit card,,,
he bought gas in town last month, just got the bill for 88$ in the mail.
He has been dead for 7 years!
I called to tell them it was a bogus charge, they said they would look into it.
Just got a letter back saying that the charge has to be paid because it was a "point of purchase" charge.
Funny thing to me is, credit cards are only valid for about 2 or 3 years after issue,,,, soooo...
Now they can send him bills till the cows come home,,,, Ive got a big garbage can...

 

[davidmcbeth]

I think that every ad I've seen on gunbroker.com also charges a 3-5% fee for credit card transactions.
.

Check Out Fees (Surcharges)
In general, Visa merchants in the U.S. are not permitted to pass on the merchant's transaction fee to the cardholder as a Visa "service charge," "service fee," or surcharge," even on sale items. A merchant may offer a discount for cash, check, and, effective July 21, 2010, debit, credit or prepaid. However, the cardholder must be made aware of this prior to entering into the transaction.

Good Catch !

 

[davidmcbeth]

I am glad that their are protections on the agreement.
My dad had a credit card,,,
he bought gas in town last month, just got the bill for 88$ in the mail.
He has been dead for 7 years!
I called to tell them it was a bogus charge, they said they would look into it.
Just got a letter back saying that the charge has to be paid because it was a "point of purchase" charge.
Funny thing to me is, credit cards are only valid for about 2 or 3 years after issue,,,, soooo...
Now they can send him bills till the cows come home,,,, Ive got a big garbage can...

They can wait for their payment from him . la la la

When my mother died, she had ~ 10K in bills ... they wanted me to pay...and willing to deal! la la la

 

[since9]

Report them

Huh, wonder what would happen if I report the State Of Idaho Motor Vehicle Department for adding 3% on every cred card transaction?

Sounds like a surcharge to me:

Check Out Fees (Surcharges)
In general, Visa merchants in the U.S. are not permitted to pass on the merchant's transaction fee to the cardholder as a Visa "service charge," "service fee," or surcharge," even on sale items. A merchant may offer a discount for cash, check, and, effective July 21, 2010, debit, credit or prepaid. However, the cardholder must be made aware of this prior to entering into the transaction.

 

[since9]

Just got a letter back saying that the charge has to be paid because it was a "point of purchase" charge.

You are not responsible for the debts of your parents. Ignore them. If you're concerned about what they might do, request it in writing, respond with your father's death certificate, and CC all three credit bureaus, as well as the consumer protection agency and the federal trade commission (the CC primarily lets the creditor know they'll be neck-deep in kimchi if they pursue).

 

[MSG Laigaie]

I do not use credit cards, but I do use a visa debit card (cash now). I have never signed ANY card. I think it is the same as putting a combination on the outside of a lock. What makes the card valid?? the signature.

 

[sharkey]

I do not use credit cards, but I do use a visa debit card (cash now). I have never signed ANY card. I think it is the same as putting a combination on the outside of a lock. What makes the card valid?? the signature.

Actually they get the "combination" when you show them ID to create a new card. All they really need is your zip code.

http://credit.about.com/b/2011/05/21/no-id-required-for-credit-card-purchases.htm

And the may does not equal allowed!

While merchants may ask for ID to prevent credit card fraud, your personal information is at risk when you show your ID. Remember that your name, address, driver's license number, and sometimes social security number are printed on your driver's license. This is just the information an unscrupulous cashier needs to steal your identity. Many credit card fraudsters are successful with just your zip code and credit card number.

 

[amzbrady]

I love it where I work, the customer has to swipe the card themselves, and occasionally a text will pop up on our screen that says check ID, I am amazed at how many people just hand over their ID when asked. If we have to enter the card manually, it always asks that we check ID then have to input a password saying we did. Doesnt matter whether the card is signed or not.

 

[amzbrady]

Now you can just tell them you are illegal and the meal will be free.

I'm going to try that next time I go to Ihop, I'll tell them my name is Jose.

 

[Mike]

What makes the card valid?? the signature.

Yes, they are signature cards. The name on the front of the card need not be your name. it can be an authorized user alias, or, you can give your friends a card and she can sign the back with her name and use it.

 

[smellslikemichigan]

in michigan it is common to see 2 prices at gas stations. a cash price and a credit price. i wonder if this violates visa's rules.