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Report: #188171

Complaint Review: Albertson's - Costa Mesa California

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  • Reported By: Beverly Hills California
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  • Albertson's 2300-C Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa, California U.S.A.

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I went into this store today, 4/23, to purchase groceries. Included in that purchase was some wine. I get carded for the wine, which I don't mind because a)she's doing her job and b)she thinks I look under 21? WAY cool!

There is a crease in my driver's license. It's been there for 4 years now. I've only ever been denied cigarettes once before, in OREGON, out of state. I've gone to the DMV and they have told me there is nothing wrong with it and if I wanted to replace it, I'd have to pay an outrageous amount of money. They wouldn't even give me a new one when I changed addresses, either! So, it's set to expire in July of this year, and I figure I'll get a new crease-less license with the correct address. Besides, I've only ever ran into a problem one time out-of-state with it.

But, today, she decides to deny me the purchase of my alcohol. I can accept that since it is up to the discretion of the cashier on whether or not to sell.

Here's where I started seeing red. I don't carry cash. Ever. I pay for everything by credit card.

I said, "I understand. Thank you anyway," and proceeded to leave the cashier stand.
She replies, "Don't you want this stuff?"
I said, "Yes, but I'm paying with credit card."
Her reply? "That's okay. You can still pay for it, you just can't buy the wine."
My reply, thinking she hadn't heard me, "Yes, but I'm. Paying. With. A. Credit. Card."
She shrugged, "So? You can pay with a credit card."
My eyes widened in complete confusion, "How can I pay with a credit card when you won't accept my ID?"

Cashier: "Oh, we don't need ID for credit cards."
My head is spinning at this point. "But you just...you just carded me for the wine and have determined that I'm not who I said I am. So HOW would you even consider accepting a credit card from someone you have already determined is not who they say they are?"
Her reply? "So you don't want this stuff?"

I walked out of the store, leaving behind close to $100 worth of groceries because my conscience would not allow me to purchase my food with a credit card under my ID, which she would not accept. Unfortunately, if my credit card had been stolen, I would have made the purchase and gotten away with it.

The store policy needs to change. Maybe not to ID every credit card transaction, but at the very least, if you're going to deny someone for one thing, then you have to deny them for everything, unless it's cash. It's just logical and moral sense and I will not shop at Albertson's until this policy changes.

It is amazing that there are people out there willing to accept stolen credit cards just because it is "store policy" to not check ID, even though they just checked it for another purchase and denied it.

Sky
Beverly Hills, California
U.S.A.

This report was posted on Ripoff Report on 04/23/2006 03:33 PM and is a permanent record located here: https://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/albertsons/costa-mesa-california-92627/albertsons-perpetuates-credit-card-fraud-costa-mesa-california-188171. The posting time indicated is Arizona local time. Arizona does not observe daylight savings so the post time may be Mountain or Pacific depending on the time of year. Ripoff Report has an exclusive license to this report. It may not be copied without the written permission of Ripoff Report. READ: Foreign websites steal our content

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REBUTTALS & REPLIES:
0Author
16Consumer
0Employee/Owner

#16 Consumer Suggestion

And....

AUTHOR: R - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Many places don't even require a signature up to $20. Starbucks is the most notable of this group.

Can you imagine how long the lines at Starbucks would be if you had to show ID and sign the slip?

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#15 Consumer Comment

Oh Goody

AUTHOR: Cory - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Oh goody, another thread about requiring ID's with credit cards. I can hardly wait. They're almost as much fun as that one about the walmart shoplifter.

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#14 Consumer Comment

Oh Goody

AUTHOR: Cory - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Oh goody, another thread about requiring ID's with credit cards. I can hardly wait. They're almost as much fun as that one about the walmart shoplifter.

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#13 Consumer Comment

Oh Goody

AUTHOR: Cory - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Oh goody, another thread about requiring ID's with credit cards. I can hardly wait. They're almost as much fun as that one about the walmart shoplifter.

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#12 Consumer Suggestion

I don't see why the customer should be upset here.

AUTHOR: Mike - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

It's the store's decision to accept a credit card without ID even though there may be reason to "suspect fraud." The possible penalty to the store is limited to losing the amount of the purchase if the card turns out to be stolen.

The store could suffer a much larger penalty from the state, thousands of dollars, if they sell wine to someone under 21. They decided that your creased ID may be fraudulent and decided not the sell the wine. Again that is the store's choice.

You should be glad that they were still willing to accept your card for the other items. If someone did steal your card and use it at a store, you can contact the bank and get the charge taken off regardless of what the store did.

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#11 Consumer Comment

It is the law

AUTHOR: Tom - (Canada)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

If I accept a stolen card the worst that could happen is a chargeback to me. If I sell an underage person liquor it is a criminal offense. Big difference in punishment.

Just be glad they are not selling alcohol to minors.

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#10 Consumer Comment

Your mixing the two things

AUTHOR: Jamie - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Stores do not ask for ID to use a credit card unless the back of the card is unsigned.
I don't understand your ire at the cashier for doing her job.

As far as the ID, they are looking at the date of birth and that's it.

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#9 Consumer Comment

Your mixing the two things

AUTHOR: Jamie - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Stores do not ask for ID to use a credit card unless the back of the card is unsigned.
I don't understand your ire at the cashier for doing her job.

As far as the ID, they are looking at the date of birth and that's it.

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#8 Consumer Comment

Your mixing the two things

AUTHOR: Jamie - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Stores do not ask for ID to use a credit card unless the back of the card is unsigned.
I don't understand your ire at the cashier for doing her job.

As far as the ID, they are looking at the date of birth and that's it.

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#7 Consumer Comment

Your mixing the two things

AUTHOR: Jamie - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Stores do not ask for ID to use a credit card unless the back of the card is unsigned.
I don't understand your ire at the cashier for doing her job.

As far as the ID, they are looking at the date of birth and that's it.

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#6 Consumer Comment

My mistake you are in California

AUTHOR: Aafes - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

My mistake. You are in California. A replacement driver's license is $20.00. Still not outrageous.

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#5 Consumer Comment

The I.D. request was for age verification

AUTHOR: Aafes - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Tuesday, May 30, 2006

The I.D. request was for age verification, especially if you appear to be underage to buy alcohol.

The merchant and the cashier can both be fined in most states for selling to an underage individual and/or failing to check I.D. If your age could not be verified due to a mutilated/ damaged I.D. they acted appropriately.

Incidentally the cost for a replacement drivers license in Oregon is $21.00 - not an outrageous fee.

As for requiring I.D. for a credit card transaction this is prohibited by Visa. From their website:

"While a merchant may ask for identification if fraud is suspected, it is contrary to Visa policy to require the consumer to show identification as a condition of the sale. If a merchant asks for identification and the consumer is unable or unwilling to produce it, the merchant is still obliged to accept the consumer's Visa card."

Mastercard, AMEX, Discover are much the same. The card is not VALID unless signed and states so on the card. The merchant must only match your signature to that on the card.

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#4 Author of original report

the point was that it doesn't matter whether or not they check ID for credit card usage

AUTHOR: Sky - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Monday, May 29, 2006

"The ID check was to verify your age, not your name."

So what you're basically saying is that I can walk around with any old ID for anyone and as long as the age is correct, then it doesn't matter what name is on there.

And the point was that it doesn't matter whether or not they check ID for credit card usage. It was the fact that she looked at my license, called it "invalid," and proceeded to accept my credit card.

Maybe I should rephrase it like this: I am a female. She asks for my ID and I give her my license for Joe Schmoe. She denies the sale of alcohol because obviously I'm not Joe Schmoe. Then, I try to pay with a credit card for Joe Schmoe. I would think that any normal ethical person would deny the credit card purchase as well given that the ID I presented was "invalid."

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#3 Consumer Suggestion

Compartmentalisation.

AUTHOR: Dave - (Canada)

POSTED: Sunday, April 23, 2006

Ask Bill Clinton.

The ID check was to verify your age, not your name. Without ID to validate your age, the wine purchase was denied. That's the law, as you state.

But, do you ever have to show ID to use your credit card? Anywhere?

The onus on you is to keep your credit card secure, and to report it if it is missing. The same goes for debit cards. That's why they don't check ID unless the card has been reported or flagged, they shouldn't have to.

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#2 Consumer Comment

That's not Albertson's policy

AUTHOR: R - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, April 23, 2006

It's the credit card company's policy. A merchant CANNOT require ID unless the card is unsigned.

Of course, anyone who steals an unsigned card would more than likely just sign it.

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#1 Consumer Comment

That's not Albertson's policy

AUTHOR: R - (U.S.A.)

POSTED: Sunday, April 23, 2006

It's the credit card company's policy. A merchant CANNOT require ID unless the card is unsigned.

Of course, anyone who steals an unsigned card would more than likely just sign it.

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