ID if you use cash?

reply to post by MikeNice81


The computer was a mid size HP, guess about $1200, and the phone was a basic prepaid. Other stuff probably not more that $50-75. Wasn't really looking till the ID demand.

People are over reacting to the whole "Showing ID" thing. Usually I only have problems with people getting crazy on me when they don't have their ID or are doing something wrong.

I get carded at GameStop all the time even when I am using cash, course it involves Mature rated games, but believe me it's obvious I'm over 20. I never have a problem with showing my ID because I would card anyone buying high amounts of money orders, beer, cigs, or just high amounts with a card.

Only thing I can think of is maybe this store got ripped off with fake bills and they were doing to card these people because they had a feeling. And they didn't refuse the sale, the man and women walked out if I read the OP correctly.

But hell, you could card a 90 year old man for beer or cigs, and if he didn't have it you CAN refuse it. It's completely up to the cashier in those situations. At least where I come from.

Just adding my $.02, as far as I know, certain STATES now require ID for pre-paid phone purchases.

It is a silly requirement in my opinion. The local flea market makes ID's for $7.50. You could have any name/address combination you want.

So the Fed will know that Bill Hicock, from Illinois purchased a pre paid phone in Texas.

Its just so silly.

reply to post by ErEhWoN


OR, a person can drive to the next state and buy one. If you live in central Texas or Florida this might be hard. However, most people I know are less than a three hour drive from the next state.

If you're too far there are still dozens of other ways to do it.

reply to post by SphinxMontreal

Explanation: The difference is that they engaged the store and not the other way around and they were also not harrassed or detained for their actions or lack there of!

The were not obliged to show any ID, and in this case they didn't, but they were obliged to show ID if they wanted to purchase some and or all of those items legally.

Personal Disclosure: How many consumers have been legally caught out by not reading/knowing the fine print of Ads and or contracts???

Update: I'm not finding any FCC regs that require ID, however I'm only halfway through Title 47.

Getting fuzzyeyes. I'm going to guess that I was wrong in my earlier guess that the OP transaction was an FCC rule. Will pick it up tomorrow.

Out.

reply to post by TheRedneck


I have to disagree.

Theres nothing that states a business has to accept your business.

I, working in restaurants and as a store clerk have numerous times told people to GTFO.

"We reserve the right to refuse service"

Just because come into a store, does in no way mean that you are entitled to shop there. And they can ask you to leave just because they feel like it.

You could always say it was because you were black, or gay, or disabled, or whatever.

But outside of those reasons, a store can at any point decide to not serve you and ask you to leave.

reply to post by ThaLoccster


Quite right:

www.ustreas.gov...

Question: I thought that United States currency was legal tender for all debts. Some businesses or governmental agencies say that they will only accept checks, money orders or credit cards as payment, and others will only accept currency notes in denominations of $20 or smaller. Isn't this illegal?

Answer: The pertinent portion of law that applies to your question is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 31 U.S.C. 5103, entitled "Legal tender," which states: "United States coins and currency (including Federal reserve notes and circulating notes of Federal reserve banks and national banks) are legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.

about 6 months ago I bought a new computer
from Wal-Mart and they didn't ask for an ID
and I paid cash as well.

However, a couple weeks ago at the same
Wal-Mart I purchased a digital camera
and paid cash for it again and they asked
for my phone number. I was kinda dumb founded
by the question so I asked why this was done
and the lady advised that it was for warranty
if it was ever needed to be replaced it was for
a paper trail to who owned it and when it was
purchased. She had a lil notebook under the counter
and it had all the cameras listed by serial number
and marked my phone number down beside it
for their archives. I didn't have the nerve to tell
her I gave her a fake phone number.

I am assuming that cameras now are like printers,
they have an identifying mark in their pics or
images and if a pic shows up somewhere
against big brother's wishes, they know who
to call to find out.

This breach of privacy by big brother is getting
way out of hand.

Not to mention Radio Shack has been asking
for folks address and phone number for years.
But theirs is for marketing spam to ur mailbox
or at least it was decades ago.

I will just quit buying stuff if I have to produce
an ID when I use cash. That's just irritating.

Wow, I live in D/FW...OP please post the name of the store and address!

reply to post by boondock-saint


Digital cameras do leave tags with the image known as EXIF data. Some cameras now leave serial numbers within that data, they also leave a small thumbnail of the image which is used for display on the cameras preview screen, that thumbnail can be retrived with the correct software.

It does seem as if the governments around the world want less use of cash and items purchased to be tied to you. No doubt this is to do with the filming of police when they misbehave and other such things. It would be handy being able to identify who took the images wouldn't it.

I use cash almost everywhere i go simply because it helps me prevent junk mail. Whenever you buy something on your credit card that information is sold to amrketting companies, i really don't like that.

Buy anything at Lowes Home improvement with cash and they will ask for your id. Refuse and they ask for a cell number. Cell #= id! Refuse that and they say,"Okay but if you don't have your receipt, we can't refund your money!" "That's fine" I say, "I am responsible for my own actions, I'll take the chance." Then they shake their head in disgust and try to figure out how to count the change. ( I am not implying that all Lowes cashiers are stupid. Just that this one in particular is operating at less than her full potential)

reply to post by wirefly


I don't think it's right to criticise the cashier though because they are just doing their job. No doubt most people happily hand over their information and you not doing so is therefore seen as odd. Human beings are sort of programmed to notice things which go against common social experience.

Of course most people now think nothing of handing over any and all details without question, a quick look at facebook, friends reunited and twitter will show that, so of course anyone in this age who is careful with their information is seen as hiding something.

It's very stupid because anyone who underzstands how that information is used knows to be careful, if only to avoid the constant calls, letters and emails from marketting people. Of course identity theft is another big issue.

Trying to tell people these things often falls on deaf ears, they simply think you are a criminal or something like that and ignorantly quote that common line "nothing to hide, nothing to fear".

Originally posted by DJW001
There are a lot of counterfeit bills out there. If someone pulled out a wad of hundred dollar bills to buy a computer, I'd be tempted to ask for ID, too!

Yep, heaps of counterfeit money - all coming from the Fed.

reply to post by TheRedneck


are you CERTAIN that they are compeled to accept ? i realise that you are american and citing US law

but here [ the uk ] a display of goods and a price tag is " an invitation to make an offer " which the vendor does not have to accept

It seems to me the likely reason is the pre-paid cell, I guess the False Flag worked to change America forever aye!

What I found curious is the remark at the end about having to call the manager! It would seem that if he didn't complete the sale that deleting it would be no big deal. With my suspicious mind my first thought was they may be checking the security films on these people.

It is really sad, we are filmed from the moment we leave our homes. Highway cameras, store cameras, street cameras. We use credit or debit cards and the stores keep huge data bases on our purchasing habits and demographic information. Now the last seemed private thing, making cash purchases is nearing its end. We are now suspect if we want privacy........

In Oz you have to give ID to buy a phone so they can track your sim-card the bastards.

FREEDOM IS A STAE OF MIND,
MIND IS A STATE OF BEING.
STAY THE FICK OUT OF MY MIND & MY BEING.

[edit on 6-7-2010 by acrux]

According to Federal Law(unless it has changed), then the government is not supposed to "question" you unless you make a purchase of $10,000 or more with cash. Also, last time I checked, you are innocent till proven guilty, so is this now grounds that you become "suspect" just because you pay for an expensive electronic item just because you use "CASH!" Unless deemed a counterfeit, all dollar bills say, "Legal Tender" on them, so unless it's proven it's a conterfeit, then the store had "no right" to question it. Besides, the "manager" said, "The U.S. Government!" The big, fat, nosey Federal Pigs!

Folks, I have been telling people for years that there is a slow push for us to go to a cashless money-system. When we do that, then we are screwed. It will be World-Wide, so there will probably be no place you could go to have access to any bills, unless you run to a low-life country where crime and disease are rampant. So, welcome to "George Orwell's 1984," welcome to Communism!

It's a sad day in Mudville!

~ MidnightPoet

Best Buy doesn't do this YET, but is going to.
I ONLY know this because a family member works for Geek Squad.

Also, the Postal Service wants to raise rates again. Again, there is a slow push for everyone to pay their bills online, even get stamps online, all so they can "track you," every purchase you make, and even if you give the neighbor's son $20 for mowing your lawn, or your grandchild $20 for their birthday, "THEY" will know it!

"Gone will be the days of slipping a $20 bill into a card as a gift, or a thank you!" Sad, sad, sad, it p*sses me off so badly! The sh*t has got to stop, or we are screwed!!!!!!!

~ MidnightPoet