Quote:
Originally Posted by stocktrader23
It is against Visa / MC regulations to require ID when using a credit card.
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This is not strictly true, and although Visa and Mastercard SUGGEST that presenting the card and verifying the signature matches is all the proof a merchant should require, until they fully indemnify merchants against chargebacks, merchants are perfectly within their rights to seek sight of an id as confirmation that they are dealing with the real credit card holder if they choose and to refuse the purchase if the customer is reluctant to provide this and they consider the transaction to be a risk.
This is actually being a RESPONSIBLE merchant.
What they cannot do, I believe, is make copies of the Visa or mastercard and retain said copies or store the card number, or other details anywhere other than on the credit card receipt.
As regards the 3% or whatever surcharge for paying by VISA/Mastercard that many international merchants try to apply to the transaction, it is true that this is not strictly allowed by either card, BUT in my experience if you do not pay it, they will not sell to you, and so you have to go to an ATM and withdraw cash which if from your visa or mastercard will cost you a cash handling fee anyway. i have only personally seen travel agents and other businesses that operate a very tight margin still doing this though, and in those cases I do kind of understand why.
These are both completely different to KYC (know your customer) and anti money laundering regulations that require services like cashx, paxum, etc to verify the identity of their customers of course.