Stores and personal info

[dukebound85]

Surely we have all been asked for our names and address/email/ phone when purchasing items at stores. I usually ask "do you really need that?" and always been told no. Now having been involved in the Target compromise a year ago, I am even more careful about what info stores collect.

So today I was at Conn's (don't go there....they suck and you thought BB was bad) and was buying a blu ray player as I had a gc there. I paid, they swiped my card and asked for all the usual info, which they stated they needed to have when I asked why. I gave them made up info.

However, they then wanted my DL number. I asked what does this have to do with making a purchase? They said it was to prevent fraud and whatnot where I explained what if I was 15 making a purchase? or an adult who didn't have one.

They essentially told me if I didn't give them the info, they would refund my card but not reissue the GC amount. This is absurd so after telling the manager that I thought this was a shi**y policy, I ultimately gave it to them and promptly called their corporate office.

I do not know why they needed it and why if I refused they would not give me my GC balance back if I failed to give it to them.

Have any of you ran across these behaviors?

/rant

 

[satcomer]

I never had a store ask for my information! Only online stores wanting my shipping info when ordering online. When a site (Amazon, Overstack or LandsEnd) asks me for a store account I always say no.

If a traditional store tries that with me I would call their PR phone lines and then Better Business compliant form and never shop there again.

You did right thing not giving them the information for a some retail merchandise!

 

[smithrh]

Walgreen's has started a personal information collection push too... I don't shop there very much any more due to it.

I've become pretty militant these days - unless *I* can see a reason for someone to have the information, they don't get it. I have left a few purchases sitting on the counter and have walked out. However, what typically happens is that they back down.

Of course, when they back down, it's a clear sign that they don't really need the information, they just wanted it.

Keep fighting the good fight...

 

[hallux]

The only time I've heard of stores asking for a DL number is when using a personal check, it shouldn't be needed for a CC/GC purchase.

 

[smithrh]

The only time I've heard of stores asking for a DL number is when using a personal check, it shouldn't be needed for a CC/GC purchase.

Walgreens wanted a scan of my DL for beer.

Told them they could look at it and verify my birthdate, but not scan it. They said "corporate policy" and I told them "personal policy" and walked out.

 

[mobilehaathi]

All you can do is refuse and encourage everyone else to do the same. Please do so, or it will not stop.

 

[Nermal]

Don't get me started! My dad changed his Internet plan the other day and they wanted his DL number. Why? To do a credit check. The new plan is the same price as the old one and he's been a customer since 1999 (and, as far as I know, has never missed a bill payment). Stupidity at its finest.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

All you can do is refuse and encourage everyone else to do the same. Please do so, or it will not stop.

Agree completely.

On principle, I refuse all such requests - it is a commercial transaction, nothing more, and stores have no right to such sensitive information.

However, that doesn't stop them attempting to obtain it, as such information is extremely valuable to them, particularly for marketing purposes.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Surely we have all been asked for our names and address/email/ phone when purchasing items at stores. I usually ask "do you really need that?" and always been told no. Now having been involved in the Target compromise a year ago, I am even more careful about what info stores collect.

So today I was at Conn's (don't go there....they suck and you thought BB was bad) and was buying a blu ray player as I had a gc there. I paid, they swiped my card and asked for all the usual info, which they stated they needed to have when I asked why. I gave them made up info.

However, they then wanted my DL number. I asked what does this have to do with making a purchase? They said it was to prevent fraud and whatnot where I explained what if I was 15 making a purchase? or an adult who didn't have one.

They essentially told me if I didn't give them the info, they would refund my card but not reissue the GC amount. This is absurd so after telling the manager that I thought this was a shi**y policy, I ultimately gave it to them and promptly called their corporate office.

I do not know why they needed it and why if I refused they would not give me my GC balance back if I failed to give it to them.

Have any of you ran across these behaviors?

/rant

You allowed a store to bully you into giving them information that they didn't need for fraud protection. You shouldn't have given in, which kills your rant.

 

[Meister]

Pay cash. Givem Barry Soretoros details. Problem solved.

 

[Happybunny]

I never had that problem of people asking for information.
I grew up in a city were everybody knew me and my family. There is even a street named after my family, the bank carries our name, at the one time my grandfather was mayor of the city.

Back then the city only had 48,000 population.

I was very glad when in the 1980's the population exploded, and most people now don't immediately make the connection in the name.

Just the other day one of the teachers remarked how strange it was that my granddaughter school had my last name.

 

[Zxxv]

email address, sure its ****you@corporate.com

yes it is are you calling me a liar? whats with you... just input it.

or just look at them blank when they ask.

 

[rdowns]

Whenever I am asked for personal information, I simply say, I'd be happy to help you with your direct marketing efforts. To do so, I require a 15% discount. When they say they can't so that, I say, me neither.

A friend of mine was asked for personal information at PC Richard, a regional electronic chain in the NE. He refused and asked for the manager. The manager was insistent on collecting the information. My friend pulled out his phone and said he was reporting them to Better Get Baquero, a local consumer fraud reported. The manager let the sale go through and several customers applauded him.

As an aside, remember not to give the cashier **** over it, they're just doing their job.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Whenever I am asked for personal information, I simply say, I'd be happy to help you with your direct marketing efforts. To do so, I require a 15% discount. When they say they can't so that, I say, me neither.

A friend of mine was asked for personal information at PC Richard, a regional electronic chain in the NE. He refused and asked for the manager. The manager was insistent on collecting the information. My friend pulled out his phone and said he was reporting them to Better Get Baquero, a local consumer fraud reported. The manager let the sale go through and several customers applauded him.

As an aside, remember not to give the cashier **** over it, they're just doing their job.

Actually, this sort of information is of such worth that stores will sometimes offer discounts to obtain it. I recall one mobile phone company - with which I had an account at the time, and I had called by merely to top up my account - offering approximately $50 credit if one signed up (obviously, by supplying one's email address) to a particular promotion account.

Anyway, I flatly refused to the bewilderment of the sales assistant who kept bleating 'but you'll get $50 worth of credit - for free'; actually, it was not 'for free' (which was a very attractive carrot), it was an attempt to obtain more data which, in turn, would aid further marketing efforts.

I take your point about not giving the cashier grief; they are at the coal face where they have to implement these policies and meet the public, and, in essence simply doing their job. Nonetheless, these assumptions which underpin these policies do need to be challenged.

Moreover, the blurring of boundaries between the public space and the private space is something that has been a matter of concern to me for quite some time. In some ways this is a consequence of the tech and information revolution and the development of online patterns of behaviour, where the simple fact of ordering something from the comfort of your study, or bedroom, can delude you into thinking that boundaries have been preserved when, in fact, sometimes the exact opposite has occurred.

Indeed, if people fail to safeguard their rights to privacy, their private space, personal space and the ownership of personal information, and fail to draw distinctions between the sort of information other bodies, people and companies can legitimately request, it is something that will cost them over time, as an increasingly loud narrative which argues that 'privacy is dead' is being loudly declaimed by bodies both public (some Governments) and private (some companies).

This self-serving narrative which tries to persuade us that 'privacy [and the right to retain personal data] is dead' - is a message that is being increasingly reiterated (a little too loudly and assuredly and smugly for my peace of mind) by a perfectly ghastly and rather disturbing combination of public (i.e. Governments intent on obtaining access to personal data) and private (i.e. companies, such as Google, FB among others) bodies all of whom seek such information and seek to establish rights to do so. We fail to challenge and refute this at our peril, and - if, in the interests of access to internet information, we buy the argument that 'privacy is dead' and fail to set appropriate boundaries on what can be legitimately asked of us, rights to personal information which were hard won over centuries may well be eroded cheaply and thoughtlessly.

Anyway, in practice, this can lead to a presumption of rights to data and information on the part of companies, banks, and utilities. In one instance, a utility demanded my personal state supplied tax/social insurance number and another time a bank demanded my degree transcripts when I merely wished to open an account, and had employer's letter, proof of address and passport to hand to do so - needless to say, all of these requests were refused. However, this is not just a desire to acquire and amass data (very valuable in the information age) but can only have been enabled by the blurring of these boundaries which has been a consequence of the online and tech revolutions which have transformed how we arrange our lives, communicate and interact with agencies, companies and one another.

 

[S.B.G]

I was at a local mall with a friend a number of years ago and we went into a store, of which I don't recall the name, and he bought a shirt, I think, and I just walked around looking, with nothing in mind to purchase.

As he was being rung up, I stood a few feet away watching. My friend was paying cash, and the cashier asked him for his telephone number and his email address. He blindly, like an ox going to the slaughter, gave the information to her.

It wasn't but a day or so later that his email account was being blown up with ads, promotions, and other marketing from the store. So much so that he actually took the time to mention it to me that he was so annoyed and regretted giving the information over.

I've never been asked for a drivers license number, yet, but I have been asked for my email address. I always reply that I don't have one. I'm old enough that it is believable that I might not truly have one. That has always worked so far.

If I'm asked for DL number, I'll try the 'I don't have one' bit and see how it goes. If they ask how I arrived at their store I'll say either I walked or rode with someone. If they persist, I'll likely leave the item I wanted and walk away.

 

[chown33]

I've never been asked for a drivers license number, yet, but I have been asked for my email address. I always reply that I don't have one. I'm old enough that it is believable that I might not truly have one. That has always worked so far.

I use a http://mailinator.com address I make up on the spot. Free and disposable.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I was at a local mall with a friend a number of years ago and we went into a store, of which I don't recall the name, and he bought a shirt, I think, and I just walked around looking, with nothing in mind to purchase.

As he was being rung up, I stood a few feet away watching. My friend was paying cash, and the cashier asked him for his telephone number and his email address. He blindly, like an ox going to the slaughter, gave the information to her.

It wasn't but a day or so later that his email account was being blown up with ads, promotions, and other marketing from the store. So much so that he actually took the time to mention it to me that he was so annoyed and regretted giving the information over.

I've never been asked for a drivers license number, yet, but I have been asked for my email address. I always reply that I don't have one. I'm old enough that it is believable that I might not truly have one. That has always worked so far.

If I'm asked for DL number, I'll try the 'I don't have one' bit and see how it goes. If they ask how I arrived at their store I'll say either I walked or rode with someone. If they persist, I'll likely leave the item I wanted and walk away.

Yes, it constantly surprises me, firstly, that stores believe that they have a right to request this information when a cash transaction has taken place; cash is its own commodity and means of exchange. Thus, in a commercial transaction, when you are paying with cash, all that matters is that you have sufficient money on you to buy the product that you wish to buy.

The store has no right to any other information, irrespective of what they may wish to verify.

 

[S.B.G]

Yes, it constantly surprises me, firstly, that stores believe that they have a right to request this information when a cash transaction has taken place; cash is its own commodity and means of exchange. Thus, in a commercial transaction, when you are paying with cash, all that matters is that you have sufficient money on you to buy the product that you seek to buy. The store has no right to any other information, irrespective of what they may wish to verify, which is not quite the case with a cc.

The second thing that does surprise me is how blindly willing some people are to surrender such information without forethought.

Now, I have given my email address, and my personal address on occasion to stores; for example, it happened this year, when I was in London, and I wished to have some purchases shipped to my home address. Before handing over any details, I set strict conditions on this, such as no forwarding any of my details to third parties, and stressing that I did not wish to receive marketing stuff. In general, this has been complied with.

At my office, in the business I am in, people will tell us just about anything we ask, and it always amazes me. This willingness to divulge personal information is astounding and its why social engineering works so well.

 

[mobilehaathi]

At my office, in the business I am in, people will tell us just about anything we ask, and it always amazes me. This willingness to divulge personal information is astounding and its why social engineering works so well.

We've been trained well. They key is to break ourselves out of it, and it must be a joint effort.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

At my office, in the business I am in, people will tell us just about anything we ask, and it always amazes me. This willingness to divulge personal information is astounding and its why social engineering works so well.

You and I (many threads and posts ago - I think it may have been the 'reading' thread, and books on the topic were discussed) discussed the topic of introversion and this is one of the areas where I think that introverts may have a natural advantage, as they tend to be somewhat less enthusiastic about volunteering information and a lot more aware of the importance of personal boundaries.

We've been trained well. They key is to break ourselves out of it, and it must be a joint effort.

Oh, agree absolutely.

 

[S.B.G]

You and I (many threads and posts ago - I think it may have been the 'reading' thread, and books on the topic were discussed) discussed the topic of introversion and this is one areas where I think that introverts may have a natural advantage, as they tend to be somewhat less enthusiastic about volunteering information and a lot more aware of the importance of personal boundaries.



Oh, agree absolutely.

Really? We spoke about that? I surely do not recall it, though it does sound like something I would discuss.!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Really? We spoke about that? I surely do not recall it, though it does sound like something I would discuss.!

On the books thread, I think. Quite some time ago. The topic of books about introverts (which you were reading) came up, and you recommended a few (which I have yet to order, let alone read, but it is a topic that interests me).

As it is a topic to which I have given some thought, it occurred to me that those who are more inclined to be introverted might feel more reluctant, or less enthusiastic about volunteering such information to agencies, bodies, or companies that have no legitimate need or right to it. I suspect introverts may be better at policing personal boundaries, but that is just a thought.

 

[S.B.G]

On the books thread, I think. Quite some time ago. The topic of books about introverts (which you were residing) came up, and you recommended a few (which I have yet to order, let alone read, but it is a topic that interests me).

As it is a topic to which I have given some thought, it occurred to me that those who are more inclined to be introverted might feel more reluctant, or less enthusiastic about volunteering such information to agencies, bodies, or companies that have no legitimate need or right to it. I suspect introverts may be better at policing personal boundaries, but that is just a thought.

Okay, yes, I am starting to vaguely remember this now. I'm quite embarrassed as I usually am quite good at remembering things.

As a non-scientific thought, I tend to agree with you that more introverted people, such as myself, do, indeed, set, adhere to and at times, make known, our personal boundaries to others around us. I am acutely aware of these things, and divulging sensitive personal information is usually a top priority to protect and avoid doing unless truly necessary.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Okay, yes, I am starting to vaguely remember this now. I'm quite embarrassed as I usually am quite good at remembering things.

As a non-scientific thought, I tend to agree with you that more introverted people, such as myself, do, indeed, set, adhere to and at times, make known, our personal boundaries to others around us. I am acutely aware of these things, and divulging sensitive personal information is usually a top priority to protect and avoid doing unless truly necessary.

Amen to that. To a certain extent, I am probably pretty similar and do not much care for those who seek to trespass such boundaries (without permission) be they companies or individuals.

 

[Meister]

There is even a street named after my family, the bank carries our name, at the one time my grandfather was mayor of the city.

You are the grandson of Frans Johan van Lanschot?

----------

I was at a local mall with a friend a number of years ago and we went into a store, of which I don't recall the name, and he bought a shirt, I think, and I just walked around looking, with nothing in mind to purchase.

As he was being rung up, I stood a few feet away watching. My friend was paying cash, and the cashier asked him for his telephone number and his email address. He blindly, like an ox going to the slaughter, gave the information to her.

It wasn't but a day or so later that his email account was being blown up with ads, promotions, and other marketing from the store. So much so that he actually took the time to mention it to me that he was so annoyed and regretted giving the information over.

I've never been asked for a drivers license number, yet, but I have been asked for my email address. I always reply that I don't have one. I'm old enough that it is believable that I might not truly have one. That has always worked so far.

If I'm asked for DL number, I'll try the 'I don't have one' bit and see how it goes. If they ask how I arrived at their store I'll say either I walked or rode with someone. If they persist, I'll likely leave the item I wanted and walk away.

Why not givem a random number?

This is turning into a rather interesting thread. Most sane people don't just hand over personal details. Good to see that the people on here agree.