Police State, anyone?
Discussion
Cosmic and I were in Virgin in Camberley earlier today. Went to pay for the CDs and DVD we were going to buy and I handed over the old credit card to pay, and was told by the mumbling youth behind the counter that Surrey Police 
had an initiative whereby we could voluntarily have a thumb-print taken to prevent fraud. Naturally I refused. He then told me that in that case we would have to provide some form of ID.
Now, even though I have one of those bloody National-Identity-Card-via-the-backdoor Photo Driving licenses I told him to get stuffed and walked out without buying the goods. (Cosmic was more polite and said "we'll shop elsewhere then" at exactly the same time as I said "well you can get stuffed then"
)
What does everyone else think? Would you have done the same as us or would you have shown ID?
Incidentally, if the Police / retailers / the credit card companies are so keen to stamp out fraud then they could start with retailers who hand your card back to you before you've even finished signing the paperwork.
>>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 22 November 12:38
had an initiative whereby we could voluntarily have a thumb-print taken to prevent fraud. Naturally I refused. He then told me that in that case we would have to provide some form of ID. Now, even though I have one of those bloody National-Identity-Card-via-the-backdoor Photo Driving licenses I told him to get stuffed and walked out without buying the goods. (Cosmic was more polite and said "we'll shop elsewhere then" at exactly the same time as I said "well you can get stuffed then"
) What does everyone else think? Would you have done the same as us or would you have shown ID?
Incidentally, if the Police / retailers / the credit card companies are so keen to stamp out fraud then they could start with retailers who hand your card back to you before you've even finished signing the paperwork.
>>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 22 November 12:38
Surely the ID was to ascertain that you were who you said you were, thus counteracting fraud and protecting the consumer i.e. you?
I agree wholeheartedly with your rebutle to a fingerprint option but asking for ID on purchases made with a credit card over a certain value has been in place for well over 15 years and is nothing new.
Matt.
I agree wholeheartedly with your rebutle to a fingerprint option but asking for ID on purchases made with a credit card over a certain value has been in place for well over 15 years and is nothing new.
Matt.
I've been called by the credit card company before, to check I was who I said I was, before they'd authorise a large transaction.
Am quite happy with that. I've got my credit card limit up to quite a high level (used it to buy a car), and feel happy knowing that there are checks in place.
Am quite happy with that. I've got my credit card limit up to quite a high level (used it to buy a car), and feel happy knowing that there are checks in place.
Its normal over here (Sweden) to be asked for ID when using a credit card , you have to have photo ID strangely the Swedes do not accept your passport 
as id
It took a bit of getting used to , i lived in Denmark for several years , every one carrys their social society card with them over there you are advised not to let any one see it as once they have your
"person number" they can acsess all kinds of good stuff , but in Sweden where they can still get the good stuff with your person number it is quite normal to be asked for it even if only puchasing for a few £££ , Bigbrother coming to a contry very near you very soon
as id It took a bit of getting used to , i lived in Denmark for several years , every one carrys their social society card with them over there you are advised not to let any one see it as once they have your
"person number" they can acsess all kinds of good stuff , but in Sweden where they can still get the good stuff with your person number it is quite normal to be asked for it even if only puchasing for a few £££ , Bigbrother coming to a contry very near you very soon
Jon, I would have done exactley the same then walked through Army and Navy to MVC and saved myself some money.
I like you are getting fed up with the police / nanny state it seem's to be getting to me more and more recentley.
When ever people used to say they were fed up with the uk and were thinking I used to laugh and never ever thought I would do it.
However now with the whole speed camera, bl**dy insurance costs (doubled last year), Political Correctness (and thats the one that gets to me the most) I am seriously thinking about spending alot more time abroad.
The inlaws now live in spain, 7 alcoholic drinks still cost under £4, car insurance for a jeep and a Pick up £150 per year, no political correctness at all illigal immoigrants deported and usually given a good kicking so they dont try it again, tea leafs given a good kicking so they don't do it again etc etc
result very low / virtually no crime in the area they live in .
And finally my rant is nearly over tried explaining to a spanish police friend that if some one breaks into your house and you shoot them you go to jail !!!!!!!
Needless to say they are still laughing about that one now.
Rant over !
I like you are getting fed up with the police / nanny state it seem's to be getting to me more and more recentley.
When ever people used to say they were fed up with the uk and were thinking I used to laugh and never ever thought I would do it.
However now with the whole speed camera, bl**dy insurance costs (doubled last year), Political Correctness (and thats the one that gets to me the most) I am seriously thinking about spending alot more time abroad.
The inlaws now live in spain, 7 alcoholic drinks still cost under £4, car insurance for a jeep and a Pick up £150 per year, no political correctness at all illigal immoigrants deported and usually given a good kicking so they dont try it again, tea leafs given a good kicking so they don't do it again etc etc
result very low / virtually no crime in the area they live in .
And finally my rant is nearly over tried explaining to a spanish police friend that if some one breaks into your house and you shoot them you go to jail !!!!!!!
Needless to say they are still laughing about that one now.
Rant over !
I would feel inclined to go into the big V just to enjoy the experience of doing same, with the possible addition of calling the branch manager to the debate.
Hmmm, so your freedom is dependent on the Bank not screwing up when you write a cheque? I've twice had cheques bounced on me - in both cases it was the bank's fault. Takes a while to get these things sorted out though, and I'm glad I didn't have to do it from a prison cell
fish said: In Spain if you pay by cheque and it bounces they lock you up.
Graham.J said: Seems like a good idea if you ask me.
What about if you order stuff online???
Your F
ed. (Or rather the merchant is). A lot of online retailers are using billing addresses for verification or the 3 digit ID number that appears on the back of most credit cards. (It's a combo thing - address plus Card Num plus ID Num = correct then order is processed else - bin order) I think that the picture was put on the cards to keep some idiot from charging up your card at the local retail outlet...
ErnestM
What does everyone else think? Would you have done the same as us or would you have shown ID?
>>> Edited by JonRB on Friday 22 November 12:38
Mate, for what it's worth I agree 100%. If we all tell them to fugg off then the scheme will die within months.
This seems to be an incredibly underhand way to collect fingerprints for the Police Computer doesn't it? Perhaps they can grab some DNA at the same time... Post 9/11 the whole Western World is trying to catalogue their whole populations in the name of the war against terrorism, ripping up our hard won rights and freedoms in the process.
Having said that Jon, perhaps if you shaved a bit more often, you'd look less like a terrorist and they'd accept your credit cards
John
(CCGB West RH)
You're a right one to talk, Mr. Dodgy-looking-bouncer-type-bloke. 
ErnestM said: Credit Card companies here in the States have started issuing cards with the cardholder's bright, cheerful face on the card. Maybe that is an option that would be a little less intrusive...
Already got one - LloydsTSB Payment Card. It is also "pre-signed" - i.e. you send them a form with your sig on and they print it onto the card so noone can get it in the post and sign it themselves.
Edited to add:
Also, I got another card refused in Ikea the other night - turns out that Lloyds "fraud" department had put a block on it. They don't have to give a reason.
Next time its new bank time
>> Edited by miniman on Saturday 23 November 10:34
[quote
This seems to be an incredibly underhand way to collect fingerprints for the Police Computer doesn't it? Perhaps they can grab some DNA at the same time... Post 9/11 the whole Western World is trying to catalogue their whole populations in the name of the war against terrorism, ripping up our hard won rights and freedoms in the process.
John
(CCGB West RH)
very well said. When I saw the twin towers collapse I was as sick as a parrot. But at the same time I said to my colleagues - thats the end of the free world as we know it.
Rgds WalterU
This seems to be an incredibly underhand way to collect fingerprints for the Police Computer doesn't it? Perhaps they can grab some DNA at the same time... Post 9/11 the whole Western World is trying to catalogue their whole populations in the name of the war against terrorism, ripping up our hard won rights and freedoms in the process.
John
(CCGB West RH)
very well said. When I saw the twin towers collapse I was as sick as a parrot. But at the same time I said to my colleagues - thats the end of the free world as we know it.
Rgds WalterU
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