Asked for date of birth and postcode when ID'd at supermarket - is this normal?

[Greenback]

You are absolutely right. No one should ever ask you for your pin number!

 

[jon0844]

When the automated Lloyds TSB security call comes to me (if they detect suspicious activity, which has always been me going abroad, because there's no ability to notify them in advance as you can with some credit card companies) then it asks a series of multiple choice questions, or for bits of my personal information.

Given the information shared with me (including loads of mis-information), I can be sure it IS Lloyds.. and given the information I give back, they can be sure it's me. Works well.

It also means I can answer questions in public (e.g. a shop) without giving anything away that is of use to people around me.. how many times do you hear people in public giving out personal information? I've heard it lots of times.

If a bank calls up and asks for personal information, they can sod-off. However, they are fully aware of this now - and to be honest, they've not called me like this for ages. I am not sure what bank would be silly enough to even think to do this anymore.

 

[Eng274]

I used to work for a certain national pub chain (in scotland IIRC), and they really hit home the point about checking the ID of anybody who looked under 21, as a safeguard similar to Check 25 and other similar supermarket schemes.
I'm 24, and as someone who used to work in pubs and is fully aware of the consequences of under-age selling I don't mind being asked for ID once in a while if it shows vigilance is used to prevent 16year old nyaffs drinking on the streets!

I wish the local corner shop fraternity would take the same stance though. Its all very well in saying they'll be threatened with the huge fines and criminal record, but if little is done by the police/licensing board to enforce these rules then its useless!

Also, the OP mentioned the ID being physically handed over; when i worked in the pub each till had a UV light to check the authenticity of the ID, a very easy way to at least check it's real, and in this case i'd have politely asked to check it in this manner.

Never be offended by handing it over - the retailer is just covering their own backs. As is the way with many things it never turns out to be the perpetrators fault (remember the American who successfully sued the RV manufacturer because the manual didnt say the driver couldnt leave the driver's seat to make a cup of coffee when it was in cruise control..? moron.)

 

[Greenback]

If a bank calls up and asks for personal information, they can sod-off. However, they are fully aware of this now - and to be honest, they've not called me like this for ages. I am not sure what bank would be silly enough to even think to do this anymore.

No, I haven't had any calls like that for a few years now - it's usually disreputable companies that phone me!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I used to work for a certain national pub chain (in scotland IIRC), and they really hit home the point about checking the ID of anybody who looked under 21, as a safeguard similar to Check 25 and other similar supermarket schemes.
I'm 24, and as someone who used to work in pubs and is fully aware of the consequences of under-age selling I don't mind being asked for ID once in a while if it shows vigilance is used to prevent 16year old nyaffs drinking on the streets!

I wish the local corner shop fraternity would take the same stance though. Its all very well in saying they'll be threatened with the huge fines and criminal record, but if little is done by the police/licensing board to enforce these rules then its useless!

Also, the OP mentioned the ID being physically handed over; when i worked in the pub each till had a UV light to check the authenticity of the ID, a very easy way to at least check it's real, and in this case i'd have politely asked to check it in this manner.

Never be offended by handing it over - the retailer is just covering their own backs. As is the way with many things it never turns out to be the perpetrators fault (remember the American who successfully sued the RV manufacturer because the manual didnt say the driver couldnt leave the driver's seat to make a cup of coffee when it was in cruise control..? moron.)

Fair enough, I don't think anyone has a right to complain about checks to ensure compliance with age related laws. At 44, I;d be thrilled to be ID'd for looking under 21!

Wasn't the RV story a bit of an internet myth?

 

[Eng274]

An ex-colleague made one 37-year old woman's day by doing that!

There is debate as to whether it's a myth or not, but I'm sure there are many other cases where foolish Joe Public blamed an innocent party for their own glaring stupidity.

The guy who had his head out a moving train's window, now needing surgery springs to mind! Along with the countless cases of cars and pedestrians misusing a level crossing; is it network rail's fault people are reckless? (i have a tin opener for this particular can of worms)

 

[me123]

You are absolutely right. No one should ever ask you for your pin number!

We never asked for passwords (or revealed them, even though they were on our screen), but we occasionally asked for the TV PIN number as a method of verifying (particularly when the customers were middle aged women who wouldn't give their year of birth; easier just to ask for something else rather than force her to reveal her age). TV PIN only controls PPV content, so the risk is negligable. Besides, most people set theirs to 1234 or something anyway.

Obviously, under no circumstances should anyone request your bank/credit card/debit card PIN number, nor should you give it to anyone.

Obviously, we never asked for passwords (even though they were on our screen) or bank/credit card details unless we needed them for billing purposes. (Eg, if they're setting up a Direct Debit, we'd take their details, but never ask for them again and we'd make that clear to the customer). The only time we'd then give out the information is on request, and we're then limited to the name of the bank/card and, if that's not sufficient, the last 4 digits of the account number/card number, but we were told not to volunteer that information, and only give it if specifically asked for (eg, a customer has 4 mastercards, or two accounts with RBS).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Also, the OP mentioned the ID being physically handed over; when i worked in the pub each till had a UV light to check the authenticity of the ID, a very easy way to at least check it's real, and in this case i'd have politely asked to check it in this manner

We don't routinely use UV lamps at all in my store. But, I do check drivers licenses by simply tilting them back and forth. On mine (and most newer ones), the patch on the bottom left switches between the expiry date and the l;ast 5 digits of my driver number. There's also a symbol that switches between a downward pointing triangle and a white upward pointing arrow in a blue circle. On the front, there's "shimmering" images of steering wheels only seen when you tilt it at the correct angle. And, on the reverse, the picture of the steering wheel uses colour-shifting ink (switching between green and red on tilting).

I usually just quickly check the front of the license is real. It's discreet and pretty reliable. Most people just use other people's licenses anyway, so even if they were using someone else's ID fraudulently, the features would obviously still be there.

 

[Greenback]

Yes, things like bank account numbers are exactly the sort of thing that the Data Protection Act was intended to cover.

Obviously, I have no probelm at all with giving my address and DOB when required for example, by a police officer, or bank details when setting up a DD. That doesn't mean I am going to divulge personal info if someone calls me, says they are Police Constable Burke on the phone so please can I confirm my address, DOB and mothers maiden name!

I just have a big problem with unsolicited callers asking me for information!

 

[90019]

(remember the American who successfully sued the RV manufacturer because the manual didnt say the driver couldnt leave the driver's seat to make a cup of coffee when it was in cruise control..? moron.)

That's an urban myth

 

[robert2000]

my boss is 37, she gets asked id all the time