They do that in Wegman's here if you buy beer BUT they don't scan my ID at the state store and I doubt bars, clubs or restaurants are doing it so it also doesn't make complete sense to me. Since our state has been rather strict about selling alcohol in supermarkets and other stores, that might be why these places have to take stricter measures.

I hadn't heard of that. Big Brother is watching us?

Do you know what info they are collecting? For security reasons, I don't like the feeling of people having my ID and credit card info all there together probably going through lots of hands/people.

And, do they scan everyone -even the elderly?

Carla,

This link might help (not sure if you're in PA or some other state but I bet the same info applies). It seems like you might have the option of forcing them to enter the info manually if you prefer but I bet that would throw a young cashier for a loop!

Here is a link that might be useful: ID scanning

Thanks..that helps explain it...

I guess what still concerns me is the phrase in the above article..."There's nothing in the law to prohibit "the capture, storage and use of the information" as long as the licensee willingly hands over the card to be swiped, Klinger said."

That's kind of scary...

Carla,
I was shopping at Sears a couple days ago. I was only buying a pkg of socks for our DGS. When the gal was ringing up the sale, she asked me my phone number starting with the area code.
I was shocked at the request for something that personal. I'm use to having to give our Zip Code, but that only gives the general area in which we live. I just told her I don't give out that information. She just pushed another button and continued.

I bit my tongue at the time and refrained from telling her I didn't care to have another place bugging me on my phone.

Contact Target management to ask what info they collect when your ID is scanned. They MAY only be collecting the b/day for proof that the cashier actually checked the ID. On the other hand, they may have collected everything on it. Here, there are people who secretly shop stores who sell alcohol and tobacco to see if the cashiers are checking ID. Supposedly, if you look like you are over 31, they don't have to ask for ID. That can be very tricky. DS asks everyone. If he gets a "red" card, meaning they secretly shopped him and he didn't ask, he is automatically fired. He also has the right to refuse the sale of alcohol to ANYONE. Sometimes they secret shop in twos. He has had somone come in, obviously not old enough, looking at the cases of beer. Then someone older will come in and try to buy the beer with the younger one, or the younger will leave and the older come in and buy. If he thinks they are buying for the younger, he can, and does, refuse the sale. One time it was a good thing he did. It WAS the secret shoppers. And they can put on a good act of getting pissed off because they are being carded or refused, hoping to make the cashier give in and sell it, so they get fired. Just to see if it will work. And being shift manager, the store manager is usually not in on his shift, so any one who has complaints has to leave a note and or call the store in the morning to talk to the manager! They don't like that. DS can be and is, very polite, most of the time. He does his absolute best to handle his customers without being disrespectful, but he has been know to tell someone that if they don't like the way he has handled something, to leave. That they can feel free to talk to his boss in the morning. Then promptly calls his boss and tells him what happened, and leaves a note, in addition to the phone call. He has also called the police for drunk and disorderly on his shift when he refused to sell.

Again, check with Target. I've never bought beer or wine there, so don't know how they handle it here in Ohio.

Tami

I've been getting asked for my phone number and zip code for years. Somebody actually asked me for my e-mail address the other day! I think that was Old Navy. I never shop there but I was buying a gift for someone.

I read that there is a law preventing businesses writing down your numbers. They are suppose to look at it and the signature and give it back. That may be a state law, not federal.

I never give them my email addy, they may sell it. If there is a crowd around the register I won't give them my address or phone number and I don't have to, they don't need it to complete the transaction. all you every hear these days are "Protect your ID" and they expect you to say your address and phone out in public.

It's funny that Target has been mentioned today...I just had an e-mail from them and someone has hacked into their computers and wanted to alert everyone about getting scam mail.....Getting way too scary....

Sunny--I got the same thing from Best Buy and a week prior to that from HSN. You are right, there is way too much info out there.

If a check-out person scanned my licence ... s/he wouldn't be checking through any more customers until I'd talked to the manager.

And if s/he said that s/he wasn't in the store, I'd have invited him/her to get her/him on the phone.

If s/he refused, I'd have refused to check out/pay her/him until I'd had the opportunity to check with some authority figure.

They'd have had to have security remove me, possibly: we'd see, depending on how it was handled.

By the way - Best Buy and Air Miles and I'm not sure who else are publicizing today that they've been hacked and that a lot of personal info of millions of people has been compromised.

Our federal gov't. Department of Finance and a military-related site plus another pretty important one were hacked a while ago ...

... with they claiming the source appearing to be in China.

You know how usual it is for governments to deny such issues? And how quickly - it usually takes them a long time, if ever. But the Government of China denied having anything to do with it, either that day or the next.

ole joyful

I received this from Eddie Bauer today.
____________________________

Dear Valued Friends Member,

We know you have "opted out" of receiving Friends emails from Eddie Bauer and we will not send you Friends Member emails; however we have important information to share with you about email security.

We have been notified by Epsilon, the vendor we use to send emails to our loyalty program members, that some of our customers� email addresses and names were taken during a breach of their system. This breach impacted Eddie Bauer as well as a number of other major retailers and businesses. The email addresses stolen belong to members of our Friends loyalty program, and include the "opt out" email address file. No credit card or financial information is contained in Epsilon�s Eddie Bauer files, and none was taken.

Epsilon has assured us they are working with the federal authorities on this incident.

Please note, it is possible you may receive unsolicited emails as a result of this breach. Eddie Bauer�s records reflect that you have opted out of receipt of Eddie Bauer Friends emails. If you receive an email that appears to have been sent by Eddie Bauer Friends, please do not respond. Eddie Bauer never requests financial or other sensitive information via email. If you receive an email you suspect is fraudulent, please refer to the "How to Report Abuse" section in the Privacy Policy on our website. If you receive marketing emails purporting to come from Eddie Bauer Friends, please report the emails to us using the "How to Report Abuse" procedures in our Privacy Policy.

Please also note, you may have received your Rewards Certificate and our Spring Sale email today. Those are both legitimate emails from Eddie Bauer.

We value your trust, and wanted to alert you to this incident as soon as possible. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Neil Fiske
CEO
Eddie Bauer

The same notice that Vala55 received, also came in our email today. It was received from our Internet provider.

Vala55, I guess if you opted-out, you should be able to expect that your E-addy would not be in their list. That is dissapointing!

That is odd. I've never been asked for my ID but if I do, I think I'll just hold it in my hand so no one can scan it!

I get asked for my phone number and email address in stores all the time, but I just say no, and they've never complained.

I always get asked my phone and email too. I just decline giving it.

What bothers me most, I guess, about this Target thing is that I didn't expect or know my ID would be scanned. I hate to think the info they could be collecting on people (what disabilities they may have, if they wear glasses, their birthday, height, weight, etc)... How do I know they aren't selling my name to Weight Watchers (If I'm heavy), a motorcycle store (If I drive a motorcycle), or a eyeglass company if I wear eyeglasses?

Not to mention, they easily have access to your home address possibly along with your credit card# or at least credit card name if that was used for payment. That's too much personal info at one time for me to want to give out.

I would have declined the sale had I known my ID would be scanned. I don't doubt Target will claim they are not using any personal info... but without rules and regulations in place how can we be sure or be insured that our personal info. won't get out there?

I should have known 'being carded' at my age wasn't to be taken as a compliment!

Our ID here doesn't have a barcode. Plus we can't buy liquor in a department store, grocery store or convenience store. We buy liquor in a liquor store. :-)

Target is coming to Canada, having bought out several Zellers stores (to me they're the same thing anyways), but they still won't sell booze. I have been asked for my postal code often in various stores. I give them a fictitious one. If they ask for my phone number, (can't say anyone ever has), I would give them a fictitious one as well. the postal code is just to see how many of their customers shop in the store who don't live in the area.

I only give out the right information to a store when buying something that requires the warranty. (Electronics come with an automatic 1 year limited warranty) Otherwise, they get nada from me.

If someone scanned my ID without my permission, I would demand they remove my information from their computer pronto and I would cancel my purchase.

I don't see any point in giving fictitious information. I simply decline the request. They don't need my phone number or address. The last time I was asked was at a discount hair "salon". Umm --- NO. I don't want your coupons and junk mail. They were fine with that.

I do understand scanning a DL for the birthdate, though. Store clerks can be held accountable for selling liquor to under-aged people, or drunk people. I wouldn't have a problem if I were buying wine or some such.

If I were buying only groceries though, I would probably pitch a fit.

Hayjud they didn't have my email addy, I never give companies my email addy. I said that because of the email they got from me asking that my name and address be taken out and it was a yahoo account that can be deleted if it becomes a problem.

You do not have to give anyone your address or phone number if you are making regular purchases. I just tell them no. They just want to send you junk mail. Service Merchandising started that years ago and I told them no, they said they had to have it, I said I will just buy somewhere else. They changed their mind in a hurry. Your zip code just tells them what area you are in, it has to do with their marketing strategy.

I was "carded" at a restaurant last summer (I'm 58) . What a thrill! But I've never had my ID scanned or photocopied. By the way, my credit history is pretty bad. So bad I gave up ALL my credit cards and I'm paying them all off. If you want to steal my identity, go ahead. You'll be sorry !

I've gotten a number of the Epsilon notices. No scam emails yet.

I suppose if we pay cash, there would be no information to collect. But I don't like carrying around that much cash.

I was carded for some beer and they just looked at my DL but didn't scan it. I use a CC and am never asked for any other ID. I don't understand why it is so different here. Thanks for the warning I don't carry much cash either.