When it comes to our money, most of us are aware that we have rights as a taxpayer. However, what many of us do not know is that we also have rights as consumers. Unfortunately many of these rights are being ignored lately as retailers attempt to reduce shoplifting. MSN Money.com posted this great article earlier this week on how stores are walking all over consumer’s rights in the following ways:
- Stopping customers to check their receipts before they let them out the doors.
- Posting minimum-purchase requirements for credit cards.
- Insisting that customers present identification when using credit cards.
- Asking customers for personal information, such as phone numbers, addresses or (heaven forbid) Social Security numbers before starting transactions.
As MSN Money.com explains, these behaviors are so common place that you might not realize there's anything wrong with them.
But there is.
The receipt checkers
If you've signed a membership agreement with a warehouse club such as Costco or Sam's, you've agreed to present your receipt upon exiting one of their stores. Other retailers have no such agreement with you, but some station employees at their doors to ask for your receipts anyway.
