I am running a small business.
One element of that business involves making substantial purchases at retail stores.
I have run into a scenario where it would be convenient to have a certain trustworthy employee spend money using a debit card issued in my name.
I have, occasionally, had the retailer in question ask for ID when using this card as a Mastercard.
If I send out my employee with the card and my ATM PIN for said card, is there any chance of the store actually asking for ID?
Is there any banking policy regarding this?
To forestall any concerns on the part of the community, there is effectively a bond in place which makes the downside risk of this employee abusing these privileges non-existent.
If your bank is clever, small businesses can get debit cards or credit cards for their employees that are issued in the employee’s name so there’s no issues with ID.
Really clever banks will let you establish spending limits and even restrict where the card can be used based on the business category. (eg: no cash advances, and not at casinos, pawn shops and casinos, or only at gas stations and office supply stores.)
If they are just using it with a PIN and the back is signed, I doubt anyone is going to ask for an ID (unless it’s a place that knows you and doesn’t recognize the employee). Are any of these places, where the card is used, places you go to regularly? If they are, you might be able to just give them a heads up that you’re sending an employee down with your card.
The easiest way, as mentioned above (if this is a business card) is just to have the bank issue a credit card with the employee’s name on it, or even one with the business name and nothing else.
Depends on the store, but the retail stores I have worked and shopped at never required a customer to show ID when using a debit card. The assumption is if you know the PIN, you have legit access to the card.
I have never once been asked for ID or for the cashier to even see my card when using the PIN for a debit card transaction. If I have them run it as credit, maybe 1 out of 10 times they’ll ask to see the card, but never for ID (but I could see them asking for ID if my sig didn’t match the card).
My sister and I (I’m a male) have on many occasions used our mothers debit card with no trouble, no cashier has ever even noticed that it has a woman’s name on the card when i’m using it nor asked for Id of anything. I doubt you’d have any problems doing it, whether its legal or allowed by banking policy I have no idea.