his should be a non issue. Most likely you are worrying over nothing (your perfectly within your right to make an innocent call to a provider... your not using the phone for a drug buy). But at the end of the day, if you have concerns, then don't use the phone. Go somewhere else and pay cash and put your mind at ease.
Hobbyists all have different levels of comfort. Some guys may be freaked out by a cop car sitting across the street from the hotel they are about to enter. Other guys couldn't care less. Some hobbyists won't set up an appointment unless the lady has at least 10 reviews. Other guys will take a flier if she has no reviews. No rules. Stick to your gut. If something does not feel right for YOU then do what is best for YOU. No one is looking out for your best interests other than yourselfI bought a tracfone refill card from best buy & the cashier asked for my ID (driver's license) to be entered before card can be activated. I inquired if all purchases require an ID, and he said it's only for certain items that "can be used for not so good stuff". To avoid making things awkward, I went ahead with the purchase.
In hindsight, a better option would've been to go to a small convenience store like 7/11 and pay with cash. Anyway, I haven't scratched off the PIN yet. Should I just shred it? I mean they already have my info. If I never use the card, hopefully, there will be no link between store & my hobby phone. I do not have an SO, so there is no danger of any family questioning this purchase.
Am I being overly paranoid, or should I play it safe and just grab another refill card (with cash)?
his should be a non issue. Most likely you are worrying over nothing (your perfectly within your right to make an innocent call to a provider... your not using the phone for a drug buy). But at the end of the day, if you have concerns, then don't use the phone. Go somewhere else and pay cash and put your mind at ease.
Hobbyists all have different levels of comfort. Some guys may be freaked out by a cop car sitting across the street from the hotel they are about to enter. Other guys couldn't care less. Some hobbyists won't set up an appointment unless the lady has at least 10 reviews. Other guys will take a flier if she has no reviews. No rules. Stick to your gut. If something does not feel right for YOU then do what is best for YOU. No one is looking out for your best interests other than yourself
but I'd not purchase from that store again. How did the cashier "enter" your ID?
Now even the "disposable" phones when u buy either phone or cards, a lot of places ask for the ID. WTF I thought the purpose of that was to not have to do such thing.
Agreed, last time I shop at there. They tried to scan it first, nothing happened. So then they typed it in.
For $29 you get a phone number from almost any area code, text messaging and call forwarding option. Can store all of your provider numbers in the apt and no one can access them but you. No need to have a separate phone with all of the hassle and risks.
Isn't that what these people are trying to avoid
If you paid for refill card with a credit card or asshole cashier demanded ID then don't use the card. If you already did activate the card then buy a new burner phone. With cash.
Of course, since it's linked to your ID you wouldn't use it for that anyway. Do people sell Tracfone cards on eBay or online? We're not going to give a stranger or webstore clerk our DL info, are we? We can pay with a vanilla CC but DL info on-line?
If it wasn't scratched off yet, why not return it for refund or credit? The computer will confirm that it's not activated. No need to give a reason. Or, give it to someone as a gift. Or to a charity or shelter. (How much are we talking about: $10 tracfone card or $200 tracfone card?)
One more thing about giving DL info. Many places will want to SCAN the 2D barcode on your license as a quick way to enter info or check for brithdate (bars sometimes use scanners).
WARNING! WARNING! DL scanners get ALL of your info from the 2D bar code, not just the tiny little piece of info they claim they are checking: Name, address, DoB, SSN, your digital picture(!), everything. AND THE INFO IS NOT SECURE.
There have been cases of employees (at bars, for example) accessing the database on the store computer and getting that info for their personal use. There are cases of guys from bars stalking and even attacking women customers they found to be attractive and wanted to get to know better.
Cover your bar code with tape so it can't be scanned. If someone wants to check your DoB, let them look at the front of the card and read the little numbers. If they need your DL# for a tracfone card, let them read it and enter it manually -- or just shop elsewhere: "No, you may NOT have my DL info. Thank you and good bye." DL info is almost as important as SSN for identity theft, so you should keep it secure and private
all the above info is good to know. Thanks for all the input guys. Very helpful.
LLAPl,
Swim
where I've always bought cards to reload my tracfone. I've never been asked for ID at any of them and would tell them to shove it if they asked.
I believe the way things are going that the state may force all sellers of things they wish to track to collect info for them at point of sale. Just as they are slowly, inexorably doing away with our ability to use our own cash as we see fit. The drip, drip erosion of our freedoms continues.
Regards......RR
Thanks everyone. Very good info. I ended up buying another refill card from a different store and they didn't ask for ID or anything. I will return the one from best buy.
Trying to buy a reloadable prepaid card and this happened to me too! The clerk said it's likely to be like that everywhere else I go. I politely told her never mind, as obviously this defeats the purpose of getting the darn thing if it's linked to me. Anyone have suggestions as to how the pay for ads and stuff online with using cards tied to your name?
Hi Isabell;
Have you considered trying something like a Vanilla Visa card? You pick up the card at a retailer, take it to the register and tell them how much to load onto it. Can't use a credit card to buy them, I've always used cash vs a debit card or anything that's tied to me personally. You then can use the Vanilla Visa card much as you would a credit card. It's not exactly the same though.....for example, some hotel chains will accept them while others won't. Good luck figuring out what will work for you.
Regards......RR
Hey Riorunner,
I have tried the Vanilla card. I was looking into the MyVanilla because they are re-loadable but every time I try a retailer in this area they are out, so I'm still searching.
That's outrageous! I bought and activated my tracfone at Best Buy, and they didn't ask for ID. I just gave them fake name address for the activation. I've since bought refills for trac phone at best buy and walmart, paid cash of course, and was never asked for an ID.
I'd just tell them I left mine in the car next time if anyone asked me, or a sob-story and if they required it walk away. Remember also, these cashiers are minimum wage, often not well trained or motivated. (Not disrespecting people making minimum wage, understand me. We all started out that way, right?).
-- Modified on 9/22/2015 6:33:14 AM