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From: abc@brl-tgr.ARPA (Brint Cooper )
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Checks and credit cards
Message-ID: <2969@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 15-May-84 12:03:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.2969
Posted: Tue May 15 12:03:52 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 16-May-84 04:07:05 EDT
Organization: Ballistics Research Lab
Lines: 21

I often pay for retail purchases by personal check drawn on a local
branch of a well-known bank in Maryland.  Most often, I am asked for
my driver's license (with picture) and a "major credit card."  THe
reasons given for the latter have included (1) a second means of
positive identification and (2) "if your check bounces, we'll just
put the amount on your credit card.  Several questions follow:

	1. Since I haven't signed a credit card voucher, can they
charge a bounced check to, say, my VISA account and make it stick?

	2. Am I not increasing my risk of becoming a victim of credit
card fraud of some sort by permitting my account number to be written 
down all over the place when I am not even using the account?

In England, checking account olders are provided a card by their bank which
guarantees to the payee any check written by the holder for an amount
not to exceed 50 pounds sterlinlg (about $75.00).  Why are American
banks reluctant to require positive identification of their depositors
and back up our checks?  Do they have something to hide or do they turn
a profit on bounced check fees?