Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site mmintl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!pwa-b!mmintl!franka From: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: A new topic -- pressure from the victims Message-ID: <522@mmintl.UUCP> Date: Tue, 23-Jul-85 12:29:39 EDT Article-I.D.: mmintl.522 Posted: Tue Jul 23 12:29:39 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 25-Jul-85 21:12:09 EDT References: <3965@alice.UUCP> Reply-To: franka@mmintl.UUCP (Frank Adams) Organization: Multimate International, E. Hartford, CT Lines: 20 Summary: Reasons for request In article <3965@alice.UUCP> ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) writes: >It seems to me that I've been in an increasing number of situations >recently where someone has insisted that I do something I find >obnoxious, and where their power to do so has rested in the fact >that almost no other people stick up for their rights. > [...] > >Example: these days, when you pay for something with a credit card, >the merchant will probably insist that you supply your name, address, >and phone number. I asked a merchant the other day why she asked for this information (in this case, phone number only). The answer was a bit complex, but what it came down to is the following: if the bank which issued the credit card refuses the charge, the merchant is not told who the card is issued to. Thus, she wants a way to get in touch with you if something goes wrong. This could include forgetting to sign the form, forgetting to imprint the card number, or an error filling in the form, as well as the cardholder being over the limit. It does not, of course, help if the card has been stolen.