Costco review: using ebt card 37

EBT cards are sold every where so that the owner can get cash that they can spend anyway they want instead of buying what they should be buying for their family. It should be required by the state of Florida and I am sure that it is, that the owner of the card is the only one to use it. It is also required by law if you are to return anything purchased with an ebt vard that it be refunded to that card.

Holier than thou types make me ill.

The OP has a very valid point. Usually, the head of household is the person in who's name the EBT card is issued. The government only issues the card in one person's name. If that person has a full time job and their spouse is working at home taking care of the kids, is it fair that the spouse can't shop while the cardholder is at work?

The point of having the pin is that it can be given to trusted family members. It is very difficult to steal a card and be able to use it. Certainly there is fraud, but it's really not Costco's job to regulate that. If I can take my sister's debit card into Costco and use it, there's no reason that I shouldn't be able to use my own family's EBT card.

Those who are talking about Fraud. Are you suggesting that debit and credit cards aren't used fraudulently occasionally? Then why doesn't Costco, or any other store I've been to, require that i show ID when I use my debit card? Hell, McDonald's doesn't even require me to sign or use a pin!

Are you suggesting that it's fair to punish and inconvenience honest, law-abiding people because of the actions of criminals? Okay. Then let's say that no one can have guns because a criminal might use a gun to commit a crime. This would be a logical application of your argument.

She isn't using "someone else's EBT card" she is using the EBT card that is supplied, one per family. It belongs to her, her name just isn't on it. As long as she has the pin, then she shouldn't be hassled about it.

And for you that said "Oh, and get a job" ... I cannot express the amount of contempt I have for you. You dare to, in this economy, say something like that? I hope you lose your job, and I hope you lose your house, and I hope that you find yourself without money and without hope. Perhaps then, you might be able to experience compassion for another human being, you rotten husk of a supposed person.

I am glad that I know that you trolls aren't the majority of humanity. I don't think I could take it if you were.

I'm sorry you had such an awful experience. You should have been able to use your EBT card because it requires a pin. I will apologize for the insensitive and ignorant strangers posting that you need to get a job, telling you to get your own card (although you explained that policy is one card per family with only one name being allowed on that card) and claiming you were using someone else's card (when you were clearly using the one issued to your household). For those who don't understand and are quick to judge let me explain to you how the system works. If a household is issued an EBT card, that household will only get one card with one person's name on that specified card (regardless if there are two or four adults who live there). That card requires a PIN for every transaction for the very reason that there may be more than one adult who needs to use it. Yes there are fraudulent people out there but this is policy. bad4so should have been able to use her card because it was issued to that household. This is not a bash board and more respect and understanding needs to be learned. Understand why this person is so upset and that Costco actually stepped out of line. This is not a credit card and doesn't not require ID as long as the back of that card is signed and the correct PIN is used.

First off costco requires anyone using a card no matter what the card is be it ebt/credit debit etc. To have they're own Costco card they cannot allow someone who is not a member to use they're card it's policy. Every Costco, every state. It has nothing to do with it being an ebt card like previously stated they do it to debit card holders as well if the names don't match they don't check out. I wish people would stop taking it out on Costco employees they are just trying to do there jobs something these people obviously have
No idea what that's like. I'm not judging everyone that has ebt because I do know that some people are using it to supplement they're income but when I see these people coming in to buy lobster and alcohol with they're ebt/cash aide it makes me sick I work hard and I cannot afford even one lobster! I see people everyday with 6-8 kids and they are buying nothing but junk it makes me wonder if they are just having kids for the money I'm sure that's not true but it makes you question peoples motives like what is a 5 year old going to do with a new York steak abd a bottle of tequila? honestly!

Yes you can buy Alcohol and cigarettes using the EBT cash card. First the person walks up and says they want to use it as an ATM and get cash back. Once they get the cash they then say this is what I am buying. I have seen it done many times. I have also had them buy multiple cases of soda, water, cheese, eggs, milk, meat, bread... Just to name a few things.
They then resale the items in their stores and restaurants. Oh if they also happen to be an executive member. They will get a check back at the end of the year . They can either cash it out, apply it to their membership(so membership is now free) or apply it to their order.

Lol lol at ignorance in the world today. I am a married woman with a job and my husband works as well. We have 7 beautiful children and we receive fs benefits. Unless in the state of AZ we make combined 6000 per month we qualify to do so. We buy healthy meals and snacks for the kids (mostly cheap chicken) and still need to apply cash and get food boxes. Not one of the kids is starving or obese. We are thankful for the supplement and i would like to give you a break down in how much "help" it is. 1315/7=187.86 a month per child 187.86/4=46.97 a week per child. Now seriously are we really living it up having kids for money?! Lol hell no and i didn't count the fact that my husband and I have to eat too! We have a Costco membership and we both have cards and I didn't sign for a membership so idk maybe we are blessed. My name is on the ebt card though and he uses it as he pleases. Move out of hurricane country and bring it to the desert folks are all poor here so there's empathy.

It may not be Costco's job to regulate fraud, but it is their right to protect themselves from it.

I had a problems with costco as well. I am not a member of costco but I had went to purchase food with my EBT card ( Multiple times) and costco has setup the system to become unresposive/ malfuction to food stamp cards because of there social stand points and the market they are directing their service at, are wealthy people. I am very highly skilled in techonolgy and I know when a company is trying to make a statement and this is there way of telling the public who depend on food stamp and good deals, screw you. Costco customer service is not trained where I am located to even understand how to approach the situation with food stamps. I find this discusting to pull this kind of behavior on the public and I would LOVE. to take serious action against the entire costco corp. It is said to be publically humiliated for your disabilities and/ or need for financial assistance. I find it disgusting that there are people are really believe that people on public assistance or anything have nerv to "take advantage of the system" and think they have the right to tell a person what they should or should be allowed to buy ( food wise) on food stamps EBT. This kinds of people make me sick.

Also as I read threw the comments I see some arrogant S.O.B's do you not understand that you take your hatred out on the wrong people. You don't know anything about economics or business or government to even hate tbese people on government assistance. You don't have to be jobless to be on government assistance as long as you fit the guide lines which are different in each state you can work and qualify for government assistance you arrogant. As well yes it isn't Costco's job to say who they think is committing fraud or not and also you arrogant SOB they don't protect themselves from fraud becausr they are not a person no one can steal their identity by using someone elses info to make a purchase. You sound stupid! Anymore arrogant bull you want to say refur to what I said prior to this because to speaks on anymore ignorant trash that might come out of your mouth.

Andrew Cohen, when a person uses a stolen card to purchase items from any retailer, who do you think loses the money and the goods? It is not the cardholder, it is the retailer. The card company will always protect the card holder from fraud. The retailer has no such protection. Therefore, they do have the right to put in place any policy that will protect their interests. Why does the consumer have that right but not the retailer? You are the one who sounds stupid because you do not understand simple economics. If I steal from you, do you have the right to get your stuff back? So does the store.

I thought you were going to complain they wouldn't sell you cigarettes and liquor. have to work the fraud system for that, pooksie

Mammie, the same people who nag about this are the ones who would be asking why the store did not check ID if their card is stolen and used fraudulently.

Not surprised at all with the nasty words about public assistance most of them are still stupid enough to believe only minorities get assistance that is why they rant. I would love to know how you snobs know all the information on EBT or what people are spending it on unless you living in communities that suck to see it going on in which case sounds like you make good money so move and let the poor be poor without you turning your pointy noses up at them.