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December 15, 2010
Hello everyone,
It’s me Mike Lewis again and a year ago I came to you telling you to not shop at Loews Home Improvement because they discriminate against minorities, I told you to support your local mom and pop shops and Home Depot. Sadly to say, that on November 21, 2010 I was at the Home Depot in Bowie MD making a purchase at the self check out that for some reason was not working, so the cashier next to the self check out said she would take me. My purchase was $54 and after the cashier rang me up she asked me if it was cash or credit and I said credit. The cashier then said she needed to see my ID and I asked why? She said the store policy was that any credit card purchases required ID because she said they have had a lot of people using credit cards that were not authorized and she said it came from the store manager that told her to do this check. Once again, I told her that if it’s a policy it needs to be written down and displayed like it is in the liquor stores. I refused to show my ID but she saw something in my wallet with my name on it and let the transaction go through. She assured me that she would talk to her store manager and let the manager know that it needs to be a written policy for all to see.
When I called the store the next day and talked to the store manager and the District manager, I was told it was NOT a policy to check ID for credit card purchases unless the credit card is not signed. After a weeks of dealing with this issue, I was told by the Home depot district manager and corporate headquarters that the reason I was questioned for an ID was because I was purchasing paint. However this excuse that Home Depot is trying to tell me was NOT what I was told by the cashier at the time I was harassed and humiliated for my ID because she thought I might be a thief, NOT because I was buying paint!
I let Home Depot know that I was harassed, humiliated and discriminated not because I was buying paint, but because I was a black male. What I wanted from Home Depot was a written apology and to discuss this matter with Frank Blake the CEO of Home Depot to let him know that his employees need to be trained to NOT pick and choose who they will discriminate against in his stores. When I sent all this information to Frank’s office, they had only African American employees to call me and try to make excuses for what happened and I was told that Frank would never talk to me concerning this matter, even though it was a matter of discrimination he was too important and busy to concern himself with this matter.
What I want you to do is to contact Frank and let him know that it is 2010 and we will NOT put up with this type of treatment in his or anyone else’s store. Discrimination must be wiped out and Home Depot and Frank Blake the CEO of Home Depot needs to be held accountable because our African American money is as green as anyone else’s. I am going to put this incident on boycott.com, consumerist.com and pissedoffconsumer.com to let others know about the racial profiling and discrimination while shopping at Home Depot.
Here is Frank Blake the CEO of Home Depots telephone number [protected] ext 15659 and
you can also email [protected]@homedepot.com to let him know we will not stand for discrimination of any form.
Sincerely,
Mike Lewis
Some people said that asking for my ids is actually protected me. However, if this is to protect me they would as all customers for ids. Also, if I wanted them to check my id I would write on the back of the card.. CHECK ID! As mentioned this needs to me a policy for all customers
It is amazing how many responses I received regarding the “ shopping while black” incident at Home Depot. There are so many other people that have experience this issue at Home Depot.
Just to reiterate to those who have not experienced this or misunderstood what I was saying, This has nothing to do with checking ids to ensure that the card isn’t stolen. If Home Depot policy is to check id when making a purchase with a credit card they need to check EVERY customer’s id when using a credit card. They CAN’T pick and choose which customers they as k for id. There policy shouldn’t be based on a person color, gender etc.
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
It's not Ego, it's the agreement that the merchant has with Visa and MasterCard. I work in the industry so I know the regs and charge back rights. Again, a merchant can ask for ID according to the merchant agreement but cannot deny a transaction if the card holder refuses to show it. Visa also states that a merchant should not make it their regular practice to request photo ID unless they doubt it's the card holder. MasterCard states in their agreement that ID should not be requested unless prompted by the authorization center.
When are you going to stop being a Bully? Go do something more productive with your life. Like ramming your head into the wall.
I will stop when you stop being such an ### to people. Simple as that. :) Have a nice day!
@ Stealth Pilot-I'm simply stating the regulations which are readily available on the Visa and MasterCard's website. Each merchant that accepts Visa/MasterCard, has a signed agreement and if the merchant denies the transaction, then it's a violation and the merchant can be fined. The store cannot deny the transaction because of producing ID.
Subway sucks. Actually, no its ok, the food isnt terrible. But what is terrible are some of the employees there. They are either too stupid to get your order right after you have repeated it multiple times or they are in a crappy mood and make the sandwich all sloppy. Subway needs to update their customer service so that ALL employees are nice and not some. And unless that doesn't happen I will keep walking out if you treat me like ###.
You know, I used to work as a cashier for HD, and I'll tell you something. If there is no signature on the back of the card, we are told to verify the name on your ID is the same as the name on your card. This has been in effect for over one year, at least. It's for YOUR protection. When someone steals your credit card, you'll be the first one to cry and scream that no one checked the ID of the person using the card. I mean, is it really that hard for you to pull a card out of your wallet? I guarantee you it had nothing to do with your race, and it irritates me that people like you are keeping racial profiling in the news. Grow UP. Stop being BLACK and start being HUMAN like the rest of us!
It has nothing to do with your race. It has to do with protecting customers. When I was a cashier at HD, we were told to look at the signature on your card. We then compare the signature on the back to a display of your signature on the pinpad that pops up on our screen after you sign. If the signature is not the same, or missing from your card, we require ID to verify that you are indeed the owner of the card. Personally, if a customer told me they were using credit, I asked automatically for ID. I have NEVER had someone refuse or even act surprised other than one woman that was using a stolen card for a huge purchase. In that case, my asking for her ID prevented an innocent person having their credit card used fraudulently, saved the store money, and made that criminal go elsewhere. Is it seriously that hard for you to show ID? You'd be the first one to cry if someone stole your card, came to HD and used it without being ID'd though, wouldn't you? Also, maybe you should stop being so black and start being human for a change. People like you are the only ones keeping the race card in play.
Sorry about the double posting guys, was having issues with the laptop and didn't think it got the first submission.
Seriously? You were pissed about that, Sweety I work for home depot. If we have to swipe your card for you and it is a credit purchase we ask for I.D. I am amazed at what people get upset over. I am a black female and if you come into my store and I have to swipe your card for credit I'm saving my ### and asking you for some I.D.
You need to get a lawyer and sue them.Don't let them get away with treating you like that.