Credit, check. ID? Not yet.

July 29, 2007 12:30 AM

Need some kind of photo ID for anonymous blog-related activities

I run a popular website that depends somewhat on my ability to remain anonymous. Until now, I have paid cash whenever shopping incognito, but things have progressed to the point where I need (and have obtained) a credit card (legitimately tied to my primary account and kosher with the bank, btw) with my blogging pseudonym. I need a photo ID to go with it though, one that shows my pseudonym, not my real name. My pseudonym is a real person's name, so how can I get a good quality ID that will be acceptable if I'm asked for photo identification?

posted by anonymous to shopping (12 comments total)

Anonymous how, like on the written receipt, so people couldn't tie your purchases to you later? Could you get a corporate credit card account with the pseudonym as the company name, and then add your real self as an authorized user?

Or do you want the actual merchant to not know who you are? Couldn't you just shop online with your pseudonymous card and send your stuff to a PO box?
posted by ctmf at 12:56 AM on July 29, 2007

Are you able to tell us what country/state/province/etc you're in?

And just for my own curiosity, can you explain why you need to go "shopping incognito" in order to maintain your internet anonymity?
posted by chudmonkey at 1:20 AM on July 29, 2007

I need a photo ID to go with it though, one that shows my pseudonym, not my real name.

If it's a real ID e.g. a driver's license, then what you're talking about is a major crime.

My credit card has my photo on it. It's from Bank of America; they've apparently been doing that for quite a while. Have you looked into whether your bank can do the same? Or maybe you should give BA a call.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 1:33 AM on July 29, 2007

First of all, try getting your photo on the card.

But if that fails and this is real-life shopping (as opposed to online shopping), get a fake ID with your blog name and photo. Keep your actual numbers off the ID, of course - lest the fake ID makers use your numbers.

The cashiers just want to compare your face and names. As long as there's no ID-swiping a la the cops, a fake ID should suffice.
posted by Xere at 1:44 AM on July 29, 2007

Under Visa/Mastercard rules, merchants cannot ask for a picture ID as a condition of purchase with the Visa/MC card.

Remind them that asking violates their agrement with Visa/MC and can resulkt in getting their ability to run cards revoked.
posted by orthogonality at 1:50 AM on July 29, 2007

Just as an FYI, if you're buying certain products (cigarettes, porn, certain ESRB rated video games) retailers can actually ask for ID per legal restrictions.
posted by santojulieta at 2:02 AM on July 29, 2007

"Under Visa/Mastercard rules, merchants cannot ask for a picture ID as a condition of purchase with the Visa/MC card.

Remind them that asking violates their agrement with Visa/MC and can resulkt in getting their ability to run cards revoked."

Having a minimum total is also in violation of that agreement, but you see it all the time. Visa and MC do not act on these policies.
posted by B(oYo)BIES at 2:08 AM on July 29, 2007

Visa and MC do not act on these policies.

That's because they usually aren't reported. You can do so here.
posted by grouse at 3:35 AM on July 29, 2007 [1 favorite]

Mr. Steve Jobs might be willing to assist you.
posted by nilihm at 8:11 AM on July 29, 2007

They can't require a photo ID as a condition of the sale. They ask, you decline, they check to see if the signatures on the card and receipt match. They can't refuse the sale just because you don't produce photo ID.
posted by oaf at 10:04 AM on July 29, 2007

If you act under a psuedonym, your real identity is anonymous. Why are you trying to shop as an identity? Are you shopping in public? Say this was Fake Steve -- why would he need to shop as Fake Steve?

Getting photo ID for you, in the name of another real person sounds way too much like identity theft, and I think you need to provide more details.
posted by bonaldi at 12:11 PM on July 29, 2007

grouse, oak: sure, you can go ahead and report the merchant I suppose. I can't say I have received ANY response or assistance from them with the four to five reports I have made each month in the year that I have lived in CA.
posted by fief at 9:46 PM on July 29, 2007