credit cards & IDs

[MelissaF]

For those that are not full time:

How do you deal with using a credit card in your female name when ID is requested?

I have applied for a credit card with Melissa on the card, but I don't have any photo ID to back that up. Do you give your male ID and try and talk it through? Do you leave? Do you just use another card? I would like to have a plan before i have an issue. Thought that the group may be able to give some insight

Thanks

[Angela Campbell]

I kept the cards the same as my ID. Next week I start changing all of them. No one cares if you pay with a male name on a card.

[Sheila11]

I always use cash. No ID needed.

[Frances]

You can get credit cards with only your initial and no gender marker.

[AllieSF]

I go out all the time and just use my male cards and my drivers license with my male picture. The ones asking for them don't care and neither do I!

In some States you can get a separate ID with a different picture, e.g. one in female mode. You just have to have all the pertinent ID facts correct. You also need to check your next drivers license update to make sure they used the correct picture since they tend to use the latest one on file.

[Frances]

I don't know where you are all at in your transition, but it became a real problem for me. I had trouble buying stuff with credit cards and banks were suspicious. The initial thing was not to avoid embarrassment, I could not pay for stuff without managers or security showing up.

[Angela Campbell]

My problem is I do not look one bit like my picture on my drivers license anymore. Most simply will not accept it.

[Sue Too]

Hi Melissa

All the above approaches are very valid. A lot depends on where you live. Some localities are more suspicious than others. Supporting ID is not required for a valid card transaction. It is a way for retailers to avoid the fraudulent use of stolen cards. About 2-3 years ago I called my banks and asked them to issue additional cards in my femme name. All charges actually go back to my main account. I have been using them en femme without problems. In those rare instances when they ask for ID I just show them my male DL (I have a duplicate) in my femme billfold. Only once have I ever been refused because the names didn't match and that was during the holidays when merchants are much more cautious. In this case he didn't get a sizeable sale. Too Bad!!! His Loss

Happy Shopping

Susan in Phoenix

[MelissaF]

i guess the safest method looks to be cash.

Thanks

[MarciManseau]

Mine are all in my real name now, Marci, but I never get asked for ID when I use my MasterCard or my Visa. Not even once. Huh. None here seems to do that.

[Frances]

Are you transtioning? They are lots of painful steps to go through. Avoiding them is useless. People often look at me and tell me that I must have it easy. It's not remotely true at all. Transition is a long and painful process. Talking to credit card companies and visiting bank managers is one of them. I have felt humiliation more times than I can remember, but it ends one day.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Cash? It depends how much you want to carry around!

And if it is about transitioning just deal with it and get your card and ID matched..it takes time, some money..

If you are not full time why do you need a card with a female name on it?? or just get the initials as Frances points out..


I had an issue with my credit card and ID at a rental car company that was horrible.. I showed up because my car was at collision center...so I went to rent the car and my ID didn't match my credit card or appearance...

It was horrible...the line was getting long behind me and I was in a pinch because I had no car!!! They were adamant... I got the manager and in front of a dozen people he apologized and insisted I had to leave!!! I was screaming and yelling and demanded to talk to his manager on the phone!! He threatened to call police and I said this is discrimination against transsexuals!! LOL...I was foaming at the mouth with anger...I got to call some guy in corporate, I threatened to sue him, to call up the newspapers...it was as hilarious as it was humiliating... I got my car though...welcome to transition...

[LeaP]

Credit cards are interesting. I don't know about the others, but MasterCard and Visa have rules regarding identification. The vendor is allowed to ask for your ID but may not require it! So you can refuse to provide an ID when asked and they are still supposed to complete the sale anyway. They may refuse an unsigned card, however.