As the mother of a young child,I am often forced to buy off the rack and try things on later, returning them if I don't like the fit, style, etc. I recently bought a pair of jeans at JCPenney that I needed to return the next day (less than 12 hours later). When I got to the sales desk I was told they needed a government issued photo ID, even though I had my original sales slip, in order to return the item. The salesperson then took my ID, scanned it into the computer and processed my return. When she took my ID I assumed she would simply use it to verify my identity. I was not told she would be scanning it and entering that information into the JCPenney computer database. After the fact, I was told that the scan would only be part of the JCPenney system and would not be used or shared. Of course this is to protect JCPenney from Credit card fraud.

First, I should have been told BEFORE she scanned my card that that was her intent. Second, how can a company allow someone to make a purchase without asking for a photo ID and then turn around and make it mandatory to present one upon return? I was not asking for a store credit or a cash credit, only a credit to the same card which had originally been used to make the purchase. JCPenney is protecting their own butt with this policy, certainly not the interests of their customers. If they wanted to protect their customers, they would ask to see (NOT SCAN) a photo ID every time someone uses a credit card to make a purchase. Most customers would appreciate the extra care taken to protect their credit. Verify BEFORE THE SALE that they are actually letting the holder of the credit card make the purchase. Third, give me a break. No corporate computer system is safe from break-in, as has been proved recently by companies like DSW, TJ Maxx and more. These systems are not infallible by any stretch of the imagination; especially I would think a company on the scale of JCPenney. And let's face it, JCPenney is so agressive in their marketing already that I'm more than a little skeptical they're not collecting this information for a purpose.

So far, everyone I've mentioned this experience to has expressed amazement and suggested that I don't shop there anymore and that they won't do so either. This policy is a both a violation of privacy and an endangerment to my personal information. Shame on them.