In recent times, the use of cards credit and debit He has shot, consolidating himself as one of the most common payment methods among consumers. However, although paying by card is a practical and safe option, in some cases it is possible that, to the make a paymentwe are asked to show the National Identity Document (DNI) to complete the purchase. But is it necessary? He Bank of Spain has clarified that there is no concrete regulation that forces consumers to present your ID when paying by cardso this requirement depends on the internal policies of each establishment.
On many occasions, businesses request this document in order to avoid fraud or errors in transactions, especially in a context where the scams are the order of the day. This safety measure It was implemented a few years ago, especially in those businesses that did not have Advanced Security Technologies In payment systems. Therefore, although today the use of pin codes, chips and payments Contactless offers an extra protection layer, some establishments still maintain the practice of ask for the ID.
The reason behind the ID request when paying by card
While there is no legal obligation that requires the DNI presentation when paying by cardThe Bank of Spain explains that it is a practice that some establishments can carry out due to its internal policies. This identification request is usually made to confirm that the person who is using the card is really your owner and avoid possible fraud.
Cards, however advanced they are, remain a frequent objective for scammers, who try to get the other people bank data To make illegal purchases. To prevent these types of situations, many businesses consider it necessary to verify the identity of those who are making the purchase.
This type of verification was implemented years ago, when credit and debit cards did not have the security they have today, such as the EMV chip or the use of PIN codes. At that time, the client used to sign a receipt and, in many cases, he was asked to present his ID to ensure that the data coincided.
While this procedure has been obsolete largely thanks to technological advancesthere are still businesses that, as a precaution, choose to continue requesting the identification of the person. In these cases, the intention is to protect both the consumer and the business of possible fraud.
Can you deny payment?
In general, you are not obliged to show the DNI in all shops. Although this request is made for security issues, there is no law that forces an establishment to request this document to complete a purchase. If they deny you the sale for not presenting your ID, the Bank of Spain It clarifies that this is an internal practice of the establishment and not a legal obligation.
In this sense, the client always has the right to request a copy of the transaction To verify that the amount charged is correct. This is especially important if there is any doubt about the payment process or if you think a billing error has been able to occur. Having a receipt or proof of the transaction is a way to make sure that an improper charge has not been carried out or that no fraud has occurred.
Evolution of security
Today, most credit and debit cards are equipped with advanced security systems that very difficult for fraud. He EMV chipfor example, it generates a unique code for each transaction, which makes it almost impossible to double a card. In addition, the use of PIN codes and the option to pay through contactless technologies (Contactless) has allowed transactions to be faster and more safe.
Thanks to these advances, the need for ask for the ID To verify a purchase has decreased considerably. However, this does not mean that situations in which it is decided to request this document can not arise, especially if it is large purchases or if the payment system does not allow instant validation of the identity of the card holder.
Banking entities and shops are very aware of transactions safety, and most of the credit and debit cards They have protection systems such as two factors authentication, which requires additional validation through a message or mobile application. These additional systems, such as SMS verification or dynamic keys, make the cards safer and, therefore, reduce the need to request the ID in many cases.
However, we must bear in mind that, although these measures are very effective, they are not infallible, and businesses continue to take additional precautions to protect yourself from possible fraud.
