IHOP changes policy of asking for IDs

[kurth]

IHOP changes policy of asking for IDs
Tue Nov 28, 11:16 AM ET

John Russo has been a victim of identity theft. So when he was asked to fork over a photo ID just to be seated at an IHOP pancake restaurant, he flipped. "'You want my license? I'm going for pancakes, I'm not buying the Hope diamond,' and they refused to seat us," Russo said, recounting his experience this week at the Quincy IHOP.

The restaurant now has agreed to reverse the policy of requiring customers to turn over their driver's licenses before they can order — a rule that was enacted to discourage "dine and dash" thefts. WCVB-TV in Boston reported the Quincy restaurant's policy had been enacted without corporate approval.

IHOP Corp., based in Glendale, Calif., released a statement Monday night to WCVB that said an employee felt the policy could eliminate the problem of people leaving without paying. "This was done without the knowledge or approval of management. ... We apologize to any guest who was inconvenienced," the statement said.

Russo said a security guard at the restaurant had "at least 40" licenses in hand when he arrived to eat. "Identity theft is rampant. I wouldn't want to give my license, with my address or Social Security number to anyone that I'm not familiar with," Russo said. "I'm going just for breakfast."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061128/ap_on_bi_ge/ihop_ids

[napingo]

1. IHOP should have maintained that policy. Too many thieves pose as

ordinary people who "just want some pancakes"....for free.

[ToolTex]

3. Not in my experience. It was a stupid idea.

n/t

[htuttle]

5. I wish they would have too -- cause then they would have gone out of business

IHOP sucks. Bad. And bad for you.

[donco6]

6. You forgot your "sarcasm" thingy.

Right?

[seabeyond]

11. lets just put a chip in all our heads, then with no thinking,... we will

have absolutely no issue with theft or anything else govt deems wrong. we can just be typed instructions how to take a step forward.....

[jayfish]

21. Yeah, I'm Sure It's Driving IHOP To Bankruptcy.

:eyes:.

Jay

[efhmc]

22. Nope, why don't they have someone check people when they LEAVE

the restaurant and make them show their receipt in order to exit.

[wicket]

24. BYE!!!!!

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out! :D

[Hell Hath No Fury]

30. So you're saying...

I should have to "show my papers" just to eat fucking pancakes??? :crazy:

[napi21]

2. That policy is absurd! If it's such a damn big problem for them

hire a security guard and demand to see a receipt as people leave the restaurant, the same as Sam's Club & Costco does.

[RebelOne]

7. That wouldn't work at IHOP.

You only get a receipt if you pay by debit or credit card. No receipt for cash. At least that's the way it works at the IHOP in my neighborhood.

[qanda]

10. Then they should change their policy

There are so many steps they can take to prevent this. Taking licenses from people just doesn't seem like the first step they should have made.

[napi21]

14. There's always a NEW REGISTER. It would be cheaper to do that

than pi** off your customers.

[treestar]

4. Other restaurants seem to be able to function.

LOL, if they are that bad at this business, maybe they should get the hell out of it!

[Sherman A1]

8. Well the policy does come under the heading of

"Hey, let's come up with a REALLY STUPID IDEA".

[blogslut]

9. Maybe if IHOP hired more

than a skeleton staff...

[ContraBass Black]

12. I would refuse to hand it over, and eat elsewhere.

Suppose I walk up and don't have a license?

[AngryAmish]

13. It is a bad idea to eat at IHOP

When drunk there is sometimes a temptation to get pancakes. It must be resisted! The proper food to eat when drunk is the burrito.

[Horse with no Name]

15. What the fuck?

Showing ID to eat? Oh I don't think so.
If they are so fucking worried about people walking out without paying--why not just post armed guards at the entrance.
IF they would just shoot one non-paying customer, I guarantee people would think twice before skipping out on a meal there.:sarcasm:

[symbolman]

29. Just catch up with them outside

you can spot the ones that just ate, they'll be throwing up in the parking lot :)

Seriously, I ate the "grand slam breakfast" at Denny's once and then Hit One out of the Park outside, just as soon as I buckled my kid in.. never got so sick so FAST.

Then there was the PUBE in my food, when I complained they PLUCKED IT OUT and walked AWAY.

Nope, NEVER again. I'd starve first.

[bicentennial_baby]

16. That's my ass-backwards city for ya

Ah, living in the QZ....oy....no surprise though.

[Gormy Cuss]

17. Let me guess. It's near a Red Line stop

and they're afraid THOSE PEOPLE will come down from Dot to rip'em off.

[bicentennial_baby]

18. Relatively close...

Probably under a mile from Qz Center stop.... Wouldn't surprise me though.

[RaleighNCDUer]

23. My thought, too.

Was the stated reason true? Or is it a way to keep vagrants and other undesireables out. You know, people who don't have licenses are not real citizens - they're either impovershed or illegal, and either way they don't count.

[wicket]

26. LOL

:rofl:

[Lex]

19. Are they worried about people leaving without paying because of crappy service?

I wonder about that.

[SoCalDem]

20. College bars used to do this back in the 60's but that's because

the pitchers were just too cool to not swipe a few..

The Falstaff pitcher was the "crown jewel" of my collection:) :rofl:

(this was back in the day of paper driver's licences, and fake I.D.s cost a few bucks :)..)

[Bandit]

25. I can visualize a time when everyone will have a National ID

and be required to scan in and out of every establishment in America. It won't happen within five years but maybe in ten....All in the name of War on ???? drugs, terror, illegal immigration, you name it..We will all need to show your papers...

[mattfromnossa]

27. I'm not comfortable with this.

Why not just have someone standing close to the door watching to see that everyone properly pays for their meal before leaving?

[symbolman]

28. Eating pancakes over there

so they don't eat them over HERE -- at Denny's :)