No Thumbprint, No Rental Car

Wired News ^ | 11/21/01 | Julia Scheeres

[Jean S]

When James Glave arrived at Oakland International Airport and went to retrieve the rental car he had reserved over the Internet, he was dismayed to learn that the agency not only required his driver's license and payment information, but also his thumbprint.

[CounterCounterCulture]

Timely BUMP

[pubmom]

Sound familiar?

[blackdog]

The problem is that when fraud is committed, they do nothing and nobody prosecutes the party defrauding us all. My wife had someone steal her credit card number while at a hotel on an Arizona business trip. They had written her number down as the result of being at an expensive hotel. Two days after she checked out, fraud was committed at Ralph's grocery stores to the tune of $5,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The card issuer refused to investigate it because it most likely involved parties over the border. They told us to just fill out the form denying charges, and not to worry about it!

Now they want MY thumbprint? See what happens when you only selectively apply the law? You, the average Joe, have your rights violated completely.

[angkor]

Sounds like DRAC is intent on going out of business.

[tacticalogic]

If I knew I was going to have to give a thumbprint, I think I'd get a tube of superglue and trace the letters F. O. backwards across my thumbprint in advance.

[Publius6961]

"How would you feel if you went to the grocery store, and you went to sign a check and they demanded a thumbprint?" Weinstein said.

If they demand it every time I come in, yeah, I mind.
Once? not a problem.

Anyone who seriously wants my thumbprint can find it.
I can understand the need, and yes, people who have nothing to hide usually don't mind.
And people who have tons to hide, from criminal intent to drug use mind ----- a lot.

[Publius6961]

Glave said. "It takes us into a surveillance society that is profoundly disturbing. What's next? Am I going to have to be fingerprinted when I check into a hotel in case I trash my room?"

Hope this guy isn't doing any work requiring adult reasoning and clear thinking.
He seems unaware that a car can be driven to another country. Most hotel rooms don't have that vulnerability.

[Publius6961]

See, the holders of the seed patents will starve you. It's coming.

OK. I promise to pick up lot of aluminum foil on my way home tonight.
In the meantime, tell me this:

How are the holders of the seed patents gonna make all the normal seed in the world disappear?

[IronJack]

Senese said the system would benefit customers by keeping rental prices down.

Ah yes. The "positive." Appeal to greed. Save a couple of bucks. Give us your first-born.

Of course, the mythical savings never materialize, people grow accustomed to this unwarranted intrusion, and pretty soon you need a sperm sample to be able to buy a candy bar.

I suspect that if Dollar started losing 90 percent of its business to Budget or Alamo, they'd change their biometric tune right quick. I know I'd rather ride one of bin Laden's used camels than rent from Dollar after reading this.

I like this guy's idea: you want fingerprints? Start with my middle finger.

[Fraulein]

"Why do you want my right thumbprint?"

[SoDak]

Never, never, never, ever. I'll never bow to stuff like this. I'll drive my own car across the damned country first. I travel a LOT. I haven't run into this yet, but won't do business with anyone who does.

[Looking4Truth]

Well that's another rental car company that won't get a dime of my business. Enterprise lost my business about 3 years ago for something similiar.

[Xenalyte]

I can understand the need, and yes, people who have nothing to hide usually don't mind. And people who have tons to hide, from criminal intent to drug use mind ----- a lot.

People who have nothing to hide mind quite a bit, thank you very much.

[Looking4Truth]

How are the holders of the seed patents gonna make all the normal seed in the world disappear?

Do a search on ADM or Monsanto (don't remember which company) or 'terminator seeds'.

Don't forget to give 'em your thumbprint when you pick up the tin foil later.

[Looking4Truth]

People who have nothing to hide mind quite a bit, thank you very much.

Count me in on that.

How many FReepers have to pee in a cup (without probable cause!!)to get their pay? We got THAT courtesy of the 'if you don't have anything to hide, you have nothing to worry about' crowd.

[FITZ]

If it's a private business then they can ask you and you can take your business elsewhere. If it cuts down on theft and the rates are lower than for other companies then some people will allow thumbprinting. I hope the government doesn't get into this.

[brewcrew]

Jean - You are on a tear today. Diggin' up some real good goodies. Keep up the good work! And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.