I SIMPLY want to view the products that a supermarket in Spain, Carrefour, sell. Thats ALL.
I'm not allowed to do this however as I have to 'register' on the website (as it says in Spanish). So I decided to make a fake account on the pathetic company's website.
For some reason, this SUPERMARKET (not a plane company, legal/government website or anything like that) wants me to provide a PASSPORT (or DNI/CIF/Greencard number). The thing says "Documento de identidad*" which translates in English to "Identity card".
I obviously don't have any of these for Spain as I'm not a Spanish citizen.
All I want to know is - why the HELL does a SUPERMARKET company want someone's passport (or ID) details? All the customer is going to do is a bit of bloody shopping!! Not travelling or anything!
If ASDA (in UK) or Walmart (in USA) asked for my passport details, I'd contact customer service telling them to pi** off and that they've just lost a potential online customer.
Most european countries (Germany, France, Spain...) with the sole exception of UK have Identity Cards that provides and Identification number to its citizens in order to facilitate all sort of bureocracy.
This number (ID) is intentionally different from Passport and Social Security numbers to reduce the risk of Identity Theft
ID card is mandatory in Spain for all citizens 14 and older... so people who would want to register as customers will most likely have one, and it:
a) facilitates data management for companies
b) provides a safe backgroung for legal data protection for customers
so no wonder companies use it... as it is thought to be used like that
As the system is defined for locals (wether spanish nationals or foreign residents who also receive a spanish ID), non residents face the problem of not having a spanish ID. In that case, passport is required, as it is the only document that can be recognized in Spain under legal authorities.
Any time a website asks you for information on documents that can identify you either nationally or internationally, you should be very cautious about providing it. Fake passports bring in a lot of money to some criminals--and providing your numbers can allow them to generate fake documentation for others. I wouldn't provide it. I'd find another source for your groceries.
It stops fraudulent payments, as the customer is traceable.
If all you are doing is checking prices, then you are not a serious customer.
Costco have a similar registration scheme, so it's not exclusive.
Perhaps they have one price for locals, another for other people, and they don't want to provide you false hope in giving you a price you're not eligible for.
