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Posted February 8, 2010
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Walmart: Appropriate Policy or Discrimination?
Three members of the multi-Grammy Award winning South African singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, went into a Walmart store in New Jersey last week to wire money home to their families in South Africa.The group is on a concert tour and they sometimes use the Moneygram service that sends money all around the world. Moneygram is an independent company that has it's service kiosks in many stores, such as 7/11, Duane Reade and others, including Walmart. In fact, Walmart's website describes Moneygram as a service "Anyone can use." Well, apparently, that's not true. Although Moneygram states that all you need is an official government ID, such as a passport, from any country, Walmart, which used to accept the same ID's, has recently changed its policy. Apparently, as of January, 2010, you must have a USA government issued ID to use the Moneygram service in Walmart stores.
The members of the singing group have used Moneygram for many years and did not know about the change in Walmart's policy, so when they were denied service the group's manager, Mitch Goldstein, an American born citizen, came forward to wire the funds with his own ID. However, he too was refused service by Walmart. He was told that it was because he was with the foreigners and it was their money. When he responded that this must be incorrect since the Walmart policy stated that they would not accept foreign ID's and he was not a foreigner, he was told it didn't matter because the money came from the foreigners and he was with the foreigners. Hmm...so they all left.
The members of the singing group have used Moneygram for many years and did not know about the change in Walmart's policy, so when they were denied service the group's manager, Mitch Goldstein, an American born citizen, came forward to wire the funds with his own ID. However, he too was refused service by Walmart. He was told that it was because he was with the foreigners and it was their money. When he responded that this must be incorrect since the Walmart policy stated that they would not accept foreign ID's and he was not a foreigner, he was told it didn't matter because the money came from the foreigners and he was with the foreigners. Hmm...so they all left.
Mr Goldstein then called Moneygram and was told that they continue to have no problem with people using its service with foreign passports, that this must be Walmart's policy only, and not the policy at any of the other stores using Moneygram.
Mr Goldstein then called Walmarts' corporate number. He explained what occurred and was told that someone would call him back. Later that day, a representative of Walmart called and said the new policy had to do with the "Patriot Act." When asked why he, himself an American citizen with proper ID, was denied the service he was told because the money originated with the foreigners.
So, what do you think? Is this an appropriate policy, even against an American citizen as described above, or overzealous "protection", possibly discrimination, going over the appropriate line?
So, what do you think? Is this an appropriate policy, even against an American citizen as described above, or overzealous "protection", possibly discrimination, going over the appropriate line?
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