Arrested For Being Black At Barney's, NYC

[darden]

Did anyone pick up on the fact that Barneys denies the cops were called?

yeah... we might not know what actually happened until a hypothetical trial.

cops claim that Barneys called them, Barneys denies any involvement outside of the sale transaction.

 

[cgymike]

Did anyone pick up on the fact that Barneys denies the cops were called?

It will be interesting to see what the legal outcome is. Not against the cops (they seem immune in that city) but against the store. Why aren't there a mass of demonstrators out in front?
If this is so important there would be....

But...guess not...even if race is a factor...America is so jaded by now.

 

[Kulindahr]

yeah... we might not know what actually happened until a hypothetical trial.

cops claim that Barneys called them, Barneys denies any involvement outside of the sale transaction.

If they repeat that claim at trial, and the police testify to, and have record of, the call, the judge could slap them with perjury -- that would be fun. And around here at least, there's a record of every call to dispatch and every communication out from dispatch.

 

[joshj50]

I guess they were just being cautious, the employee trying to do their job and make sure it is not a stolen credit card. I can only imagine how many stolen credit cards are used every week in a big city like NY. White, black or pink, if they are young and spending $350 on a belt I would be extra vigilant too and if I suspected it was stolen I would also call the police.

 

[gsdx]

White, black or pink, if they are young and spending $350 on a belt I would be extra vigilant too

I don't buy that, sorry. When was the last time someone had a stolen credit card and stopped at a belt? Besides, he didn't even use the credit card. He used the money from his first pay cheque.

 

[darden]

If they repeat that claim at trial, and the police testify to, and have record of, the call, the judge could slap them with perjury -- that would be fun. And around here at least, there's a record of every call to dispatch and every communication out from dispatch.

yeah... I wonder if, before making the statement, Barneys looked at their own phone logs/security tapes or if they just asked the clerk and took them at their word.

 

[darden]

I don't buy that, sorry. When was the last time someone had a stolen credit card and stopped at a belt? Besides, he didn't even use the credit card. He used the money from his first pay cheque.

people buy random shit with stolen credit cards I once had my card stolen and used for a $30 purchase at a Bath and Bodyworks.

I think the article said he was using his debit card, which for the purposes of this story, isn't fundamentally different from a credit card I'd imagine.

 

[pat grimshaw]

If they repeat that claim at trial, and the police testify to, and have record of, the call, the judge could slap them with perjury -- that would be fun. And around here at least, there's a record of every call to dispatch and every communication out from dispatch.

Yes I hope the feds are monitoring New York as well as eavesdropping on Angela Merkel.

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

I think the article said he was using his debit card, which for the purposes of this story, isn't fundamentally different from a credit card I'd imagine.

It actually is - you have to have the money to purchase the item on the card, and you have to have a pin unless it's run as credit, which usually doesn't work(in my experience in retail, at least).

And, to josh, last time I checked, young people are allowed to make large purchases too. If a place like Wal-mart has simple measures in place to prevent card fraud (check the ID to see if the name on the card matches, see if it runs through, if you suspect fraud call a manager), you'd think an upscale snooty place like Barney's would have more in place than "he's young, he must be committing a crime"... and then give him the item and receipt anyway. That's called not doing your job.

 

[gsdx]

I think the article said he was using his debit card, which for the purposes of this story, isn't fundamentally different from a credit card I'd imagine.

But you can't use a debit card if the money isn't in the bank. You can use a credit card when the money doesn't even exist. That's why one is called a 'debit' card and the other is called a 'credit' card. He simply didn't look like someone who would have either.

 

[star-warrior]

^ it's a 'high class' store, so it doesn't want to be seen to have police in their store detaining suspects - it sends the wrong message to the other shoppers, that it has criminals wanting to defraud them.

This is probably why they decided for the guy and the lady who bought stuff to leave the shop so that the arrests can be made away from the establishment, and that the two people are made to look like criminals out in the public. Barneys can then say, we didn't do anything like call the police. Those 'undercover' cops did it on a whim.

 

[darden]

But you can't use a debit card if the money isn't in the bank. You can use a credit card when the money doesn't even exist. That's why one is called a 'debit' card and the other is called a 'credit' card. He simply didn't look like someone who would have either.

can't you?

it's been awhile since I've used a debit card as a credit card (and really, one never should -- it's a terrible practice), but back in my financially foolish teens, I thought that if you didn't have the money in your account, your balance went negative and they hit you with an overdraft fee.

 

[star-warrior]

can't you?

it's been awhile since I've used a debit card as a credit card (and really, one never should -- it's a terrible practice), but back in my financially foolish teens, I thought that if you didn't have the money in your account, your balance went negative and they hit you with an overdraft fee.

I was chased by my bank for being in the red all those many years ago. Never again. I live within my means, so I use a debit card as I know exactly how much I have taken out and that there's never a bill with added interest to pay. It just doesn't make sense to live on credit - you end up paying more.

 

[darden]

I was chased by my bank for being in the red all those many years ago. Never again. I live within my means, so I use a debit card as I know exactly how much I have taken out and that there's never a bill with added interest to pay. It just doesn't make sense to live on credit - you end up paying more.

the trick is to get a credit card that gives you points/miles/cash back with no annual fee, and pay off the balance each month (though it does require the self control to not spend more than you'll be able to pay off)

this way, you're earning a bonus for using the card, not paying interest since you're paying it off, and it gives you added protection in case your card gets stolen (with a real credit card, a disputed transaction will be held up until it's resolved. with a debit card, the money is gone and out of your account already until it's resolved)

 

[vater292]

can't you?

it's been awhile since I've used a debit card as a credit card (and really, one never should -- it's a terrible practice), but back in my financially foolish teens, I thought that if you didn't have the money in your account, your balance went negative and they hit you with an overdraft fee.

Yes you can use a debit card if the money isn't there, with some banks and debit cards. Then it also depends on what if any overdraft protection you have. Some overdraft protection is just simply denying the card for use others are tacked on to a savings account and can take money from it if you go over what's in your checking. I always have said to deny my card if its over the amount.

Although I always use my debit card as credit so I don't have to enter my pin. I guess it depends on if he ran his card as debit or credit, at any rate if they felt someone stole a card they should check the ID of the person. Since it matched I really do not see why there even should have ever been a problem.

I actually do not sign the back of any of my debit or credit cards. Reason is because as soon as I hand them my card they see its not signed and ask for my ID. Then they normally tell me to sign my card and I tell them NO. I leave them un-signed because it means they are supposed to ask for ID and my hope is if it ever gets stolen they can't use it or at least not much if they don't have a matching ID.

 

[MoufOfKhaos]

^I just write "Ask For ID" on mine.

 

[dereperez]

I knew there was going to be a lot of "hating" in this thread when I read the title. First of all, we don't know for sure if the arrest was racially motivated (I'm not saying it is or isn't). Could it be? Sure. But people can tend to jump the gun when they feel they are discriminated against. Those high-end shopping places will always be super alert (sometimes overly so perhaps?) for fraudulent consumers. So this arrest happened to involve a black kid. I wonder if all the other arrests (false alarms included) all involved black patrons?? And if they didn't...how come they didn't make the news?? I think we all know the answer: sensationalism and the stirring of the pot.

I'm not condoning what happened here. It is unfortunate that an innocent guy was arrested and I would feel angry too if that happened to me. But one has to view it from the other side too: if you own a high-end store and there have been many legit cases where customers tried to con you, you would be hypersensitive as well. If the arrest was due to his color, well then shame on them. But I fail to see how there is proof that the arrest was solely due to his skin color. Of course, "Arrested for being black!" will always make an attention-grabbing headline.

 

[vater292]

^I just write "Ask For ID" on mine.

I had not heard of that one or seen it but that sounds like a good idea also. I only started doing it because it was recommended to me by the bank manager that set-up my first checking account. So I have continued doing it

 

[Kulindahr]

Yes I hope the feds are monitoring New York as well as eavesdropping on Angela Merkel.

I have to ask: was that meant to be humor?

 

[Kulindahr]

^ it's a 'high class' store, so it doesn't want to be seen to have police in their store detaining suspects - it sends the wrong message to the other shoppers, that it has criminals wanting to defraud them.

This is probably why they decided for the guy and the lady who bought stuff to leave the shop so that the arrests can be made away from the establishment, and that the two people are made to look like criminals out in the public. Barneys can then say, we didn't do anything like call the police. Those 'undercover' cops did it on a whim.

Makes sense.

Slimy snobs.