signatures on the back of plastics

[dkilian]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
Washington

I've yet to sign the back of both my credit & debit cards. Always figured: if they question, I'll show them my drivers license. Is it a requirement for most retailers & service providers that the back of cards be signed? Also, would it be better to write "photo ID required" in permanent marker?

-confuzed consumer

 

[AlmostALawyer]

I don't know that you are required. For over 5 years I have written on the back of my card "See ID." I've never had a problem, and 75% of the time they check. It also makes it really difficult for someone to steal the thing. Finally, I've seen many people sign the receipt signature line in a manner not even remotely close to the signature on the back of their card and the cashier never second guesses them. My advice to all would be to stop signing the card, and start requiring ID.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Most credit cards specifically state that they are not valid until signed.

But I have seen several people with "Photo ID required" written on their cards. One person told me that he has been turned down for purchases a couple of times in the years that he has marked his card that way. So its really a matter of how strictly merchants adhere to their credit card agreements.

In my own experience, I accidentally left a new card unsigned once. When I tried to purchase something with it at a department store, the cleck wouldn't acccept it until I signed the back of the card. Then she compared the back of the card to my signature on the slip.

 

[pattytx]

The only place I've run across that requires you actually sign the card to use it is the U.S. Post Office.
Should you sign your credit card or write 'See ID' on it

 

[pattytx]

In my own experience, I accidentally left a new card unsigned once. When I tried to purchase something with it at a department store, the cleck wouldn't acccept it until I signed the back of the card. Then she compared the back of the card to my signature on the slip.

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.

 

[Hot Topic]

There are consumer advocates that recommend that you put "ask for i.d." in back of the card instead of just signing it. Chances are good that if a cashier sees the signature, he or she won't ask for i.d. to verify that you're the owner of the card.

 

[FlyingRon]

Consumer advocates who say write "SEE ID" are complete idiots, unfamiliar with the credit system.

You must sign your card. A merchant, if operating by the their contract with their servicer, must have a signed card. If you present an unsigned card they are SUPPOSED to demand ID and make you sign the card in addition to the credit slip. Otherwise they are to decline the transaction.

Once you have signed the card, VISA and MASTERCARD mandate that they DO NOT ask for ID. American Express allows them to ask, but they can not mandate you showing ID as a condition of acceptance (regardless of what you wrote on the back).

All of these ID gambits (either by the Merchant or by the customer) do ABSOLUTELY nothing to increase card security. If I have your card, or I have made a card with your number on it (which is more likely), I'll likely have an ID (either yours or a compelling fake) as well.

As you may have noticed in trying to use unsigned cards, 90% of the retailers don't even bother to flip the card over to look.

The reliance on POS validation has pretty much wiped out most of the signature and other human identification as it is much fmore comprehensive.