IDIOTS AT WORK: I was signing the receipt for my credit card purchase when the clerk noticed I had never signed my name on the back of the credit card. She informed me that she could not complete the transaction unless the card was signed. When I asked why, she explained that it was necessary to compare the signature I had just signed on the receipt. So I signed the credit card in front of her. She carefully compared the signature to the one I had just signed on the receipt. As luck would have it, they matched.
LMBOPIMP! I've had this happen. The logic always escaped me, but thank you so much for clearing this up. "As luck would have it, they matched" Bwaahahaha. Thanks for the chuckle. L
You should write See Photo ID on the back of your cards..they will then ask for your license when you do a transaction.
I too have had this happen. It's hillarious watching them "actually" compare the sigs. Very funny MP! -Peace, Dave
This caused problems for me once. I went to Sonic with a new Visa card. The girl told me I had to have the card signed before I could use it, so I signed it on the console of the car while holding my giant drink (I have small cupholders). The signature was horrible, didn't even look like a name. On the rare occassion afterwords when anyone tried to compare signatures, I always had to produce ID. Still, people look at the signature on the card, what, 2% of the time?
I WROTE ONE TIME----->"DON'T ASK FOR ID"~~~my id is in my wallet where it is going to stay...I don't take it out for anybody!!! I SIGN EVERY CARD LIKE A GOOD LITTLE BOY...(it does say---->VOID IF NOT SIGNED)
The only time anyone has even looked to see if a card was signed has been at Best Buy. I think every time I've been in there the last couple of years and used a cc the cashier has flipped it over to see if it was signed.
The signature is a legal requirement of the credit card issuer, you do not have a valid contract until you sign the card. What that means is that you are not protected and you don't get the 'pay over time' benefits if the CC issuer decided to make a point of it (like they would know), but the merchant is verifying the signatur for their own protection because if it was a fraudulent purchase they MAY be charged back and have to fight for their money. You must sign the back of your card in order for the card to be valid. Simply writing the words 'check ID' on the back in lieu of a signature is still not valid because you haven't signed the card and you legally did not agree to be bound by the terms of the agreement. I always sign the card and write in 'check ID' as well next to the signature. I want to have the extra protection of the merchant checking to make sure that I am... well, Me! I can't think of any earthly reason why you WOULDN'T want the merchant to check your ID... Though the merchant does NOT have any right to record any information from your ID. I'm tired... PAE
I can't think of any earthly reason why you WOULDN'T want the merchant to check your ID... My id is in my wallet where it is going to stay...I don't take it out for anybody!!! ASKING FOR ID ON A SIGNED CARD VIOLATES CREDIT CARD POLICY... AGREE TO DISAGREE YMMV
It is NOT a "PERFECT" science... AFTER 4,132,842 charge sales...you can tell... All I get is an OCCASIONAL "PICK UP CARD" or husband using wife's card---->GO GET HER SO SHE CAN SIGN FOR THE CHARGE...
I had "see photo ID" written on the back of an old bank card and when I tried to use it at either KMart or Walmart (can't remember a few years back), they said my card is VOID because it is not signed and they wouldn't continue with the tansaction using that card. Go figure!
My POST OFFICE HAS A SIGN...ATTN. CREDIT CARD USERS...YOU MUST HAVE A SIGNATURE ON THE BACK OF YOUR CARD TO USE YOUR CARD HERE. A customer in my register one day WAS MUMBLING TO HER FRIEND SOMETHING ABOUT THE POST OFFICE MAKING HER SIGN HER CARD~~~LIKE THEY ASKED HER TO DO SOMETHING ILLEGAL!!! If the BANKS really want you to PRODUCE a license with your credit card...they better remove the SIGNATURE STRIP... About 10-20 people every day when I check, have to go to the car for their license!!! And that is only the people who write checks...(the computer is required to ask about 2 times per year for every check writer)
My photo and signature are printed on the front of the card. One merchant said I still had to sign the back of the card to prove that the signature on the front THAT WAS EMBEDDED WHEN THE BANK MADE THE CARD is actually my signature! doh!! Of course, most places I use the card at are an even mix: the first group doesn't look at the card (or I swipe it myself) and the other group looks at the back, asks for my ID because there's no signature and then pull a "doh!" when they see the photo and signature on the front of the card. Most clerks comment that they think it's a great idea. Say, anyone ever have a merchant demand your ID when you use your ATM/debit card as a PIN-based debit transaction? Isn't that the whole point of a PIN number?!!? If you use the secret number, then the bank figures it must be you!
Is Asking Legal?? Interesting points . . . however, can they legally refuse to honor the transaction if you do not produce a license or ID? I was in a department store with a colleague. Two individuals in front of us made purchases and were not asked for ID. My colleague made a fine jewelry purchase and used her Amer Ex Platinum. She was asked for ID. When she inquired why she was singled out the clerk said the store has a legal right to ask for it. We asked to see the manager to resolve the issue. The manager was just as vague saying they have the right to verify you are the legal cardholder and record the license number on the receipt in case fraud involved because the purchase was over $500. So my colleague showed her ID but we wrote the store manager a letter and reported it to the BBB. Does anyone know if there are state and/or federal laws regarding this?
Re: Is Asking Legal?? MY PET PEEVE: The signature strip is not big enough! My signature doesn't even match the one on the card, there isn't enough room. And then, those stupid pens that are attached to the P.O.S. system, they never work properly for me. I could go on...
Re: Is Asking Legal?? come on, tess! Merchants have a right to refuse to do business with anyone. Be glad for those few clerks that bother to ask for ID to compare signatures or even bother looking, I say. It's easy enough to swipe anyone's card that you happen to have, stolen or not stolen, matched signature or no signature -- and no one seems to notice or care. Sassy
Re: Is Asking Legal?? "I'm sorry Ma'am/Sir, you just don't seem to be the *type* who *should* be carrying an AMEX Platinum." Is this what seemed to be going on? Some people a couple of years ago won a multi-milliion dollar lawsuit from Denny's for this kind of treatment. Or if it wasn't blatant discrimination based on ethinic background, perhaps your collegue was "dressed down" too much that day and didn't appear to be in the right "income bracket" for a AMEX. As to whether there is a law that requires the showing of ID, I do know that a few years ago, merchant agreements disallowed asking for ID if you presented a properly signed card. The "card presence" was supposed to be proper ID. These days, with ID theft, etc. that may have changed. My signture looks strange anyway, and my AMEX gets so much use that the card itself is always in bad shape and the signature is smudged, so any ID check on me could be justified by not having a properly (clearly) signed card.
Re: Is Asking Legal?? I used to work in a clothing store. We were told not only to check the signature, but the picture as well. Why? Well, to make sure the card wasn't stolen. It happened to someone I worked with. She didn't check anything, and the card was getting denied. So, I had to call in, and found out the card was stolen. I think most stores require this from there sales associates, but I really don't know for sure. Andi
