Why do people sign the back of their CC?

[pizzadude]

I've had one or two places refuse to process a charge if a card is unsigned.    However I agree that most places nowadays don't really care about the signature.  

[AAstra]

@Shogun...

Great points you've made! I am wondering though...wouldn't it be smarter for all CC use to be approached with the show ID method? I mean, if I sign the back of my card, it does open the door to having my signature copied by someone who steals my card and identity. If I have to show my ID every time, it allows for them to match my name to the card, as well as to verify the picture on your ID to the person's face using the card.

[FixMyCredit1992]

One other quesrion I have.

When I sign the terminal, does the card issuer have a copy of the sig? I always wondered what's the purpose of it. 

[Shogun]

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@dbutz1109 wrote:

@Shogun...

Great points you've made! I am wondering though...wouldn't it be smarter for all CC use to be approached with the show ID method? I mean, if I sign the back of my card, it does open the door to having my signature copied by someone who steals my card and identity. If I have to show my ID every time, it allows for them to match my name to the card, as well as to verify the picture on your ID to the person's face using the card.

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Oh, I'm not saying I disagree with you.  I'm going by the agreements that are made by you to the CC company, and also by the merchant and the CC company.  The agreements say that you will sign the card and the merchant will check the signature.  It doesn't say that you will provide ID or that the merchant will require ID.

[Swapmeet]

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@Duncanrr wrote:

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@coldnmn wrote:

Also a security issue. It amazes me why people don't want to follow card agreement for their own security. 

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There is a school of thought, as mentioned by earlier poster, that the signing of the back of the card actually lessens your security as it provides would be thiefs with access to your signature to copy.

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This is why one should use a signature that is very difficult to replicate. When I got my first job as a GM, my boss told me that I needed to come up with a different signature or symbol. When I asked why, he simply duplicated my signature and said "that's why."

[injustifiiable]

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@FixMyCredit1992 wrote:

One other quesrion I have.

When I sign the terminal, does the card issuer have a copy of the sig? I always wondered what's the purpose of it. 

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Yes...a copy of what you signed on the PIN pad shows up on the other end...at that point, the cashier SHOULD'VE asked for your card to compare. Alas, most don't bother.

Before I got my full time job, I used to work at BOSE...we HAD to take and compare EVERY card with every customer's signature. They could write us up if we didn't.  Of course, we're dealing with expensive products here.

[coldnmn]

So violating the credit card agreement by not signing the card. Who is responsible for illegal charges to the card? Seems a sure fired way for the credit card company to pass the buck. That's why it amazes me why people will violate the credit card agreement that they signed when getting the card. I'm not saying which is more secure I'm saying that's the agreement that was made by signing the agreement not if it's right or wrong.

[Shogun]

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@coldnmn wrote:

So violating the credit card agreement by not signing the card. Who is responsible for illegal charges to the card? Seems a sure fired way for the credit card company to pass the buck. That's why it amazes me why people will violate the credit card agreement that they signed when getting the card. I'm not saying which is more secure I'm saying that's the agreement that was made by signing the agreement not if it's right or wrong.

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Exactly.  Doesn't matter which is more secure.  It's the agreement that has been established.  

[john398]

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@Shogun wrote:

Once again, the showing of ID is not required and they cannot deny the charge for lack of providing ID.

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I thought if the card was not signed they had a right to ask for ID, I am pretty sure thats in the merchant agreement

[Platinum]

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@dbutz1109 wrote:

@Shogun...

Great points you've made! I am wondering though...wouldn't it be smarter for all CC use to be approached with the show ID method? I mean, if I sign the back of my card, it does open the door to having my signature copied by someone who steals my card and identity. If I have to show my ID every time, it allows for them to match my name to the card, as well as to verify the picture on your ID to the person's face using the card.

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dbutz1109,

Question. Why or do you think that the ID can't be falsified ? Using ID only is not 100% safe either. Right ?

Nothing is 100% safe. The safest method is probably what they do in Europe: Chip and PIN. Can we implement it here in US, probably yes with some difficulties. Americans typically carry more CC's then Europeans. Can you imagine us to remember 20 PIN's ? Having one same PIN for all the cards is not safe either. So nothing is 100% safe.