What the sh*t lady I was only trying to help

[Hellzar]

Women just came in for a room little bit ago wanting a room.....


SC: I would like a room for tonight.

Me: Ok that will be 79.99 plus tax

The SC agrees and I get her info then she hands me her debit card which was not signed, thus making it invalid. I usually do not bother with this but when i asked for her drivers license it was from a completely different state that the address she gave me.

Me: Ok your license has a different address than what you gave me and your card is not signed so t it is not valid

SC: Well i did not sign it and the address I gave you is the right one. I don't sign my cards because I have had my purse stolen before

Me: Oh well you can write see ID on the back so if it is taken no one and forge your signature and use as a valid card.

SC: I have never had this problem before will you take it or not.

Me: Yes I will take it. I am just telling you know you might run into problems using the card without it being signed.

SC: I have never had any problems. You know what give me my card.

Me: Fine.

She storms out. How does it make it harder for some who has stolen you purse to use your card? They can just put your name on the back because in my experience (all whopping 21 years of it) most people just glance at the back to see if is signed. Was I wrong?

[One-Fang]

Only in that you recommended writing "see ID" on the card, which is just as bad as not signing it, really.

You're absolutely right that not signing the card doesn't make it any safer. Yes, all the thief has to do is sign your name (from the front of the card) on the back of your card, and then sign the receipt when using it. Whaddya know? - They match!

Visa has in their terms of use that an unsigned card is not valid and can't be used. Even writing 'see id' is not a replacement for a valid signature. The customer's signature actually indicates that they agree to Visa's terms and conditions when using the card.

[Hellzar]

I just figured that a reminder to check the id would be better than nothing at all.

[bainsidhe]

I've also had customers get upset when I tell them that leaving the signature blank isn't any safer. It's better to avoid that topic. Why? Because, even though you and I are trying to be helpful, the customer thinks we're calling them stupid and they get angry. Because of course the customer is right and we aren't. It's just isn't worth my time anymore *sigh*

[Cat]

I LOVE when cashiers ask for my ID....and mine is indeed signed!! (actually, I have my sig and "cid or I will bite you") but that's another tale.

I will never understand the "I don't sign my cards" mentality.

[Buglady]

I've been trying to figure the "if I sign it they'll steal it!!!1!" logic out for going on 18 years now... that's when I started working in a tourist-oriented gift shop and started seeing lots and lots of credit cards (I worked in a bakery before that). No luck yet, and it's been a constant irritant.

I'm not sure if the PIN and chip system is any better. We just upgraded our credit card machine and now it won't let chipped cards go through for signature at all - it HAS to be PIN, and of course nobody can remember theirs... I'm just waiting for the one who will write the PIN on the back of the card. Bitter, bitter experience tells me this is inevitable...

[ditchdj]

Yeah but I wonder if she has had problems with stores confiscating items used for payment if it seems "suspect" to the store clerk. I've had that happen to me before. And in today's age of electronic bank fraud and theft hitting all-time highs I don't want ANY item with personal info falling into the hands of even store clerks.

[Astrokitty]

Signing Cards

I have a little bank with one branch and one (working) ATM. When they finally started issuing check cards (Debit or Visa), the teller told me not to sign it, and to instead write "See ID."

So many times I have seen places that won't take an unsigned card, and one that wouldn't even take it if you then signed the card. Podunk Bank, F.T.W. has been wrong about many things, before.

[TonyDonuts]

I'm just waiting for the one who will write the PIN on the back of the card. Bitter, bitter experience tells me this is inevitable...

I've seen that.

No signature on the card ("Someone could steal my card and be able to forge my signature!") but the guy had his PIN in big, block characters.

And if somebody stole his card? No problem! "They can't use that! It's MY PIN number!"

Some days I think we should just chuck the whole "opposable thumb" thing and just head back to the trees.

[RecoveringKinkoid]

I really don't understand what the point in signing cards is. I mean, I don't have a problem signing it, but what is the big deal? What does it prevent?

If it is signed, and it is stolen, how hard is it to simply forget the sig? I can do it easily, and I am not a criminal. You look at it, you copy it. Done.

If it's NOT signed, what does that prove? All it does is prevent you from comparing a possibly made up sig.

I mean, yeah, the clerk can check, but not many clerks are professional handwriting analysists. All it takes is a crook with the forethought to practice a little forgery beforehand to override that precaution.

I would think checking ID would be far more useful.

[powerboy]

I really don't understand what the point in signing cards is. I mean, I don't have a problem signing it, but what is the big deal? What does it prevent?

If it is signed, and it is stolen, how hard is it to simply forget the sig? I can do it easily, and I am not a criminal. You look at it, you copy it. Done.

If it's NOT signed, what does that prove? All it does is prevent you from comparing a possibly made up sig.

I mean, yeah, the clerk can check, but not many clerks are professional handwriting analysists. All it takes is a crook with the forethought to practice a little forgery beforehand to override that precaution.

I would think checking ID would be far more useful.

Yeah, I think the same way. Checking ID would be useful.

[cinema guy]

All it takes is a crook with the forethought to practice a little forgery beforehand to override that precaution.

But don't they generally use the card as quickly as possible, running up as big a bill as possible, before the victim realises card is stolen and reports it?

[Mordecai]

I think that photo ID is the most reliable. Even if you sign it, so what? It's not like a thief can't quickly sign a fake signature. I know of some places that don't require a pin or signature, just as long as the card is signed on the back.

[edible_hat]

I've also had customers get upset when I tell them that leaving the signature blank isn't any safer ... even though you and I are trying to be helpful, the customer thinks we're calling them stupid and they get angry.

I have two regular customers who refuse to sign their cards, and they're both so dumb it's a wonder they managed to apply for the card in the first place.

[Camry178]

I don't think you were wrong at all...Even with the "see i.d." part. I don't sign my cards either but do write "see I.D." on them and have never had a problem. I think you did everything right.