Recently I was doing a mystery shop at a large national client that most of you folks know about and submitted a credit card for payment. The associate turned it over, read the signature panel that says "See ID" instead of my signature. For some years I have signed all my credit and debit cards that way as an added layer of protection from theft and fraudulent use. In every case until then, if they looked the associate asked for my ID and took the card after comparing the name on my driver's license to the name on the card. This time the associate said it was the client's policy not to accept credit cards that aren't signed because it says exactly that on the card!

"# $ # %" was my reaction as I had three more shops at that same client in the next few hours! The associate said it was always their policy and they are now just enforcing it. Needless to say, I used another payment method for the shops that day.

I know this is a bit off topic. However, I'm not sure where else to ask for some feedback. Has anyone else has had a similar problem?

Thanks.

I was advised not to 'sign' my cards "See ID" for precisely the situation you mention--not as a shop but just as a personal purchase. The reality is that my sister has all her cards marked "See ID" and she is exasperated that no store ever turns over her card to see the message so she has never been asked for ID. Come to think of it, my credit card never goes out of my hands except in restaurants where payment is taken at the table and sometimes if the restaurant has a cashier. I used my card 7 times today for shops and nobody ever asked to even see the card. I ran it through the reader and on some shops I did not even need to sign the screen on the reader.

see id on your card is useless. Many places you swipe the card yourself, and in depending on purchase size/store you dont even need to sign anymore. If it's a credit card, you are not responsible for unauthorized purchases as long as you report it within a reasonable time, so it serves no purpose to write see id on it.

If you want to write see id on it, sign the card then to the right of the signature write see id. Most don't look at the back because comparing that signature to what you sign on an electronic pad is pointless.

You can tell them to compare the signature on your I.D.

Hmmm. If writing it on your card doesn't do it, why would you ask them to compare the signature? If the card was stolen, would the thief ask them to compare the signature?

I have "SEE ID" on all my credit cards. Most of the time, the card doesn't leave my hands so I don't get asked for ID. When it does, I'm asked to show ID about 50% of the time.

I was told to do this by someone at Mastercard after one of my cards was compromised. I'm not really sure how much protection it offers but it makes me feel like I've got one up on the thieves

I don't have see ID on my cards but I have been with people/in line behind people etc where credit cards will not be accepted that have not been signed as it is true that they are to be signed to be valid. Adding see ID might be an extra layer of protection (or might not be) but it still needs to be signed.

Liz

This was not for a shop, but the post office would not take my card for payment that said "see id" on the back. She even showed me something in writing that they had (their policy that stated they could not accept a credit card that was not signed). I just ended up signing the card there in front of her, next to the "see id" and she took the card.

If your credit card gets stolen, the fact that you have "See ID" on the back isn't going to do jack for you. If doing it makes you feel better, be my guest, but it isn't doing anything.

A: The majority of retailers have POS swipe pads, so the card never leaves your physical possession.
B: Even when a cashier swipes your card, 99/100 don't even bother looking at the signature at all.
C: If I'm a halfway intelligent card thief, I'm not even going to bother using your stolen "See ID" card at a retail location. I could do more damage more quickly online.

Want to know how relevant your card's signature actually is? I have a credit card that I opened in January, and have used heavily since then (100+ transactions/month). I've used it situations where I swipe the card, where the cashier swipes the card in front of me and where the cashier swipes the card in a different location. To this day the card is still UNSIGNED, and nobody has ever said anything or refused to accept it.

To boot, I (admittedly) have a completely unreadable signature. On a good day, you may be able to read 5 or 6 letters. If I'm in a hurry, it's basically my initials with some scribbles after them. Still nobody has noticed or bothered to compare.

As others have mentioned - you can write SEE ID on the card but you also need to sign it. SEE ID instead of a signiture renders the terms and conditions of the card void - and if the card is stolen, compromised and you have not signed it, the credit card can (and some will) refuse fraud protection. Worst case scenario, you can end up actually having to take responsibility for fraduelent charges.

Moral of story - sign your cards!!

vlade5394 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Recently I was doing a mystery shop at a large
> national client that most of you folks know about
> and submitted a credit card for payment. The
> associate turned it over, read the signature panel
> that says "See ID" instead of my signature. For
> some years I have signed all my credit and debit
> cards that way as an added layer of protection
> from theft and fraudulent use. In every case
> until then, if they looked the associate asked for
> my ID and took the card after comparing the name
> on my driver's license to the name on the card.
> This time the associate said it was the client's
> policy not to accept credit cards that aren't
> signed because it says exactly that on the card!

i do exactly the same thing. and although i have other payment options, i tell them that i don't carry cash and it is my only credit card. (not true, but that's what i tell them.) i would then reference that the sign says that they take the credit card mentioned, and that no other restrictions were posted prior to purchase. then i would just stand in line, unmoving, until they process it. their corporate policy is not my concern, and can be overridden by the appropriate authority.

i might ask 'do you need to call a manager? or corporate? or anything like that? your payment options sign says that you accept my card. i don't carry cash. i have an appointment to get to.' then i would just stand there, holding up the line.

honestly, i haven't run into that problem yet, and i no longer do purchase/return shops anyway. of course, i'd say everything with a smile and maybe act clueless like i didn't get the message about the corporate policy thing.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/26/2012 11:18PM by vince.

spaztck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This was not for a shop, but the post office would
> not take my card for payment that said "see id" on
> the back. She even showed me something in writing
> that they had (their policy that stated they could
> not accept a credit card that was not signed). I
> just ended up signing the card there in front of
> her, next to the "see id" and she took the card.



Thanks for all the feedback.

I work retail for one of my regular jobs. We are very old fashioned, and run the cards ourselves. Whenever I see one unsigned or with CID on the back of it, I request ID and usually customers will say they have never been asked. Many times they will also say, "oh that's a new card and I didn't realize it wasn't signed." If I feel like it, I mention that is dangerous, because if the card were lost, anyone would be able to sign for it.

Carol

57carol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I work retail for one of my regular jobs. We are
> very old fashioned, and run the cards ourselves.
> Whenever I see one unsigned or with CID on the
> back of it, I request ID and usually customers
> will say they have never been asked. Many times
> they will also say, "oh that's a new card and I
> didn't realize it wasn't signed." If I feel like
> it, I mention that is dangerous, because if the
> card were lost, anyone would be able to sign for
> it.
>
> Carol

i can't imagine why any cashier wouldn't just ask to see the ID.

There are a few stores that require photo ID even if the card is signed.

I was under the impression that a card that says "See ID" would be more protected than with a signature. Anyone can forge a signature. Not many can come up with picture ID that matches the name on the card. It's a bit nutty to refuse to process someone's transaction simply because the card says "See ID", especially if they've provided matching ID.

Now, if the signature field is left completely blank, that I can understand could cause problems. Then, if it's lost, anyone can sign it and claim it as their own.

As always, this forum is incredibly informative. I'll be calling my credit card company next week to get their take on it, again, in case I misunderstood the first time.

MtlShopper Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Now, if the signature field is left completely
> blank, that I can understand could cause problems.
> Then, if it's lost, anyone can sign it and claim
> it as their own.
>

actually, i absolutely refuse to sign any of my credit cards, because i want them to check my ID. however, they virtually never check my ID. maybe less than one time in 10.

i don't see what good it does to sign the back of the credit card, because anyone can do that, as you say. a stranger can even show them my signed credit card and still use it if they are never asked to display an ID. even if i signed the credit card myself and it was stolen and used by somebody else. i'd just be signing my credit card for somebody else to use it after they steal it. the thief would just say that they themselves signed it, and therefore the thief would not be asked for an ID.

it's just plain stupid for me to sign the back of my credit cards. i refuse to do it.

Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 04/28/2012 12:06PM by vince.

I googled this and there are a bunch of links that talk about the fact credit cards need to be signed...and I do remember the last place I was that wouldn't take someone's unsigned credit card was the post office.

Liz

Traveliz Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I googled this and there are a bunch of links that
> talk about the fact credit cards need to be
> signed...and I do remember the last place I was
> that wouldn't take someone's unsigned credit card
> was the post office.
>
> Liz

hhmm, my local post office takes my unsigned credit card all the time. i just automatically had it over with my drivers license, and they don't even look at the back of it.

I did 8 USPS shops one day and one of them refused the card

vlade5394 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Recently I was doing a mystery shop at a large
> national client that most of you folks know about
> and submitted a credit card for payment. The
> associate turned it over, read the signature panel
> that says "See ID" instead of my signature. For
> some years I have signed all my credit and debit
> cards that way as an added layer of protection
> from theft and fraudulent use. In every case
> until then, if they looked the associate asked for
> my ID and took the card after comparing the name
> on my driver's license to the name on the card.
> This time the associate said it was the client's
> policy not to accept credit cards that aren't
> signed because it says exactly that on the card!
>
>
> "# $ # %" was my reaction as I had three more
> shops at that same client in the next few hours!
> The associate said it was always their policy and
> they are now just enforcing it. Needless to say,
> I used another payment method for the shops that
> day.
>
> I know this is a bit off topic. However, I'm not
> sure where else to ask for some feedback. Has
> anyone else has had a similar problem?
>
> Thanks.

Well a card with my husband's name on it was recently taken by a female family member without his consent. No one asked for ID and it should have been obvious that she was the wrong sex.

vince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> MtlShopper Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Now, if the signature field is left completely
> > blank, that I can understand could cause
> problems.
> > Then, if it's lost, anyone can sign it and
> claim
> > it as their own.
> >
>
> it is just plain stupid for anyone to sign the
> back of their own credit card. actually, i
> absolutely refuse to sign any of my credit cards,
> because i want them to check my ID. however, they
> virtually never check my ID. maybe less than one
> time in 10.
>
> i don't see what good it does to sign the back of
> the credit card, because anyone can do that, as
> you say. a stranger can even show them my signed
> credit card and still use it if they are never
> asked to display an ID. even if i signed the
> credit card myself and it was stolen and used by
> somebody else. i'd just be signing my credit card
> for somebody else to use it after they steal it.
> the thief would just say that they themselves
> signed it, and therefore the thief would not be
> asked for an ID.
>
> it's just plain stupid for me to sign the back of
> my credit cards. i refuse to do it.


Honestly - it is just plain stupid to suggest to anyone that they NOT sign their cards. You can do whatever you want to do, but don't give advice or call others names for knowing the legalities behind credit card terms and conditions.

AGAIN - if you do not sign your card, the fraud protection that is in place should your CC be compromised is not in effect - you are violating the terms and conditions of your credit card agreement. If a theif gets a hold of your credit card they are going to use it on the Internet and nobody would ever know if the credit card is signed or not!

I quite agree. It is important to sign a card. Without a signature it technically isn't valid, as it will state on the card, and anyone can pick it up and use it as we have said. My store has strict rules about identity for the protection of customers, and would never take a credit card of Tom's when obviously it is Mary trying to use it. I always check the back of the card, and if it says CID, I will state, "I need to verify your ID because you are asking me to." Sometimes the customer will act surprised, saying, "Oh I forgot I even put that on there because no one ever asks."


And Vince, stupid is really a strong word, sir.

I don't use See ID on my cards but I would do just as Vince wrote but I'd tell her to get a manager instead of asking. I'd also have out my ID and then ask them if they were accusing me of being a liar and a thief and is that the type of business relationship they want to build with me. If it was a shop, I'd tone it down but I would tell her to get a manager and reword the bluntness of being a liar so it looked prettier.

vince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> vlade5394 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Recently I was doing a mystery shop at a large
> > national client that most of you folks know
> about
> > and submitted a credit card for payment. The
> > associate turned it over, read the signature
> panel
> > that says "See ID" instead of my signature.
> For
> > some years I have signed all my credit and
> debit
> > cards that way as an added layer of protection
> > from theft and fraudulent use. In every case
> > until then, if they looked the associate asked
> for
> > my ID and took the card after comparing the
> name
> > on my driver's license to the name on the card.
>
> > This time the associate said it was the
> client's
> > policy not to accept credit cards that aren't
> > signed because it says exactly that on the card!
>
>
> i do exactly the same thing. and although i have
> other payment options, i tell them that i don't
> carry cash and it is my only credit card. (not
> true, but that's what i tell them.) i would then
> reference that the sign says that they take the
> credit card mentioned, and that no other
> restrictions were posted prior to purchase. then
> i would just stand in line, unmoving, until they
> process it. their corporate policy is not my
> concern, and can be overridden by the appropriate
> authority.
>
> i might ask 'do you need to call a manager? or
> corporate? or anything like that? your payment
> options sign says that you accept my card. i
> don't carry cash. i have an appointment to get
> to.' then i would just stand there, holding up
> the line.
>
> honestly, i haven't run into that problem yet, and
> i no longer do purchase/return shops anyway. of
> course, i'd say everything with a smile and maybe
> act clueless like i didn't get the message about
> the corporate policy thing.

I don't use See ID on my cards but I would do just as Vince wrote but I'd tell her to get a manager instead of asking. I'd also have out my ID and then ask them if they were accusing me of being a liar and a thief and is that the type of business relationship they want to build with me. If it was a shop, I'd tone it down but I would tell her to get a manager and reword the bluntness of being a liar so it looked prettier


Oh come on! They (and we) are doing this for YOUR protection, not to accuse you of being a thief!

MickeyB Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> AGAIN - if you do not sign your card, the fraud
> protection that is in place should your CC be
> compromised is not in effect - you are violating
> the terms and conditions of your credit card
> agreement.

the thief is not going to display to the credit card company whether the card is signed or not. especially if it says SEE ID on the back of it.

> If a theif gets a hold of your credit
> card they are going to use it on the Internet and
> nobody would ever know if the credit card is
> signed or not!

then why is an unsigned card a problem, as you suggest, if indeed it is never seen?

-

57carol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I quite agree. It is important to sign a card.
> Without a signature it technically isn't valid, as
> it will state on the card, and anyone can pick it
> up and use it as we have said.

it is easier for a thief to use a signed credit card versus an unsigned credit card that says SEE ID.

i generally agree with what you're saying, but there is virtually never practical enforcement. i've never had a credit card company invalidate my card because i forgot to sign it. they don't even check. there is a larger practical risk if the card is signed, yet in somebody else's hands. just my personal opinion.

> And Vince, stupid is really a strong word, sir.

my apologies. that was not referring directly towards you but was more of a general statement. no offense meant. i modified my post.

i would regard it as highly 'impractical' to sign a credit card. i've probably gone through about 100 credit cards in the last 15 years, and never ever had a problem with an unsigned credit card not being accepted. i virtually never use cash.

the greater risk is that a thief is more likely to get away with using a stolen credit card if it is signed versus unsigned. i'd be more afraid of the thief than the credit card company.

spaztck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This was not for a shop, but the post office would
> not take my card for payment that said "see id" on
> the back. She even showed me something in writing
> that they had (their policy that stated they could
> not accept a credit card that was not signed). I
> just ended up signing the card there in front of
> her, next to the "see id" and she took the card.


Thanks. This is the type of feedback I was looking for. Coincidentally, your experience was at the same place as mine.

57carol Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Oh come on! They (and we) are doing this for YOUR
> protection, not to accuse you of being a thief!

how does this actually protect anyone but the thief?

Vince, why don't you contact your credit card company and ask them about your practice of not signing your credit cards and your belief that it helps reduce the potential that a theif will be able to use it?


Several of us have explained (some more than once) why not signing your card is dangerous and increases the risk that your card will be compromised. At this point you seem to just be arguing for the sake of arguing.

vince Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 57carol Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Oh come on! They (and we) are doing this for
> YOUR
> > protection, not to accuse you of being a thief!
>
> how does this actually protect anyone but the
> thief?

It protects the customer by making sure the signature on the back of the card matches the signature on the credit card statement. A thief would have a tougher time mimicking the signature. This is my last post on the subject. Several times last night when working, I would accept a credit card only to find it wasn't signed or more likely, the signature had worn off. I request ID. The customer says, "Oh thank you, I'll sign that right now", or something of the sort. I still maintain that an unsigned credit card is a danger.