To Sign or Not to Sign? That is the question
Flip over your debit or credit card. On the back, there is a signature strip. Everyone already knows this. However, there is some question as to whether or not one should really sign the back of the card. Some people believe this is an added security measure to prevent theft and fraud. Does signing or not signing rally make a difference?
“See ID”
While some consumers are not signing at all, others are writing the words “See ID” in the signature space on the back of their debit and credit cards. While it seems like a clever idea to leave that card unsigned or to refer merchants to your other form of identification in order to stop would-be cons in their tracks, there are a few things to keep in mind.
“Card Not Valid Unless Signed”
Take a close look at your card. Many of them say this on the back. It does not really specify that the signature has to be your name, so writing “See ID” might be acceptable. However, this clause is rarely enforced, as the credit card company can not possibly know whether you singed your card and how you signed it and the merchant would have to take a good look at the card to know that the card is not considered valid unless signed. Which brings us to another point.
Merchants
Try as they might to beef up the security of credit cards, merchants and technology are not helping us much. For the signature to even matter, as mentioned before, the merchant would have to take a look at the card, see if it was signed, check ID, etc. Few even bother to do this these days. They ring up a purchase, take the card, run it and hand it back. It’s almost as if they have a “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” kind of policy. Maybe they are just trying to get through their day; maybe they simply want to get their money and let others deal with the issues of credit card fraud on their own. Either way, they have gotten lax, so it is easier for a thief to use a card without authorization.
Technology is not on the consumer’s side either. In this day and age of do-it-yourself card swiping for purchases, you only have to swipe the card, press a button or two and go. No one is checking identities here and PINs do not always protect you. It is easy to bypass the PIN request on most POS machines with a debit card. As for credit cards, rarely do you use a PIN unless at an ATM.
Your best bet? If you would prefer not to sign your card, do not leave it blank. Write “See ID” in bold letters with permanent ink. Keep the card safe and secure at all times, lessening the chance of a thief getting their hands on it. When using your card at a merchant who does run the card for you, offer up the card with your ID. Insist they take a look. This protects you, even if it annoys the merchant. However, your insistence might also lead some store clerks to start requesting ID and checking cards. At the very least, you can be an example in credit card integrity.
You might not be able to completely prevent fraud and theft, but you can do your part to protect yourself and encourage merchants to offer a more secure environment for the use of credit and debit cards.
Related posts:
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...
