Why You Should Sign the Back of Your Credit Card
Why should you sign the back of your credit and debit cards?
An unsigned credit card makes it that much easier for a stolen credit card to be used freely. You should always sign the back of your credit and debit cards for the following reasons.
Not valid unless signed.
Nearly all credit and debit cards carry this warning on the back of the card above where you are supposed to sign your name. Per the card member agreement, an unsigned credit card is not technically valid. In fact merchants are supposed to check the back of the card for a valid signature and turn away cards that aren’t signed.
Proof of identity.
Of course how many times have you actually seen a cashier check the back of your card for a signature? And even if they do check how do they know the person standing in front of them is the same person who signed the back of the card?
Chances are you have a form of ID such as a driver’s license that has your signature on it as well. Since many cashiers overlook the signature check, you the consumer can take initiative. Whenever you use your credit card at a new store always produce your signed ID along with your credit card.
Minimizes fraudulent use.
A signed credit card gives the cashier something to compare the signed digital screen or signed receipt to. For many purchases over a certain amount, your signature is required. If there is any suspicion of the card being used illegally, the signatures can be compared.
Yes someone could potentially forge the signature to match the back of the card signature. But by signing your card you make it more difficult. An unsigned card allows a thief to sign the cardholder’s name in their own signature style, making signing for purchases a breeze. Their signature of your name will match perfectly to the card because they signed the card!
Signing with I.D. in mind.
Having worked my fair share of retail jobs, I always made a point to check the back of the card for a signature. Sometimes I noticed instead of a signature the person would write something like Please request ID’ , Verify ID’, or ID required’.
What this does is require the cashier to request identification. Many people who did this told me they did so because of previous identity theft. Also some said it was because most cashier’s never check so when they fail to the customer says But you didn’t check my ID’. It can be a great way to protect your credit card, after all if you sign an ID request on your card and it gets stolen any clerk that sees it may ask for ID.
There is a debate as to whether signing anything other than your legal cardholder name on the back of the card makes the card valid for use.
Technically the ID request statement should make the card even more secure, but the lack of a valid signature could leave some merchants and even cardholders in hot water if the credit card issuer discovers a card with no real signature being used.
A prankster decided to go around with his credit card making purchases. Whenever asked to sign a receipt, he’s sign funny names such as Micky Mouse or draw funny images in place of signing. The results were that many clerks didn’t even notice or care.
What this shows is that in the end protecting your credit card is up to you the consumer. Sign the back of your card, produce ID during large transactions, and monitor your credit card and bank account statements for unusual or fraudulent activity.
Written by MaxwellPayne
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