Aren't you going to check my signiature?

[Food Lady]

That's what some woman paying with a credit card asked me. I told her we weren't required to. Now that I think about it, actually, I haven't in like 20 years. I don't know how I was supposed to check her electronic signiature that I couldn't see anyway. So her response was to say, "That was a $225 sale!" Drop in the bucket, lady; drop in the bucket to my company. Anyway, she complained to the FES, who told her that a) in the case of fraud, she wasn't liable and b) the cc companies themselves have encouraged us not to check signiatures. I can't stand it when people expect the world to be the way it was in the 1950s. It's 2012, people. Please join this century. Also, if you have a problem with policy, tell the company and not the FES. What is she going to do?

[RetailWorkhorse]

RW: *Telling Customer how the debit card machine works* You sign on the line, hit ACCEPT, and it flips it up my screen where it looks truly atrocious....TA DAH~!
Customer: That doesn't look like my signature at all!
RW: I know. A friend of mine just signs with a smiley face and calls it done. *Big Cheesy Grin*

[Freak]

Meanwhile, I seem to be the only retail worker in the state who actually checks signatures, if my customers' reactions and the behaviour of my coworkers is anything to go by. Yet the system specifically tells us to check signatures, and we still have people sign on paper, so it's not like we've passed that responsibility onto a machine. Weird.

[ArcticChicken]

I've only had one job where they told us to check the signatures. When I asked my manager what, exactly, I was supposed to do about it if the signatures didn't match, she didn't have an answer for me.

[Mel]

Very rarely do I even get a credit card payer that actually needs to sign anymore. Almost all chip and pin now.

If I do get one that requires a signature, I will normally check, but I forget sometimes.

[b2addm]

...I can't stand it when people expect the world to be the way it was in the 1950s. It's 2012, people. Please join this century...

This. I feel like this several times everydamnday. But they won't. They think we (the rest of the world) should adjust to them. And pet them and pat them and call them George, and whatever else they need/want.

[telecom_goddess]

I'm confused as to why credit card companies would encourage people to NOT check signatures? what's stopping people from using any old card with any old name on it?

[Moosenogger]

I've only had one job where they told us to check the signatures. When I asked my manager what, exactly, I was supposed to do about it if the signatures didn't match, she didn't have an answer for me.

We're supposed to refuse the sale (i.e. refund it) if the signature doesn't match. However, I know from experience that signatures don't always match exactly. People are either in a hurry, not feeling well, their hands are cold, etc.

[Tama]

Lots of customers at the Malmart I worked at would just have "see ID" written on their card anyway.

[dalesys]

I'm confused as to why credit card companies would encourage people to NOT check signatures?

Any cause for the sucker cardholder to think might prevent them from maxing out their card, which would reduce the banks interest and fee income.

[kpzra]

I'm confused as to why credit card companies would encourage people to NOT check signatures? what's stopping people from using any old card with any old name on it?

When I worked retail, it wasn't that they (CC companys) didn't want you to not check the signature on the paper to the one on the card, they didn't want you to check their ID to match them up. I'd check the signature on the card to the one just done in front of me all the time, if they didn't look even close I'd ask for ID and explain why if asked.

Of course my old debit card has gone through so many machines that the signature spot on the back has worn through and just says VOID all over the back now. I had one person flip it over to check and not say anything.

[Talasar]

At my C-store we're supposed to check cards for purchases over 50usd. Normally I ask for ID before I run the card and make sure the names match up and the signature on the back is similar then if the person that gave me the cards matches the picture. I think technically if the card isn't signed/ says SEE ID on it we're supposed to refuse the sale but as of yet I have had THAT issue come up.

[raudf]

With PIN pads and self swiping, it's not as easy for cashiers to check all the cards that go through their hands anyways. And with electronic signing, what are you going to do? Ask the custy to hand you their card? (Though I can totally see corporate demanding this.) That would so totally end well...

Plus, doing a sig or ID check is only so useful... when my hubby's CC number was stolen, the person apparently flashed it to a card with their name and sig. Hubby's card was still in his wallet. I know some slip printers have the card holder's last name, but who checks that against the card when they've got a tray in one hand and trying to run the card in the other?

[Kereminde]

Sigh.

My first retail job, I was trained at a retail chain specializing in electronics. The LP department (Loss Prevention) told us to always check the card for a signature. The following was explained in exacting detail:

- If it's not signed at all, we can't take it. There is a specific clause on many cards: "Not valid unless signed" since people can steal them out of mailboxes and falsely activate them.

- If it's signed but the signature looks questionable, ask for ID. In fact, always asking for ID on credit/debit purchases is encouraged.

- If at any point the customer gets upset, fall back on "it's company policy to verify this" and speak with your manager. If your manager does it, then it's on them and not on you.

When I was a server, I did make it a point while still at the table to turn the card over and ask for ID to compare to. Yes, even if I'd asked for it at the start of the meal. For every person who grumbled, at least two looked surprised and said they'd never been asked before and were happy someone was actually checking. (At least twice the ID photo matched the person and I quietly explained some stores won't take an unsigned card . . . or weren't supposed to.)

[Lyse]

During my brief stint at a certain coffee shop, we checked just to make sure the card was signed. Any blank signature lines required us to see the ID.