Stupid question of the day

[Homer]

Whenever I buy something with a credit card, the cashier looks at the back of my card for my signature. The thing is, I don't sign my cards and the cashier doesn't ask me for ID and swipes the card anyway. So, my question is, why do they even look at the back of the card?

[krimson]

They're looking to see if their is bits of cocaine encrusted into the backs of the numbers.

First of all, you should sign your card. Why the hell don't you?

Second of all, the cashier shouldn't accept your card if it is not signed.

[Homer]

[ QUOTE ]
First of all, you should sign your card. Why the hell don't you?

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm a moron. A lazy moron. Actually, I heard you should write "See ID" on it instead of signing. Is that true?

[ QUOTE ]
Second of all, the cashier shouldn't accept your card if it is not signed.

[/ QUOTE ]

I know. But they do. All the time. After looking for the signature. Makes no sense.

I have also heard of the "see ID" thing. It's to defend yourself against ID theft. But that seems like a pain to always take out your license whenever you use your CC. I guess if you've had your ID stolen, or know someone who has a horror story, then you'll be more willing to put see ID on it.

But at least sign it because if you ever need to contest a charge and you haven't even signed your card I can see it being difficult.

And as for the cashiers, I have actually gotten new cards in the mail that I've forgotten to sign before using them. They take them but usually ask me to sign the card or tell me to sign the card. I know it kinda defeats the purpose if you're signing it right in front of them but whatever.

Oh, and to answer your question [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] they are looking at the back of your card to verify your signature (you just signed the receipt), if they don't match well enough I suppose they wouldn't accept it.

[Homer]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and to answer your question [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] they are looking at the back of your card to verify your signature (you just signed the receipt), if they don't match well enough I suppose they wouldn't accept it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, but they always look before they swipe it, meaning before I sign the slip.

[captZEEbo1]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, and to answer your question [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] they are looking at the back of your card to verify your signature (you just signed the receipt), if they don't mat1ch well enough I suppose they wouldn't accept it.

[/ QUOTE ]no they aren't....

but I think supposedly they require ID if it's not signed, but don't require ID if it is signed?

ZEE, they aren't what? They aren't checking to verify the signature? Or they aren't going to deny the card?

[captZEEbo1]

[ QUOTE ]
ZEE, they aren't what? They aren't checking to verify the signature? Or they aren't going to deny the card?

[/ QUOTE ]
veryifying the signature...if they were, that'd imply they'd look back at the first one and that simply would never happen.