See ID – Yay or Nay?
As a card holder you have probably run this one over in your mind. You might have even some research. If either is true, you may still have some questions. There are compelling arguments for signing your card. There are compelling arguments for writing “SEE ID.” Evidence suggests that neither side really seems to have anything to do with protecting yourself against fraud. I’ll try to give you the right answer.
The reality
How many times has the person at the checkout actually looked at the back of your card and compared the signature to the one you just placed on the sales slip? Probably less than 10% of those that actually get to hold your card. And how many places do you know where they actually get to hold your card? The fact is that there aren’t that many any more. Most card swipe readers are out on the counter for you to swipe your own card and they either have a digital signature panel or the clerk hands you the slip to sign. If you sign the card or not, who notices?
I’ve been involved in credit card fraud prevention since 2001. In all that time, I have not come across any compelling logic for signing your card as it would relate to fraud or ID theft prevention. Oh, I’ve read what the industry says and it would make perfect sense if clerks at the checkout line actually looked at the signatures. It just doesn’t happen much. If you don’t believe me, you can take a look at a sad but humorous look at the reality of it all.
In the eight years that I’ve been doing this I haven’t come across any compelling logic for writing, “SEE ID” either. Want to know why? See above! Nobody looks. And there’s plenty of stories out there that on the rare occasion that someone does look, it doesn’t matter anyhow.
Adding to the confusion
There are bloggers out there by the dozens, maybe by the hundreds, that will tell you not to sign your card. There are just as many that will tell you that you should. To make matters worse, there’s an ‘official’ document released by Capital “What’s-in-Your-Wallet” One that says,
Sign your credit card or write that the merchant must “check ID” on the back of the card.
As you’ll see in a minute, this is advising you to carry an invalid card that cannot be accepted by any merchant. It’s just plain WRONG.
The other side of reality
There’s a different side to all of this though. Pull out a credit or debit card. Really- go get one, I’ll wait.
Now look at the back of your card. See that thing there where it says, “Not valid unless signed?” Keep that in mind.
Now let’s take a look at the document called Card Acceptance and Chargeback Management Guidelines for Visa Merchants. On page 31 it seems pretty clear…
While checking card security features you should also make sure that the card is signed. An unsigned card is considered invalid and should not be accepted.
The document continues with a step by sep procedure for the merchant which includes requiring the card holder so sign the card and comparing the signature to an official government ID. And then it says,
If the cardholder refuses to sign the card and you accept it, you may end up with financial liability for the transaction should the customer later dispute the charge.
Is there really a question?
All that seems pretty compelling to me. Sign the card!
Want a warm fuzzy?
If you really believe that writing “SEE ID” on the back of your card is going to protect you against the fraudulent use of your card, I can’t come up with a single fact that says it won’t. I can’t find a single fact that says it will either. So I suggest going with the best of both worlds. Sign the card and write, “SEE ID.” Now you’re card is valid and who knows, someone just might ask to see your ID. If they do, thank them.
