Last week I had lunch with Hardy, a Get Rich Slowly reader here in Portland. We chatted about life (and personal finance) over burgers and fries. He generously offered to pay the bill. When the waitress returned with the credit card slip, she asked to see his driver license.
“What was that all about?” I asked.
“Asking for my ID?” said Hardy. I nodded. He flipped over his credit card and showed it to me. He’d written SEE ID where his signature ought to be.
“Does that work?” I asked.
“Some of the time,” he said. “It gives you an idea of which places are paying attention. But not every place will accept it. It’s technically against the rules because the card has to be signed. Plus, businesses aren’t really allowed to ask to see your ID.”
“What do you do if they refuse to take your card?” I asked.
“I carry a backup,” said Hardy. “This is my main card. My back-up card has my signature, but I rarely have to use it. The only place that I know will refuse the main card every time is the post office. I have to use a signed card there.”
I was intrigued by this attempt to thwart identity theft, so when I got home I asked my Twitter followers:
My lunch companion doesn’t sign credit cards, but writes “SEE ID” on the back instead. Have you ever seen this?
I was shocked by the number of replies. Apparently, I’ve been living under a rock. Over 100 Twitter users replied to share their experiences with this tactic. Here’s what I learned:
- Though many people write some form of “SEE ID” on their cards, it doesn’t seem to matter. @khaibit2763 writes that only about a quarter of merchants actually check ID. Others write that almost nobody checks.
- Many tweeters correctly noted that most credit cards clearly state that they are “not valid unless signed”. Technically, writing “SEE ID” invalidates the card and voids the contract with the issuer. Still, not all issuers seem to be aware of this. I found this ID-theft awareness brochure [PDF] from Capital One which notes that one way to protect your cards is to “write that the merchant must check ID on the back of the card”.
- @lildebbie77 made me laugh with her reply: “When I waited tables I saw it once or twice a month. The craziness? Some people get mad when you ask to see their ID.” If you choose to do this, don’t get upset when people comply with your request!
- @katekashman uses a slightly different tactic. She leaves the “call to activate” sticker on the card. “Maybe a thief will think it isn’t activated,” she writes. “It isn’t much, but it’s something.”
- @lizweston noted that this is one of her 9 big credit card myths at MSN Money. In her article, she writes, “You’ll certainly deter use of your card, because merchants aren’t supposed to accept one that’s not signed on the back, and that could affect you as much as any thief.” (Sidenote: Liz will be our guest on The Personal Finance Hour in two weeks!)
- If you want to cover your bases, consider the advice from @aslaughter: sign the card and write SEE ID. And thank the people who actually ask to see your identification.
So, is writing “SEE ID” instead of signing your credit cards a good idea? It’s hard to say. Technically, it’s against the rules, and few merchants seem to notice, but it gives many folks a warm, fuzzy feeling. Plus, if you’re worried about your card being rejected, you can always do what Hardy does: carry a back-up to use at the Post Office.
Here’s a final word of caution: Jake Billo notes that if you present both your credit card and driver license to a skilled criminal, you’re just giving them more ammunition to destroy your life. He warns that this practice may actually increase your risk of identity theft.
For more tips on protecting your ID, check out my post on how to prevent identity theft. You might also be entertained by the credit-card prank over at Zug. Photo by szlea. If you’d like to help with future GRS posts, follow me on Twitter!
This article is about Credit Cards, Money Hacks, Odds and Ends
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I got the idea to do this with my main credit card after seeing several people do it when I used to cashier at Target. Another variation I used was to black out the entire signature area with a Sharpie. I don’t do that anymore, though, cause it would black out the 3-digit code and I use it quite often online. Like many others, I was only asked to see my ID some of the time. I’ve only had a problem at the post office, otherwise it was never a real problem.
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I used to work at a bank and we were prohibited from accepting unsigned credit cards or “See ID” credit cards for transactions such as cash advances.
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I always thank the people that ask to see my ID, since I have chosen not to sign my card. I want to encourage that type of response from businesses. As far as not accepting my card, I’ve never had anyone not accept my unsigned card.
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I disagree. If you purchase something at a retailer as credit and sign the box, and if you were to simply place a small smiley face, or a line, or a dot, etc, it still counts as you “signing” for it. Writing ‘See ID’ doesn’t violate the terms, as you are signing the card.
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I’ve never had my SEE ID cards turned down, including at the post office. My state driver’s license not only has my name and picture, it also has my signature on it.
SEE ID doesn’t invalidate the card agreement, as SEE ID serves to establish that only someone with the cardholder’s signed identification has authorization to use it, which is an acceptance of the terms. It’s not an ironclad means of protection (as someone who steals my card possibly has my ID), just fractionally better.
Writing SEE ID came in extremely handy when my purse was stolen at the gym. I had my ID with me (separated from my wallet), and while some things were stolen (my actual emptied wallet) – all my SEE ID credit cards were left with the discarded purse.
The average pickpocket is likely looking for cash anyway.
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Why? I don’t see the point of writing “see ID” on the back of a credit card…
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I currently work at a convenience store that is owned by a major corporation. About 2 years ago an email came down from our corporate offices letting us know that the merchant agreements had changed and we were no longer allowed to asked for IDs. I didn’t believe it so I did some research I my own and found out that a merchant cannot ask you for your ID, along with the fact that they can’t make you have a certain purchase amount before they will run your card. As someone who has worked retail for 10 years I’m glad because of the countless times I have been yelled at because the person has left the ID in the car, or in some cases at home. I stand by my position that it is YOUR responsibility to safeguard your debit, credit, and ID cards, not MINE.
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I’ve never understood the point of writing “SEE ID”. Because it will make it harder for a thief to use your card? Who cares. If your card is stolen, you have a $0 liability anyway.
Also, it does nothing to prevent against signature-less Credit Card transactions:
– Pay at the Pump
– Internet Purchases
– Transactions where you swipe the card at a paypad.
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I work for a major financial services processor and I frequently have to consult operating regulations for both Visa and MasterCard. I can tell you that both sets of regs state, in no uncertain terms, that a card shall not be considered valid if the signature panel is not signed with the name of the cardholder. “See ID” doesn’t count unless it’s your name.
It’s worth pointing out that I worked here for years before I ran into that particular piece of information, and I’ve always signed my cards “See ID.” I use my cards A LOT, and though I am frequently asked for my driver’s license, I’ve never actually been turned away for what’s in my signature panel. Technically, though, if your name isn’t signed to the back of the card, the merchant is required to deny you. I’ve never heard of that happening though, and I’ve never heard of a merchant getting in trouble for accepting a “See ID” card. It might make a difference if an issue were escalated to a court of law, but that almost never happens.
Also, these regs pertain only to Visa and MC. I couldn’t speak to the requirements of Discover or AmEx.
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Sign it, then write SEE ID next to your signature with a Sharpie.
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I would tend to recommend to just sign the card as the card merchant requested. As someone mentioned previously, most credit card theft occurs at the server level. If someone steals your card, you are not liable for the charges if you follow card policy and report as required.
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Writing SEE ID should not invalidate your card as how ever you sign something is your signature. If I signed the card as Bugs Bunny then I am still liable for the charge as I signed it. Signing your card SEE ID (and writing SEE ID on the back of your card is signing it) is still your signature even though it is not your name and would be just as binding as signing with your name. The merchant may not accept your signature as it does not match the signature on the back of the card.
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I’m rather surprised to how many people here say merchants don’t ask to see their ID when CID is written on the back.
Me and a friend were actually having this conversation recently, and as I told him, I’d say 90-95% of all merchants ask to see my ID when they see it written on the back.
I wouldn’t say I’d ever *want* to lose my card, but in all honesty, I’d sleep a little better knowing that most do check it(at least in my neck of the woods).
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Despite having signed my credit card “Check ID,” when it was lost last week, the person who found it still managed to spend $40 at a bar. My experience has been that people only ask for ID 15-20% of the time, which is a bit disconcerting.
My replacement card now is signed, “CHECK PHOTO I.D. NO EXCEPTIONS!!”
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I never even signed my card, and have been using it over a year now. Not a single problem.
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I’ve got a friend who also does this. When she was in Australia, a vendor wouldn’t accept her signature on the receipt till she signed it “See ID”!
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In 4 or 5 years of SEE ID only one person ever checked me.
In 10+ years of multiple cards with no signature at all, I got the card rejected once due to this (post office.) I simply signed it and the cashier let me go through with it — which kinda defeats the purpose?
In the mostly the same 10+ years my main debit card from Bank of America had my picture on it, a then Bank of America security feature which they don’t seem to do anymore? oh yeah, because it doesn’t work. On the back I wrote, SEE PIC ON FRONT. I never saw anyone check the back, and I only noticed few people (mostly in the first few years) who actually looked at the pic, and I think they just found a card with a pic on it new and interesting, probably thought it was a good security idea, and then didn’t even look at my face. I even sent co-workers out to pick up lunch for me with that card, no trouble; loaned it to a friend once for gas and smokes, no trouble. My wife still uses the card. She has never been ID’d with it, and she looks nothing like me.
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I also have “Check ID” on my card. I’ve gotten into a argument about it with an old woman at Wal-Mart once, but other than that I occasionally get asked (it’s really surprising at the lower-cost grocery stores where most cashiers don’t care).
A women also berated me at Canadian Tire about it. The only issue I’ll give is that it now leaves the credit card open to be signed by a thief. It’s certainly better than leaving it blank, though, as then there’s not even that “Check ID”.
There are problems with it – but I think it’s the safest out of all the options (short of not having a credit card!)
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I used to leave my cards blank, but someone pointed out that a thief could just sign however he wanted and use it, so now I write “See ID”. However, I am asked for my ID so infrequently, I’m surprised when it happens!
It’s really a moot point, as you’re not responsible for any credit card purchases you don’t authorize, regardless of the presence or absence of a signature.
Funny story: I had to go to the post office once, and there was a BIG sign that said credit cards needed to be signed. I forget if mine was either not signed at all or said See ID, but the clerk took it, looked at the back, and proceeded with the transaction without a word!
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Make sure you thank every vendor that asks to see your ID. They get lots of grief about it from everyone else, so make sure you let them know that you appreciate them looking out for your security.
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Question: Would it increase security (and be in the realm of possibility) to have your credit cards linked to your ID card by RFID chips? That way you wouldn’t find out that someone bought a tv from Bestbuy in a city 100 miles from where you live while you were taking a shower at your house.
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If you want the real answer, you should read VISA’s merchant instructions: http://usa.visa.com/download/merchants/rules_for_visa_merchants.pdf
“Some customers write “See ID” or “Ask for ID” in the signature panel, thinking
that this is a deterrent against fraud or forgery; that is, if their signature is not on
the card, a fraudster will not be able to forge it. In reality, criminals don’t take the
time to practice signatures: they use cards as quickly as possible after a theft and
prior to the accounts being blocked. They are actually counting on you not to look
at the back of the card and compare signatures—they may even have access to
counterfeit identification with a signature in their own handwriting.
“See ID” or “Ask for ID” is not a valid substitute for a signature. The customer
must sign the card in your presence, as stated above.”
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This would be somewhat useful if anyone bothered to even look at the back of my cards. Most times, I pay at a self-swipe terminal anyway. Places that make me leery are US restaurants where they disappear with your card to run it or bars that toss your card into a bowl with dozens of others when you run a tab–I much prefer the portable terminals common in Europe that are brought to your table where you swipe & sign/enter a PIN.
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Let’s get 2 things straight here.
1 – True identity theft and simple credit card fraud are two completely different things. Having someone steal your credit card and make a fraudulant purchase IS NOT IDENTITY THEFT. People have to stop calling it that. It’s credit card fraud and that’s all it is.
The moment you report the card stolen, the thief will just throw it away.
2 – Writing SEE ID on your credit card and merchants asking for ID is completely pointless and does nothing to help you. Merchants who ask for ID say they are doing it to protect you, but they are really doing it to protect themselves and I fight it as hard as possible. What good does having the cashier ask for ID do? All it does is protect the merchant from a fraudulat transaction. As the person who had their card stolen, I am equally inconvenienced regardless of what the card was used for. Even if the thief steals my card and immediately cuts it up and throws it away, I still have to report it stolen and wait for a new one. If they make a fraudulant transaction, I just report the card stolen, say the transactions are fraudulant and wait for my new card to arrive.
Don’t be fooled into thinking asking for ID is for your own protection. It’s for the store’s protection and it’s an invasion of your privacy.
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@EEJ – “you appreciate them looking out for your security.”
Don’t fall for the lies the merchants tell you. Do you really think that the merchant is taking the time to ask for ID because they care about YOUR security? They do it for their own security. They don’t care one bit if your card is stolen or not, they just care if it’s used in their store.
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It’s true that merchants agreements require that the CC has to be signed before they are allowed to accept it. Regardless, I put SEE ID on all my cards. I don’t do it so much to check on how well merchants are verifying signatures, as much as a defense against any merchant claiming they did check my signature but still allowed a thief to illegally use my card. And when I am asked for my ID, I always gratefully thank them.
I don’t understand why some posters are against providing ID for their purchase. And, yes, SEE ID is not a deterrent as my local grocer does not even ask for a signed receipt after a small buy.
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@JimmyDaGeek – “I don’t understand why some posters are against providing ID for their purchase”
Let’s go over the reasons:
1 – It’s a violation of the merchant agreement.
2 – It’s an unnecessary violation of my privacy. I should have to provide a photo ID to buy a loaf of bread.
3 – In your own words it “is not a deterrent”.
4 – If my card is stolen, I don’t really care if it’s used or not. I still have to report it stolen, and go through the process of canceling it and getting a new card.
5 – You’re not liable for any fraudulent purchases anyway.
And the worst reason of all to show ID when making a purchase:
6 – It is solely for the protection of the merchant, not me. It’s a waste of my time, an invasion of my privacy and it doesn’t help me one bit. Why should I do the store’s police work for them when I get nothing for it?
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@Peter – then I’d recommend, for you, *don’t* put SEE ID on your card. If you’re so worried someone’s going to know your birthdate, or whatever private information is on there, don’t use that method. It doesn’t provide a lot more protection that signing, but it’s not really any worse.
Any theif who has my card can fake my signature. If I have “SEE ID” on my card, and the cashier happens to ask the theif for ID, there’s a bit of extra protection. Sure the theif can refuse – but most people don’t know that a cashier can’t ask to see your ID. I worked at Wal-Mart and McDonalds for 3 years when I was in highschool, and was never told this by superiors or customers.
So it’s not really much more dangerous than just signing it. And it gives you something interesting to think/talk about when a cashier does ask. And also something interesting to argue about when they lecture you about not putting “SEE ID” on your card :/
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@Peter
OK, lets go over the points, but remember, I am asking the merchant to ask for my ID:
1 – It’s a violation of the merchant agreement.
True, but if I’m asking, I don’t care
2 – It’s an unnecessary violation of my privacy. I should have to provide a photo ID to buy a loaf of bread.
See 1 above, but if you object on principal, use cash.
3 – In your own words it “is not a deterrent”.
Only in stores that don’t care. I had cards stolen and it seems that merchants are in cahoots with the crooks to defraud the CCCs because they don’t check signatures.
4 – If my card is stolen, I don’t really care if it’s used or not. I still have to report it stolen, and go through the process of canceling it and getting a new card.
True, but it irks me that crooks are stealing using my credentials. While this is not ID theft in the traditional sense, I had stolen credit cards used to open credit elsewhere.
5 – You’re not liable for any fraudulent purchases anyway.
See 4 above.
6 – It is solely for the protection of the merchant, not me. It’s a waste of my time, an invasion of my privacy and it doesn’t help me one bit. Why should I do the store’s police work for them when I get nothing for it?
Sorry, that’s a moronic statement as you are combining other whines. If you don’t want to show ID, don’t use plastic. When I last checked, you can still buy things with cash.
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@JimmyDaGeek – OK I’ll narrow it down to one question for you?
How does writing “Ask for ID” or having the merchant voluntarily ask for my ID, prevent my card from being stolen in the first place?
It doesn’t, so what protection are you getting? If you want to voluntarily show your ID, that’s up to you. What I object to is the merchants requesting ID on their own.
If you really think merchants are asking people for ID for the customers’ protection, you have drunk a lot of Kool-Aid. They couldn’t care less about whether your card is stolen or not, all they care about is whether the thief is going to use it in their store.
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I can answer that. I don’t want to prevent them from stealing it (well, I do, but not by putting “SEE ID”). I want to decrease the chance they’ll be able to use it before I realize it’s stolen and just misplaced and cancel it. Simple as that. There’s no harm in it, and if you don’t want to be asked for ID, don’t put it.
Sure you aren’t responsible for the purchase anyways, but it’s a lot easier to not have the charge on your bill in the first place.
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I work for a credit card processing company, and we (fortunately) know ALL the rules that merchant’s must follow when accepting credit cards.
The most important thing to know is that Visa and Mastercard accepting merchants are advised to NEVER check for ID.
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In Spain it’s becoming quite usual to write “SEE ID” on the back of the cards instead of a signature, though here it is a common practice to ask for an ID to pay with a credit card.
To ask for an ID in order to pay using a credit card I believe it is a safer way of protecting against fraud.
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I used to write “See ID” on my credit cards. One day, a police officer friend of mine noticed and said that’s a bad idea. He said that anyone can print up an ID on their computer, laminate it, and they’re good to go. He said that you need to be specific. So, I now have “See Minnnesota Driver License” written in the signature box.
And, stores do, sometimes ask to see it. And, I *always* thank them for doing so.
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@Peter
I am not worried what a merchant’s motivations are. If a merchant asks for ID in defiance of the rules, you complain to the CC company. If it bothers you, stop using plastic. This is not a right, yet. Just wait for Y’Obama to appoint judges that will make it one.
Crooks don’t waste time looking at a card when they steal it. The question is how easy is it for them to use it? Since putting SEE ID on my card is such a small, insignificant effort, I do it. But as you say, each to his own.
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I used to work at a bank and a grocery store, and this has always been a pet peeve of mine! I think it is stupid, because if you ever lose your wallet, the thief is going to have your ID anyway. As if the cashier is really looking at your signature or your ID picture in the first place!
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So if an unsigned card is not valid, that means the store is liable if they accept it as payment, and you can refuse to pay the charges. Anyone willing to admit to trying that?
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didn’t read all of the comments, but..
Merchants may *not* ask to see your ID unless your card is not signed, when they *must* see your ID, AND watch you sign the card. The card is not valid without being signed.
NOT signing your card is leaving you open to fraud the most, as ANYONE can just sign your card, and then use it freely.
Presenting your ID to a merchant also leaves you open to fraud, as they can lift more personal information from your card. Identity theft is a real and present danger.
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I’ve been “signing” my cards with “See I.D.” for years now. I have only been refused once EVER, and it was at the post office. I have also used credit cards successfully at (other) post offices more times than I can remember thereafter, and not had a complaint.
My way of looking at it is: if they insist that the card be signed, I will simply say that my handwriting is SO BAD, that my “official signature” merely comes out looking like the words “See I.D.” How do THEY know that’s not my official signature? It sure the hell is if I say it is.
The really ironic thing is that on that particular occasion at the post office, I was mailing something critically-important on the last possible day, just before the post office was about to close. If I hadn’t had a $5 bill in my wallet just by luck, I would have been *screwed*.
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To Jennifer, and those who don’t bother signing your card at all, aren’t you just making it easier for the thief to just make up a signature? Thus, it makes it easier for them to use your card and in the event that the cashier checks the signature, it will be identical…
WRONG. This completely misses the point. If you steal my blank-backed card and then sign it however you want, you will do two things, (a) add to your crime forgery and (b) 100% distinguish your stolen purchases from my real ones, thus making it very simple for me to win disputes with the creditor if needed.
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When you opt to not sign your card, you don’t leave it blank so a criminal can sign it, you fill that space with the word “see ID”. That makes the clerk ask for your id to verifiy the pic on the ID matches the person using the card. They don’t write anything down from the id, just check the picture. Consumer REports recommends it and it’s worked for me for DECADES, never been refused, even at the post office.
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It always bugs me when a cashier doesn’t even pretend to look at the signature on the back. I try to stick with cash.
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See ID is NOT ALLOWED with Visa and MasterCard. What benefit are you, the cardholder, getting from writing this on your card? None.
You are NOT liable for fraud provided you follow the terms associated with your cardholder agreement (one of which being to SIGN YOUR CARD). If you do not sign your card, and the bank finds out, you will be held liable for the fraud. Your card may well be recovered; the card issuing bank will pay a retail clerk $50 for finding, calling and reporting, and sending in a lost or stolen credit card.
Both Visa and MasterCard make it very clear that “See ID” is not allowed.
http://www.mastercard.com/ca/wce/PDF/Unsigned_Credit_Cards-(Global).pdf
http://usa.visa.com/merchants/risk_management/card_present.html
Oh, and they can also not pay the merchant for accepting an unsigned or “See ID” credit card since an unsigned credit card is technically invalid.
Are many of you living under a rock? Are you unaware how easy it is to get a fake ID? I’d argue it is easier to get a fake ID than forge a signature.
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I am a product security specialist. I’ve thought of doing this, but it seems to be self-defeating in that there seems to be one HUGE downfall in the additional risk one takes by showing more info.
Show them the credit card they get your CC #, date, and code.
Then show them your drivers license and you also give them your address, full name, DOB & drivers license #.
I pay with CC 99% of the time because as I understand it, at most you are liable for something like $50. And you can can a CC in a matter of seconds of reporting it stolen…
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My regular credit card is signed. The writing of check id as well as sign it sounds like an excellent tip. In fact I think that’s what chase’s brochure is implying. They don’t say to write check id on the signature panel, just on the back of the card.
I do use the check id on one card though… My debit card. I only use that card at ATMs or at the gas pump. No where else. Since no person is ever seeing the card then even if that completely invalidates the card no one will know it.
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Great Article. I’ve actually written SEE ID on every card I’ve ever had and I’ve never had it rejected for any reason. I’m curious though, if it nullifies the agreement with the issuer, are you responsible for the charges? What if you just wrote, “Not Authorized” on the signature line of the paper receipt or on the line at the pos terminal when signing for the purchase. They NEVER, EVER check to see if your signature matches…would you then be responsible for the charge? Things that make you go “Hmmmmm”
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Katekashman
I recently moved back after living overseas for a couple of years, and just started using my cards again. I completely forgot that merchants are even supposed to check IDs! I haven’t been asked a single time, and honestly doubt I will be.
There was one time where I didn’t sign the back. The merchant flipped over and told me to sign the back but didn’t ask for ID. I’m sure they thought they were helping me out with keeping my card safe from identity theft.
I really like KateKasham’s idea, leaving the sticker on is ingenious. Thanks for the article.
MissMentor
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To those who DO NOT SIGN:
This is probably the worst thing you can EVER do. If your card is stolen, it leaves a blank slate so a criminal can sign the name with THEIR handwriting, and it will ALWAYS match the card and then those few cashiers who actually do pay attention will not be able to tell.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS, SIGN YOUR CARDS.
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This is stupid.
Identity theft occurs when the thief has enough information about you to steal your identity. A credit card just has your name and your credit card number. If fraudulent charges, you will NOT have to pay them. The credit card company protects you.
If you instead give them your id and credit card, then a COMPLETE STRANGER has your name, credit card number, home address, and driver’s license number!! They don’t need anything else to steal your identity. You just handed it to them for the taking. Does that sound like a good idea??
You’re not protecting yourself by writing “See ID.” You’re asking to have your identity stolen.
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I waited tables for 5 years, and I would get this maybe once every 2 weeks or so.
Whenever I asked for their ID, I would get 1 of 2 responses:
1. “Is something wrong?” I’d have to remind them they had written “See ID” on the back of their card because they’re not used to being asked.
2. “Wow! Thanks! Nobody ever checks for that!”
So I don’t see it as very useful… but like other commenters said, there’s no reason not to sign and ask for ID.
**Note: Most people abbreviate it as “C.I.D.”
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