Comments on: Reader Question: Can You Write “See ID” Rather Than Signing Your Credit Card?

By: Flexo

Flexo — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 21:13:26 +0000

Carolyn: That’s not correct. You are not more liable for fraudulent charges if you don’t sign your card.

By: carolyn

carolyn — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:51:52 +0000

If a a thief makes false ID (“See photo ID” can be a Sam’s club ID, not so hard to get) and charges up $3000 to your card (which has “See photo ID” written on the back), who pay for this? Technically, you have broken your contract with the credit card issuer by not signing the card. Generally you are covered except for the first $50 if you have signed the card. If you haven’t…then you’re not protected.

By: Joshua Townsend

Joshua Townsend — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:23:28 +0000

Both Visa and MasterCard prohibit merchants from asking for any additional identification in the case of a signed card. Your signature on the card is all the identification that they can require, unless you brought an unsigned card into the store in the first place. So, by writing “See ID” on your card, you’re encouraging the merchant to violate Visa or MasterCard’s policies.

Yes, I know, these rules are often broken, almost as much as the rules that ban a minimum purchase amount…

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 02:55:17 +0000

I used to write “see ID” in the signature box until I tried to use my card at the post office. Since then, I sign the back and write in big bold letters on the FRONT of the card CHECK ID. Sometimes cashiers stare at the “check id”, but rarely do they ask for ID. Only Borders seems to be pretty good about it. The 10% of the time that cashiers do ask, I’ve noticed that many of them don’t know that they’re supposed to be comparing both the name and the signature. Most seem to think they’re just supposed to compare the names on the ID and the credit card. Which means that very few are trained to check ID with a credit card transaction, which is probably why they don’t bother to check.

By: Shaz

Shaz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:56:00 +0000

I rarely sign my cards and my husbands say see id … almost never do we get asked for ID unless it is store policy to ALWAYS ask (ie BestBuy). The place with the biggest push back … yep the post office … I wind up using cash or my debit card.

By: unimax

unimax — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:51:46 +0000

Not any more. When traveling international, it becomes tedious to explain the process of using some other form of ID to confirm your identity.

By: H Lee D

H Lee D — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:48:33 +0000

I used to write only “ask for photo ID” but I’ve had problems with it enough times that I signed it AND wrote “ask for photo ID.” I also thank cashiers when they *do* ask for an ID.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:17:46 +0000

When I worked in retail, I always had to deal with the customer with the unsigned card who would say “If I sign it then they have my signature to forge on the receipt.” To which I responded, “If you don’t sign it, they don’t need to forge your signature because they can sign your name in their handwriting when they get the card, then the signatures (with your name) match perfectly.” It is actually easier.

As for the post office issue, I ran into this once given that I had SEE ID on the back. I told the postal worker that if that was the policy then fine, SEE ID was how I signed things. It does say on the back “authorized signature” above or below the box where this is written. So, they should not be able to argue with me when I sign their little receipt or digital screen with “SEE ID.” Afterall, that IS my authorized signature!

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:48:33 +0000

Never did until I went to Australia and was told I couldn’t use my card unless it was signed. I signed it on the spot…weird experience though.

And did you know according to Visa/MC rules, a merchant is NOT allowed to refuse a transaction if the customer declines to present their ID (assuming the card is signed properly)?

By: freeby50

freeby50 — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:51:45 +0000

“The banks that offer credit cards on Visa’s network or MasterCard’s network, like Citi and Bank of America, may not even be fully aware of the signature requirement. I called Citi to speak to a customer service representative to try to gauge the bank’s preference.”

The back of my Citibank mastercard says : “not valid unless signed” and thats pretty clear that Citi thinks. I don't trust an individual customer servicce rep. from a bank to know all the rules and policies about anything.

By: John

John — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:49:39 +0000

I write “See Photo ID” on all of my cards. And never have any issues in the US, in fact, I'd say that I am asked for my ID about 10% of the time, which is unfortunate because I would rather it be 100%. I say “in the US” because on a recent trip to Australia I was asked for my ID at nearly every place. Still, all places accepted my card without too much of a fight.

Additionally, I disagree with the assertion from Visa that putting “See ID”, or some variation thereof, offers no protection. Since the majority of retailers, in my opinion, do not check the back, either signing or not signing offers no protection. But for those retailers that do check, I doubt that a thief will be able to come up with a photo id faster than it takes me to realize that I have lost my card, which I would guess would be in about 24 hrs.

By: Financial Samurai

Financial Samurai — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:32:21 +0000

I sign AND write SEE ID always. What's wrong with doing both? Do both folks!

By: mbhunter

mbhunter — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:01:53 +0000

You don't sign the back of your cards? Isn't that asking for trouble?

By: SteveDH

SteveDH — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:24:05 +0000

I have “Check ID” on all my cards and have never had a problem. One merchant mentioned the signature requirement but let it go. I'll have to be careful and carry cash to the Post Office (Thanks for the info) otherwise if a merchant refuses – I'll just walkaway from the purchase. I disagree with the card companies and believe that it might pervent unauthorized use, in a least 10% of the cases where merchants even look at it. The max you pay out because of theft is $50 so,if anything, the effort is protecting the card companies more than you. They should encourage it.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:21:23 +0000

I never really got the point of signing the back of the card. If I know the PIN number, what's the problem?

By: ericabiz

ericabiz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:13:24 +0000

Visa/MC instituted a new rule recently that says you don't have to sign if the purchase is under $25. Many retail merchants are now using this. (As I understand it, it depends on whether the merchant system they use is new enough to know about and support this.)

-Erica

By: ericabiz

ericabiz — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:11:09 +0000

Like Adam, the only place I've ever encountered where “See ID” won't work is the post office.

-Erica

By: pharmboy

pharmboy — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:51:22 +0000

People often call the pharmacy and ask if it's okay with us if they send their son/daughter/neighbor/boyfriend/dog/etc. with their credit card and just have them sign. I inform that it's fraud to sign someone else's name, but we don't usually compare signatures or IDs unless we suspect something. People are routinely amazed by this answer.

By: LuluGal

LuluGal — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:50:15 +0000

I have written Ask for ID on the backs of my newer cards since I had already signed the old ones. The cashiers NEVER check my id…even when I ask if they are not going to check it. They also don't care what you sign on the little electronic thing because I have (sometimes) written the word 'signature' or drawn a smiley face and it still goes through. I think it is VERY disturbing that they do not check id…even when I show them my id some cashiers don't even bother to look at it.

Well at least they don't check my id unless I am buying glue (I am a teacher) or cough syrup (being around the kids all the time I catch colds easily)…since I have a very youthful appearance.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:36:08 +0000

Believe it or not, the strictest merchant on this policy is the US Post Office. I have been behind several people in line that had “See ID” on the back of their card. The employee told them that their card was not signed and that it needed to be in order to continue the transaction. They even caught my wife on this one! However, the truth is, how many merchants actually look at the signature anyway? Maybe 10%? Also, what about the companies that now allow you to swipe your card at a the terminal and not even sign the receipt? Seems like they are just asking for fraud!

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:32:12 +0000

By: smithee

smithee — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:24:45 +0000

I write “See ID” as well, and haven't had a problem. I started doing that mostly because my signature has some very big letters in it, and it never fits in small spaces.