Signatures on Credit Card Receipts? No longer needed say MasterCard, Discover.

audreyh1

audreyh1

Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
38,210
Location
Rio Grande Valley
Not yet announced by VISA, but MasterCard and Discover say signatures no longer required on receipts after April 2018.

https://newsroom.mastercard.com/2017/10/19/no-more-signing-on-the-dotted-line/
https://investorrelations.discover....r-Require-Signatures-at-Checkout/default.aspx
https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/7/16747876/discover-credit-card-no-signature-april-2018

So - all this switch to Chip and Signature, but then they decide signatures are useless anyway?

Well, we all knew signatures were ignored. But sure took them long enough to admit it.

This is a novel solution to the overseas Chip and Signature versus Chip and PIN. No signatures required - then no double printing of receipts overseas and person looking for a pen.
 
For many years, almost since they first started having you "sign" an electronic screen with a plastic stylus, I have neatly written "Elvis A. Presley" in the signature block.

I have never been questioned about it.
 
Yeah, everyone knew it had become a joke.

A few retail places people ask for ID. Far more effective than signatures ever were.
 
Yesterday a clerk presented me my receipt to sign it was upside down. I can't tell my own signature on a stylus either.
 
The signature is nit there for the seller to verify. It is for you, in the case of fraud, to be able to say "That is not my signature". So if you regularly sign "Elvis A. Presley" or "Alfred E. Newman", and the CC company asks if you made this or that charge, you would recognize that the scribble is not your "signature".

It probably isn't worth the sum of added time as cash registers, I guess most fraud is obvious with or w/o that signature.

-ERD50
 
I sign some semblance of the first letter of my first name and a straight line in about 1 second. I can't imagine taking the time to sign a legible name. Glad they are finally fixing this archaic procedure.
 
Earlier this year my local supermarket stopped asking for signatures for purchases less than $50, which I liked because most of my purchases are under $50. Before they made that change, I recall the little screen was not working well so most of the signature ended up blank, not that he clerk cared.
 
I recently signed with one of those attached "pens" that never give a good signature. Was asked by the cashier to sign again. Guess I don't have a trustworthy face :(.
 
There are very few places over here where I even need to enter a PIN when I pay by credit card. If the transaction is under £30 then contactless works just about everywhere and the vast majority of stores, even the smallest cafes, have Apple/Android pay which only requires a fingerprint.

Last year we were in Belgium for 2 weeks where I used my USA Chip and Signature card a lot but not a single merchant asked for a signature and none of the transactions were denied or questioned.
 
What? MC does not check and verify my signature when I purchase a sandwich @ subway?


Then next thing I'll be hearing is that the bank does not check my signature on the many checks that I carefully write out each month.


Getting tired of this fake news.
 
I can’t remember the last time I had to sign a credit card receipt. It was probably in the US.

I do recall, back in the day, forgetting to sign one of those receipts and calling the store to apologize. They said it was no big deal, the signature was just for show.
 
Last edited:
mickeyd said:
What? MC does not check and verify my signature when I purchase a sandwich @ subway?


Then next thing I'll be hearing is that the bank does not check my signature on the many checks that I carefully write out each month.


Getting tired of this fake news.
Click to expand...
What was fake?

Sure many stores have adopted no signature required for sales under some limit like $50, but now MasterCard and Discover are saying signatures never required.

If you meant to say this was no big deal, understood. But that is not what “fake news” means which is that something reported is not true or a lie.
 
Last edited:
I never sign my credit card either. Instead I write "See I.D." on the back. The cashier then needs to ask to see my I.D., which proves I'm who I am by photo. Most retail stores look for the sig on the card, but I've yet to use a credit card at a restaurant and been asked to show I D., so it's not failsafe.
 
skipro33 said:
I never sign my credit card either. Instead I write "See I.D." on the back.
Click to expand...

Technically, you can't do that (although many people do)

There is a big sign on the counter at local post offices around here saying they refuse to accept a credit card without a signature on the back because it violates the terms and conditions of their agreement with the credit card companies.

Sign your credit card, don't write 'See ID'
 
braumeister said:
Technically, you can't do that (although many people do)

There is a big sign on the counter at local post offices around here saying they refuse to accept a credit card without a signature on the back because it violates the terms and conditions of their agreement with the credit card companies.

Sign your credit card, don't write 'See ID'
Click to expand...

So someone can sign their name Elvis P. Presley and no problem but signing See I.D. is? How so if that's how I choose to sign my name on the credit card?

BTW, the "See I.D." works for me. Seems if I'm looking especially 'retired', AKA grungy, they ask to see my ID, but if I look presentable, they don't. I suspect many cashiers look suspiciously at people and if something doesn't seem right, they look at the back of the card.
 
Last edited:
About time they got rid of these silly signatures, IMO. As others said, I just put a squiggle in the box and carry on.

OTOH, I once had a young waiter chase me out of a restaurant because I signed the "customer copy" and kept the "merchant copy." Inexperience, probably, but funny!

I just wish Apple Pay would become more usual in my area. On Amtrak earlier this week, I used it on the outbound train's cafe car, but on the return trip the bartender refused to take it, saying it "doesn't work." They then admitted they didn't know, but as the line behind me was growing I just used plastic. I'm told the trick is to tell them you'll be using a card, and at the last minute to put the phone up to the NFC reader (if there is one). Lack of training, surely.
 
At some places they have you sign the screen with your finger, which is impossible and stupid. I was always proud of my signature and hate seeing it mangled, so I'd just as soon not have to sign at all.
 
skipro33 said:
Seems if I'm looking especially 'retired', AKA grungy, they ask to see my ID, but if I look presentable, they don't.
Click to expand...

Heck, I have to show ID to make a deposit at the bank. Withdrawal requests are met with mix of incredulity and laughter. And that's the teller that knows me.

As I understand it, the signature is to "prove" you authorized the purchase. Now so many places use cameras, if you challenge an item on the credit card bill, if it's large enough an amount to be worth the effort they can go to the videotape.
 
Last edited:
When we moved back to England last year we went into the bank we had maintained an account with for 31 years to give a change of address and after the expected proof of id and proof of new address the teller looked at our signatures and told me that mine was unrecognizable from the one on file when we had opened the account in 1985. She then had me fill in and sign a new signature card so they could update their records.
 
skipro33 said:
Originally Posted by braumeister View Post
Technically, you can't do that (although many people do)

There is a big sign on the counter at local post offices around here saying they refuse to accept a credit card without a signature on the back because it violates the terms and conditions of their agreement with the credit card companies.

Sign your credit card, don't write 'See ID'
Click to expand...
So someone can sign their name Elvis P. Presley and no problem but signing See I.D. is? How so if that's how I choose to sign my name on the credit card? ....
Click to expand...

Two different things. Signing the slip versus signing the back of your card.

See the link, signing your card is effectively signing the contract for that card, and technically you "have" to sign it. It is rarely checked, but that doesn't change the intent.

-ERD50
 
At restaurants in Mexico, they bring the POS to the table and you enter your PIN. Then they print the receipt and have you add the tip and sign it. In Europe, you have to ask them to add the tip before you enter your PIN. In Canada, the POS handles the tip that you add.

Next time you write a check, try putting Alfred E Newman as the signature. In my experience, the check will clear without incident!
 
braumeister said:
For many years, almost since they first started having you "sign" an electronic screen with a plastic stylus, I have neatly written "Elvis A. Presley" in the signature block.

I have never been questioned about it.
Click to expand...

I knew you were alive!!!!
 
kcowan said:
...In Europe, you have to ask them to add the tip before you enter your PIN...
Click to expand...

Our experience in Scandinavia this summer was that most places now give you the POS terminal and you enter the final amount you want to pay with or without tip, press a green OK button, and then enter the PIN to finalize the transaction.
 
Meadbh said:
I can’t remember the last time I had to sign a credit card receipt. It was probably in the US.

.
Click to expand...



Same here. I also noticed that in Canada, the wait staff in restaurants bring the card machine to you, instead of you handing them your card. Your cards are never out of sight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom