# Do you NEED to use a pen for tips and a signature for CC's when getting takeout food?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-use-a-pen-for-tips-and-a-signature-for-ccs-when-getting-takeout-food/852511>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 24, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-use-a-pen-for-tips-and-a-signature-for-ccs-when-getting-takeout-food/852511 "2020-04-24T17:45:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-use-a-pen-for-tips-and-a-signature-for-ccs-when-getting-takeout-food/852511/21 "2020-04-26T01:47:39Z")

</div>

I haven’t signed a CC receipt in Canada in, I guess, a couple decades. You did have to enter a PIN for over $100. Just now the CC companies have raised that limit to $250 for the duration. You just tap the card on the machine. On my online orders, I just give them the CC number and never even show the card.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![skdo23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@skdo23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skdo23)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-use-a-pen-for-tips-and-a-signature-for-ccs-when-getting-takeout-food/852511/22 "2020-04-26T15:37:03Z")

</div>

> [@D\_Anconia](#):
>
> Wouldn’t signing the slip for someone else be credit card fraud?

Maybe, which is why, as I pointed out, only places that know me and trust me not to contest the charge are willing to do it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2020, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-use-a-pen-for-tips-and-a-signature-for-ccs-when-getting-takeout-food/852511/23 "2020-04-26T15:44:47Z")

</div>

> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> You could bring your own pen.

I carry one or more pens in my coat pocket always[sup]\*[/sup], but some systems don’t use a pen, but a stylus. I guess I’ll have to start carrying a stylus or two.

* * *

- One reason I have been doing this for years is that after someone borrows my pen, I tell them to keep it, as it has advertising for my company. Once a good idea, but no more.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-need-to-use-a-pen-for-tips-and-a-signature-for-ccs-when-getting-takeout-food/852511.md?page=1)