I went up to J&R to buy some blank DVDs and a power supply for my soon to be built computer. They didn’t have the PSU which was listed “in stock” on their website, so I went downstairs to buy the DVDs. I get to the counter and hand them my debit card and my NY state ID
Register lady: You need to sign the back of this card.
Me: No I don’t
RL: I can’t ring this up unless you sign the card.
Me: I’ve intentionally left it blank, but that’s ok my ID is included
RL: You have to sign the card. <hands me a sharpie>
Me: Look the law says I can leave this blank or even write “ask for ID” on the back.
RL: You have to sign the card, otherwise I can’t ring this up.
Me: <Rage level increasing to 40%><takes sharpie writes in HUGE lettering on the back of my card “ASK FOR ID”
RL: I have to call my manager
Me: Bring him down, you want me to dial?
Enter manager stage left
MGR: Can I help you.
Me: You certainly can. I’ve left the back of my card blank which seems to be some sort of problemwith you guys. I’ve left it blank because if some fuck steals my card he won’t be able to use it without providing ID, which I’m doing. On the other hand if it’s signed, then the chance some lazy cashier won’t ask for ID and charges it increases. (they usually just see if it’s signed at all then toss it back) See? I’m doing something for my protection.
MGR: You’re going to have sign it, theres some, umm, new “thing” from the bank where all cards have to be signed.
No, actually you’re bring the idiot. Leaving the signature completely blank is the best thing you could do for a thief. S/He can simply sign the card after stealing it and run up purchases like there was no tomorrow without getting caught. If you insist on having your ID checked each time, sign the card and write “(Check ID)” after the signature.
I’m also pretty sure most credit card agreenents state that the card must be signed to be valid. Again, if I could find the old thread I could cite it for ya.
I leave my credit cards blank, and half the time the cashiers don’t even ask for my ID - very annoying. The reason I do so is that I had heard that there was a new law requiring cashiers to ask for ID; sounds like the idiots at J&R don’t understand the way it’s supposed to work! I’d find some literature on the subject and throw it in their faces, just for fun. DoubleJ, wouldn’t the thief have to have your name on another ID for that scam to work?
This happened to me also, except it was at the Post Office. I just bought my stamps elsewhere. Sorry, nothing useful to offer except for take your business some place else.
Well, I don’t get it - it is incredibly easy to forge someone’s signature. However, it is not so easy for a thief to produce ID with MY name and THEIR face.
Why won’t Visa accept writing “ask for ID” in the signature line?
Oh for a day when card’n’pin terminals are everywhere. The signature has to be the most amazingly outdated security method still in use, and it’s protecting the most ubiquitous and easy access to our money that there is. Gah.
For what it’s worth, I think you’ve got the right idea here but it doesn’t matter what I think as long as Visa and Mastercard say you’re wrong. I guess J&R is just caught in the middle.
Sorry but as the employee of a major Visa/Mastercard issuer, I can say you’re wrong. And if the store had called me, I would have refused the sale until you signed the card.
Per the cardmember agreement and the legal disclaimer on the card itself, the card is not valid unless signed. You can add “see id”, “check id” or “Not wearing pants” if you want, just sign the damn card.
As a fraud analyst, I’m well aware that a lot of stores either have the self swipe terminals or don’t check the signatures. However, if you don’t sign the card and the thief does…that there’s a matching signature, Sparky.
It amazes me that people have such an issue with this. It’s a fecking signature on a piece of plastic. You took the account and agreed to the terms - one of them is signing the card.
Well, you’re WRONG!
And the reason you’re wrong is…your method is simple and logical.
Shame on you!
BTW…I don’t know how in-love you are with your bank but my debit card (Bank of America) has a color picture of my ugly face right on the front of it. While I’m no huge fan of BOA, it comes in handy. I’m sure other financial joints are doing this too.
And my opinion is…even though you weren’t 100% in the right, you pretty much proved that you were the owner of the card, that signing the card was meaningless as far as security issues are concerned , and that yes, the salespeople were fucking idiots for refusing to process the sale.
See World Eater that ** hardygrrl** just put you in your place. You ** have to sign the card ** to insure that a thief can’t use it!
See, if you sign the card the thief can’t swipe it and sign a reciept for usage. So he can’t use it … except , of course, unless the clerk isn’t really paying attention (oh THAT never happens.) or at any gas pump, self check out stand, or quite possibly an ATM machine.
World Eater, this is the mentality of the type of people your dealing with. Forget logic WE HAVE RULES!
