# What do you mean, I HAVE to sign my credit card?! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379 "2003-03-26T22:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![guy\_from\_wpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@guy\_from\_wpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guy_from_wpa)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379/81 "2003-04-13T04:19:33Z")
## quote: Originally posted by guy\_from\_wpa hardygrrl–a question The gas pumps that take credit cards, but don’t require signatures. If a stolen card is used, who eats the chargeback? For the Big retailers (Walmart, Target, et al.) that use a customer swiper at the register, who eats the chargebacks? I have yet to see one WalMart cashier verify a card that a customer has swiped. ## Thanks ## In both cases, the merchant. Violate the guidelines and eat the chargeback. So those swipe and go gas pumps are in violation of the credit card co’s guidlines? Is there a lot of fraud since most pumps have this now? ---
**Author:** ![Qixotica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/5fc32e/32.png) [@Qixotica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qixotica)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379/82 "2003-04-13T04:51:53Z")
First, IANAL, but have personal experience with having to deal with stolen cards/identity. I’ve always heard that the best reason for signing your card is to make using it when stolen more difficult. If it is stolen and is not signed, the thief does not have to forge your signature, he/she can simply scrawl something and be good to go. As far as the liability bit goes, there _is_ a good reason why every company says that you “can limit your liability to a maximum of $50” It’s [Federal Law.](http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.htm) > [@](#): > > Credit Card Loss or Fraudulent Charges (FCBA). Your maximum liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your credit card is $50. If you report the loss before your credit cards are used, the FCBA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized charges. If a thief uses your cards before you report them missing, the most you will owe for unauthorized charges is $50 per card. Also, if the loss involves your credit card number, but not the card itself, you have no liability for unauthorized use. A card company tried to insist I was liable for the entire amount since I hadn’t discovered the loss right away, until I brought up this little gem of information from the FTC, and suddenly they were very cooperative. The fraud people didn’t even hold me accountable for the $50. If you’re **paying** for “credit protection” that “limits your liability to a maximum of $50” you’re being [ripped off!](http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/lossalrt.htm) > [@](#): > > Don’t buy the pitch - and don’t buy the “loss protection” insurance. Telephone scam artists are lying to get people to buy worthless credit card loss protection and insurance programs. If you didn’t authorize a charge, don’t pay it. Follow your credit card issuer’s procedures for disputing charges you haven’t authorized. According to the Federal Trade Commission, your liability for unauthorized charges is limited to $50. If this protection is on your ATM/Debit card, it’s not _exactly_ a scam, since if you neglect to report your card missing and it is fraudulently used, you can be responsible under federal law quite a bit more, but only if you are [grossly negligent](http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/atmcard.htm) in reporting your stolen card. Just make sure that it applies to ATM/Debit transactions and not credit transactions only. > [@](#): > > ATM or Debit Card Loss or Fraudulent Transfers (EFTA). Your liability under federal law for unauthorized use of your ATM or debit card depends on how quickly you report the loss. If you report an ATM or debit card missing before it’s used without your permission, the EFTA says the card issuer cannot hold you responsible for any unauthorized transfers. If unauthorized use occurs before you report it, your liability under federal law depends on how quickly you report the loss. > > For example, if you report the loss within two business days after you realize your card is missing, you will not be responsible for more than $50 for unauthorized use. However, if you don’t report the loss within two business days after you discover the loss, you could lose up to $500 because of an unauthorized transfer. You also risk unlimited loss if you fail to report an unauthorized transfer within 60 days after your bank statement containing unauthorized use is mailed to you. That means you could lose all the money in your bank account and the unused portion of your line of credit established for overdrafts. However, for unauthorized transfers involving only your debit card number (not the loss of the card), you are liable only for transfers that occur after 60 days following the mailing of your bank statement containing the unauthorized use and before you report the loss Educate yourself on consumer protection issues at the [Federal Trade Commission](http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm) website. There are some great gems of information on this site that can help you save money and protect yourself. ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379/83 "2003-04-13T11:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by guy\_from\_wpa \* > \*\* > So those swipe and go gas pumps are in violation of the credit card co’s guidlines? Is there a lot of fraud since most pumps have this now? \*\* If you want to be picky, yes. Anytime a card is swiped, there _should_ be a signed receipt. However, the popularity and conveinence of pumps overrides that. Some pumps require the entry of the customer’s zip code. In theory, it prevents fraud but if the zip code is the same as the gas station or the perp has the customer’s info, it doesn’t. The amount of fraud at those pumps is huge. People testing found cards and/or pumping gas for cash. ---
**Author:** ![LindyHopper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ebca7d/32.png) [@LindyHopper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LindyHopper)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379/84 "2003-04-14T02:07:41Z")
Wow, _this_ thread came back from the dead. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kanicbird \* > \*\*I didn’t read the whole post but **LindyHopper** the name on front of the card does NOT have to match the signature. An authorized user of a card may get (depending on the CC company) a card with the account holders name on it. The authorized user signs the back. > > In other words, I find your unsigned card with **Lindahopper** on the front, I sign it **Kanicbird** - presto - I now appear to a merchant to be an authorized user of yoru card. \*\* Well, it’s a little difficult to read my signature anyway; it’d take some doing to accurately compare it with the name on the front. But, as I said, I broke down and signed it. With a Sharpie marker (the only thing that would write on it). Haven’t tried using it at the post office again yet though. Maybe next time I go (but I’ll take cash too, just in case). ---
**Author:** ![dil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f04885/32.png) [@dil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dil)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379/85 "2003-04-14T19:38:31Z")
So let me get this straight: If I go to Wal-mart, or any grocery store for that matter, and sign “Joe Shmo” on the receipt, then I can call my credit card company and dispute the charges? I’m surprised more people aren’t pulling this scam. Of course, you’d have a lot of explaining to do if Joe Shmo was using your credit card one day, then you used the next, then Joe Shmo had it, etc. I guess I am a paranoid loser because I write “ASK FOR ID” on my credit cards. I just have no faith in a clerk’s ability to spot a forger. I did not know that was in violation of the cc’s agreement, however. In the future, I will sign it AND write “ASK FOR ID”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-mean-i-have-to-sign-my-credit-card/164379.md?page=4)