Observant
Posted: Wed 17 August, 2005 Filed under: Thoughts 6 Comments »A week ago, I got my replacement Switch (sorry, Maestro) card – the old one had been in my wallet for a year and was bent/cracking to within an inch of its life. That’s about normal.
Anyway, I got the card, and just shoved it in my wallet, as usual. Nothing special. I’ve used it since, so the old card is now a piece of worthless (and cracked) plastic, and I’ve got to re-remember my new card number, which is a bit of a pain in the arse, but I’ll do it. Such is life. At least they didn’t change the PIN this time without telling me they were going to. Always a good thing.
However, I did do one thing differently. Not consciously, because I’ve only just realised it today. But I didn’t sign the back. Oh whoops, oh bugger, oh chuff, I hear you cry. And yes, you’d be right. Except, and here’s the thing – I’ve been using the card. Not just online, but in shops. And I’m sure I’ve done at least one transaction where I’ve had to sign it, rather than using the PIN.
Which all goes to show, I suppose, just how few places actually check signatures etc. in the first place. It’s a bit worrying really, isn’t it?
As a US resident who relocated to London, I am still suprised at how often my signature gets checked in the UK (or at least is looked at). Most times I use my card in the US the cashier doesn’t even look at the back of it.
You don’t sign to prove to the shop that you’re you; you sign so that in the event of a dispute they can compare the signatures and establish if it’s you or not.
I had this in the pub the other night – some loudmouth music types from a gig up the road.
“I can’t take that, you’ve not signed the back”
“Oh, well give me a pen then.”
“God, do you have any id?”
“No”
“OK, do you want to pay cash? It’s only a fiver.”
“Jeezuz, it’s my card! What’s your problem? Fuck’s sake – here, and give me a pen”
They signed the card then paid for the next round with it – pointedly laughing at me and making me feel stupid. I do try, you know.
They are supposed to check the signature as a fraud check, but usually they just rely on the online authorisation which will have been performed. If you dispute any payment, and the signature does not match with what they have on file, they can claim the fraud from the shop.
My mom and dad have a joint card account. They were sent new cards. For weeks they were using them, then they went on holiday to America, and it was there that it was pointed out that my mom was using my dad’s card (and vice versa).
I wonder whether it’s the store management that tell their staff not to waste time checking signatures, or whether it’s just lazy individuals at the till that can’t be bothered.
With this new chip-and-pin system, the thing I can’t get my head around is if I’m meant to hand over my card to the cashier, or put it in the machine myself. Different shops seems to have different ways of doing things.
I think the problem is mainly that everyone’s signature looks alike, especially if you work on a till for a long time.