Should I sign my Debit card?

omits

No one looks at it. Ever. I don't use cheques in shops for them to check my signature. If the card is stolen then they have my signature which is easy to copy and use electronically. Anyone give me a reason to sign it? Thanks.

flo22

Does it say 'Not valid unless signed' under the signature strip?

EarthBoy

omits wrote: »

Anyone give me a reason to sign it? Thanks.

Yes, sign it because the bank tells you to. It might seem pointless but some banks have it in their conditions that you should sign it. Anyway, it only takes about two seconds, so deliberately not signing it is just lazy.

spadoosh

EarthBoy wrote: »

Yes, sign it because the bank tells you to. It might seem pointless but some banks have it in their conditions that you should sign it. Anyway, it only takes about two seconds, so deliberately not signing it is just lazy.

But someone can copy their signature??!?!?!

PRAISETHESUN

The idea is that you sign the card and then if there is any dispute about whether it is actually your card or not, then by comparing a signed card to another form of your signature (ie. photographic ID) then you can prove it - it's more common for credit cards, but the same can happen in theory with debit cards too. In practise this never happens, but in the super rare case the merchant COULD technically reject your card on those grounds

beefturnmail

I thought it was just that it hasn't been changed from the days when you paid by cheque (remember those?) - you had to 'guarantee' the amount on the cheque by showing a debit card to the the payee, who would then compare the signature on both - then if the cheque bounced they could claim back the money from the current account of the debit card used.

scragend

I once tried to pay cash in over the counter at a branch of Halifax and they threatened to confiscate my card because it wasn't signed (genuine oversight - it was a new card). Fortunately I managed to talk them out of it.

18cc

There is nothing to say you have to use the same signature on your debit card as you use elsewhere one can have as many signatures as one wants. If you only use your 'debit card signature' on your debit card then even if someone copies it they can't use it elsewhere PS while you're at it scratch off the cvv

Alexland

I don't bother anymore although I know it's naughty and if I lost my card and there was found to be signature fraud then I might be liable. Using the card having not followed the rules is a cheap thrill in my otherwise uneventful life.

TheShape

The signature on my Nationwide Credit Card has completely worn off. Before I went to Chicago last September I added my girlfriend as an additional cardholder so as to have an additional card and one with a signature as Chip and PIN is far less commonly used there. As it was, I had no problem using my card, not one single person checked my card signature (there isn't one visible) against the signature I gave them.

surreysaver

Sometimes Chip & Pin machines don't work, and as a back up you might need to do it the old fashioned way and sign. Is there anywhere still that doesn't have Chip & Pin machines? I suppose if you use your card abroad some countries might not use Chip & pin