Security Paranoia

It is interesting thought, isn’t it ? In terms of security, it will be lot safer.

The other day I read a report explaining why we should not sign the back of our credit cards so we will be forced to show our drivers license when we use it. That’s suppose to protect us just in case someone steels it. But, the back of the credit card indicates that the card is not valid unless is signed. Who should we believe?

Of course, signging credit card increases risk of identity theft and hackers have one more way to get to your dollars

Here is my thought - Let’s not sign it. It’s useless as a deterrent, as anyone who takes your card then has a sample of your signature which they can not only use on any charge slip, but on your checks as well. However, do not leave the white strip blank. In that space, write: “Ask For Picture ID,” and be prepared to back that up someday when you’re in a hurry and the clerk wants to see a driver’s license as well as the card. It makes the charge transaction a little longer, but a lot safer.

I know that by saying this I have provoked many thoughts and arguments.

Not signing can have legal issues though

If you write Check I.D., a retailer or p.o.s. may refuse to take said card. Also, according to some banks rules and regulations, if you write check I.D. on the back, you’ve just invalidated the card. It can vary from bank to bank. Banks don’t usually specifically prohibit it per se, but in the agreement for either a debit or credit card it can say, “not valid unless signed by the card holder” and even sometimes include verbage like “signature must match name on front of card” or something similar, implying that signing with “Check ID” makes the card invalid.

I have heard many people write “Ask For Picture ID” or “Ask For ID” and it works for them.

So there are mixed thought and experiences.

What do you think ?

It is interesting thought, isn’t it ? In terms of security, it will be lot safer.

The other day I read a report explaining why we should not sign the back of our credit cards so we will be forced to show our drivers license when we use it. That’s suppose to protect us just in case someone steels it. But, the back of the credit card indicates that the card is not valid unless is signed. Who should we believe?

Of course, signging credit card increases risk of identity theft and hackers have one more way to get to your dollars

Here is my thought - Let’s not sign it. It’s useless as a deterrent, as anyone who takes your card then has a sample of your signature which they can not only use on any charge slip, but on your checks as well. However, do not leave the white strip blank. In that space, write: “Ask For Picture ID,” and be prepared to back that up someday when you’re in a hurry and the clerk wants to see a driver’s license as well as the card. It makes the charge transaction a little longer, but a lot safer.

I know that by saying this I have provoked many thoughts and arguments.

Not signing can have legal issues though

If you write Check I.D., a retailer or p.o.s. may refuse to take said card. Also, according to some banks rules and regulations, if you write check I.D. on the back, you’ve just invalidated the card. It can vary from bank to bank. Banks don’t usually specifically prohibit it per se, but in the agreement for either a debit or credit card it can say, “not valid unless signed by the card holder” and even sometimes include verbage like “signature must match name on front of card” or something similar, implying that signing with “Check ID” makes the card invalid.

I have heard many people write “Ask For Picture ID” or “Ask For ID” and it works for them.

So there are mixed thought and experiences.

What do you think ?