Is it illegal to ask for ID if the back of a credit card is signed?

Answer 1

there is absolutely nothing illegal about that. A signature on a credit card, or even a credit card without a signature, does nothing to verify identity.

What a lot of people fail to realize is that a credit card does not belong to the user, it belongs to the bank/credit union... that issued it.

another common, albeit asinine, thing that some people do is write "see ID", or "ask for ID" on the back of their credit cards instead of their name. Per the users agreement with the issuing company, if anything other than the users name is written in that bar, it voids the card. Not to mention the fact that someone can steal/find a credit card with those words written on the back, and then very easily obtain/make a fake id with the name listed on the card.

Answer 2

Nope - as a matter of fact - it's a great way to prevent credit card fraud.

I had a credit card stolen once - only one store asked the thief for ID. Interestingly enough, the thief decided they did not need that $300.00 worth of sneakers. You know, if every store had done that - my card never would have been used by the thief.

I am quite happy to show my id when I use my credit card. What concerns me, is these places that don't even make you sign the receipt slip if the purchase is under a certain amount.
The credit card company knew that I did not make the purchases on the stolen card b/c the signatures were no where close. If the stores don't make you sign - how do you prove you were not the one using the card?

Answer 3

The card may be signed, but how do you know that person signed it? Its a common business practice to id someone using a credit card. To do anything else in a day and age of skyrocketing fraud is simply foolish. Besides, if the store were acting in any way inmproperly with this practice someone would have enjoined the store from doing it some time ago. In addition, to sue your store the customer must have some quantifiable damage in order to even bring an action, let alone prevail. The customer was just being a jerk, dont worry about it.

Answer 4

Why would it be illegal? Just because you have a signed credit card does not mean that it is yours. You should be thankful when the clerk asks for ID. They are just looking out for you.

Stefen is full of **** it is not against any credit card company's policy for stores to ask for ID of card holders.

Answer 5

I don't think that they are allowed to ask for an ID, they can only match the signature just for the fact that not all of the cards have your name on it, it could be your business card it could the company that you work for, so asking for an ID doesn't really help in this case that's why every time i get asked for my ID i just take the card back and give em my business card and its funny how they can't refuse to take the card and still they can't ask for ID since am not gonna carry my tax ID on me all the time.

Answer 6

Why in the world would it be illegal? It's actually very necessary, especially if the card doesn't have a picture (which most don't). Credit card companies have been encouraging merchants to do this in order to cut down on fraud.

Answer 7

Absolutely not illegal and if you read the fine print an ID card is supposed to be required.

Answer 8

its against credit card company policies which card do you have. its illegial im some places where were you what country / state,province/ city

something like that happen to me at a store before and i called visa in the store and they spoke to the manager and the company got in trouble because they violated visa merchant rules

i reported baskin robbins for charging me a surcharge. I got the manager of that store fired

Answer 9

No! They just want to make sure the credit card belongs to you.

Answer 10

no. A lot of stores ask for ID for photo Identification to make sure the face and name match.