I worked in retail for many years, and I came across people time and again who had left the back of the card blank, intending for me to ask for an ID. I always did my best to convince them to at least write See ID in there. Leaving that strip blank is really stupid- then whoever steals your wallet can sign your name however they want, instead of having to try and match your original signature. (Thats if they even take it to a brick-and-mortar store instead of just using it online)

Anyway, I personally always just sign mine, because the likelihood of the teller actually looking at it is kinda low, and I like to sign things.

I used to work retail too and at one point they asked us to start making people sign their cards if they were blank or said "CID", and people were MAD. Screaming yelling angry mad. We lost a lot of business because customers got so furious when we asked them to sign. Needless to say that policy didn't stick around very long

Signature only. I also used to work in retail and had to ask customers to sign their cards. I don't know what's wrong with people. Do they really believe it's better to keep the card blank?

I always write see ID whether i sign it or not... although I have notice that retailers are not too good about checking my ID... but I guess it's worth a shot...

with the ease of self payment these days, it doesnt make much a a difference.

*of a

Being a front end manager and having my wallet stolen and $1200 charged, nothing is impervious to thieves. Honestly the best thing to do is to set a limit on the card. When you charge something over that amount the cashier gets a message on the screen to call the card company. Also if you card is stolen no one checks the signature to match so I just leave mine blank. Honestly, go ahead and steel it again, because nothing I can do to my card can prevent a thief from buying anything.

I write "photo ID" on the back. Not too long ago I was asked to verify my billing address before the purchase was finalized.

Even writing "See ID" on the card doesn't necessarily do much. Many MANY stores don't even look at the back or seem to care; when I worked retail during college, I would always ask everyone to see their ID "just for good measure" and people were generally nice about it when I framed it that way. The idea of putting the signature and See ID is good if they really do enforce making you sign your name at the back though!

It's true nothing can really stop a thief, but taking precautions is still a very good and healthy idea. I learned this lesson time and time again working in retail. I don't sign any of my cards and have never been asked to sign my card in front of a retailer, but for some reason putting 'See ID' on my card gives me a sense of relief.

mine all say see id....i don't know if it makes a difference since few people check - but at least it's a try.

I just got a new Check card from my credit union. It has my picture on the front. But, not thinking, I still put "See I.D." on the back....and now I get confused people asking me for my ID while pointing to my picture on the front of the card. yeah.. Well, at least they check! lol.

I always sign my cards. If you have a determined thief, they can always just make a fake ID (yeah, I know how likely it is, I'm just saying that it's possible) with your name and their picture. Besides that, not signing the card makes you forfeit any fraud protection because there is nothing there to compare a signature to - how are you supposed to check for fraud if there is nothing to compare it against?

I used to just have "Ask for ID" on mine, but the Post Office refused to let me pay for stamps with it unless I signed it!

It seems to me that a lot of retailers lately are asking for my ID anyway - I don't know if they really look at the sig, but at least they are checking the name on my photo ID vs. name on credit card. I always am polite and thank them for asking because I know it's protecting me.

I actually now leave it blank. For many years I always had my signature on the back of my cards. But no matter what I signed it with (I even resorted to signing in permanent marker!) the machines always rubbed it off. One of my old cards got so bad, even the signature strip itself rubbed off revealing "void" stamped on the plastic, and even that didn't stop any merchant from taking it! I will gladly show my ID to any merchant who asks to see it and I am always happy when they ask. The problem is, hardly anyone in my area ever asks for ID. I can even use my finance's card with a different name, and nobody thinks to ask for any ID! Ultimately, I feel it's my responsibility to check my records and to keep my card secure. If if feel it's been compromised, I immediately cancel the card and get a new one.

Sadly, not many people check my ID. When I worked in retail, I ALWAYS checked ID even if they just signed their name and didn't write "see ID."

Working in retail several years ago I came across a card in my regular card flipping that simply stated "DEMAND ID." From that day forward that is what I write on every card I own that requires my signature...8 times out of 10 I will get carded, but often at retail stores, they could care less. Also, with the advent of "Swipe-Your-Own" card readers at Wal-mart, Gap, inc stores, Whole Foods, Kroger, publix and everywhere else, I simply choose debit and sign. Though i often think how easy it could be for a crook to do the same thing whit my card.

I sign my cards now. I had "See ID" written on the back of my cards and had one sales person make me sign my card and of course, I was pissed off as hell. It was a Visa. Ugh. But I've noticed that more and more retailers are asking to see my ID nowadays.

The question on this post asks "Do you sign the back of your credit card?" but none of the options is for "No." All of the options are for different types of signing/writing something on the back.

Anyway, no, I don't sign the back of my credit card. I guess I should. It does bother me when people don't ask for my ID, but it bothers me even more when I use the debit function on my Check Visa, and the cashier still asks for my ID. I don't understand why they do that. This was really a problem when my dad was in the hospital and I had to take care of my younger brother and sister. I would take them grocery shopping, etc. and use my dad's debit card (which he had given me along with the PIN) and cashier's would ask for my ID. Since it obviously wasn't my card, I had to pay with my own money which was a hassle to keep track of. That was not what I wanted to be concerned with while my dad was in the hospital. I thought having to use a PIN was supposed to be a form of protection like asking for an ID is.

A lot of places have a fit when it says SEE ID. I always keep a close eye on my card because it's signed. At places you swipe your own card usually you don't even show the cashier. I think more precautions need to be taken by the companies.

I don't understand why stores make you sign your card in front of them before they'll let you use it. Obviously if someone had stolen your card they'd just sign your name on the back and be able to use it. Always make sure you have something written there so someone can't find it and sign your name in their handwriting and use it all over town.

Even if someone signs a different signature it doesn't matter. It isn't legally upholding. Unless you give a copy of your signature to the CC company, then how do they know what signature is real. Its a sham to make you think its secure.

I don't think I've been to a store since I got my credit card that even looked at the card. they all have things where you swipe yourself and no one ever asks to see my card. I signed the back, but no one knows, lol.

All my cards say "Please see ID". I only carry the cards I need for that day usually just my debit card; which has my pic.

I have heard and seen postings of warnings at the post office and stores too that they will not take a card that simply says "see ID". I have always signed my cards.

I write Check ID on all my cards. I've never been asked to sign my name to my card and not many cashiers will ask to see the ID, but it still makes me feel better.

I personally sign all my cards, but I have a friends who always writes "see ID" and has never had an issue with it.

Most of the stores I shop in anyway have the machines where you swipe your own card...and I can't even remember the last time a sales associate asked to see my card.

I swipe my own.

Signing or not signing or having them ask for ID is not going to stop much of anything. In most states anyone can use a card even if it doesn't have their name on it. It's called being an authorized cardholder, technically you are responsible for safeguarding your card and ensuring that no one illegally obtains it, otherwise most institutions accept that holding the card means they have been authorized by the account holder to use said account. As for the signature, I find it makes it worse... because then a thief has the real deal to imitate (and some professional identity thieves are very good at forgery), which makes it harder to prove fraudulent (but also some cards void all of your perks if the card is not signed so be aware). You should always call immediately and report the card stolen if you even THINK someone has the card or obtained it's numbers, regardless of what you have written on the back. Stop the drama before it has time to start.

The post office makes you sign the back of your card if you choose credit. And none of my cards are signed. I guess I better get my pen.

Every retailer I go to asks to see my ID automatically if I use my check card or credit card. I've never felt the need to add "See ID" to my cards.

wow, i feel VERY naive because i didn't even know about writing "see ID" on the back of cards. then again, i only have two credit cards. i sign all my cards with my signature. but i think signatures are a horrible and completely outdated way to verify anything. they are so easy to forge, and that's if the cashier even bothers to check! i really wish that they made using credit cards more difficult...i wouldn't mind at all, i would welcome it!

"see id" i certainly don't want anyone that gets ahold of my id to be able to duplicate my signature.

See ID only ... works very well!

I had mine blank for years before but now, not anymore because they always ask me to sign the CC if they notice no signature on it.

Why would you leave it blank? Are you mad?

Some European banks have combine the chip and pin with a photo on the front of the card. Great idea.

Why wouldn't you leave it blank?

Nothing you put on the back of there prevents theft or unwarranted use of your card.

I've honestly never heard of "See ID". But I might do it now (for my one and only credit card).

I sign it and put a little sticker on the front.

I signed it as I always thought that if I leave it blank and it was stolen the thief only have to sign it himself/herself, making it easier for him/her to copy.
But I more and more think that it doesn't make any difference as most merchants do not even check the signature.
Now what I did is that I called the bank to set a limit on the card.

I always sign and put See ID. Of course there's always a way to get around it, but I want to make it as difficult as possible for someone to use my cards.
and seriously, even if ONE out of 50 merchants checks your ID, at least that's SOMEONE doing it. and that's a chance that they won't be able to use it. So I say protect yourself as much as you can. If you don't, that's on you

I worked retail for years, and I would ALWAYS check signatures.

My favorites were the people who wrote "see ID" and then got mad when they didn't have their ID with them and I wouldn't let them use the card. and I also checked signatures... so don't assume that no cashiers out there are looking at your signature and the back of your card, just because some or many don't.

Side note: I got chewed out by a regular customer who had just gotten a new credit card because I didn't ask for ID (it said to on the back)... but I knew her. she had been a customer for years and I STILL know her name to this day.

I've noticed that where we live now they are much better about checking id's than any city we've lived in before and I'm sure there's a reason for that. However, on the rare occasion that they don't ask for my ID, I show it to them anyway and they'll check it then. After being in banking for 12 years I'm always happy to oblige someone who is trying to protect my money, and really that would be the case even if I hadn't been in banking all those years lol.