"Ask for ID" on debit and credit cards

[baraff]

With the recent breach at Target that has affected ~40 million credit and debit card holders, I have been thinking about ways to help protect ourselves from CC fraud.
One thing I have heard about is some people are not signing the backs of their cards, instead, signing "Ask for ID". This sounds like a great idea, but I was wondering if any here have done this and experienced problems in using the cards.
Another thought I have had is refusing to swipe the card and insisting the clerk input the number manually. I'm not sure this would have made any difference in the Target theft, but I would think if enough people do this it might wake up the industry to abandon the archaic decades-old mag strip technology and implement the European chip and PIN technology that has been in use there and in other countries for years.
The US is woefully behind other countries, mostly because of the cost the banks would have to lay out to implement the more secure system. I blame the banks as much as Target for this hack (and of course the hackers themselves!)
Your thoughts on the matter?

[John How]

It seems that in the case of the target fiasco, they stole the data (not the actual card)which will be used probably online right so no one so going to be seeing the card anyway.
I have signed my cards like that in the past and sometimes they ask and sometimes not. Most retailers these days don't even touch the card as you swipe it yourself.

[RickO]

I seem to remember the "ask for ID" issue being discussed here before and that a number of members said they do it. I also seem to remember comments about this being ineffective... but I don't recall why.

Some said that they refused to tip any server who processed their card in spite of the "ask for ID" comment in the signature section.

[Kurtsara]

Originally Posted by baraff

With the recent breach at Target that has affected ~40 million credit and debit card holders, I have been thinking about ways to help protect ourselves from CC fraud.
One thing I have heard about is some people are not signing the backs of their cards, instead, signing "Ask for ID". This sounds like a great idea, but I was wondering if any here have done this and experienced problems in using the cards.
Another thought I have had is refusing to swipe the card and insisting the clerk input the number manually. I'm not sure this would have made any difference in the Target theft, but I would think if enough people do this it might wake up the industry to abandon the archaic decades-old mag strip technology and implement the European chip and PIN technology that has been in use there and in other countries for years.
The US is woefully behind other countries, mostly because of the cost the banks would have to lay out to implement the more secure system. I blame the banks as much as Target for this hack (and of course the hackers themselves!)
Your thoughts on the matter?

We have not signed our debt cards and have put SEE ID instead for about seven years now, although we don't use them much as we prefer to pay cash.

[Selah]

We have always had "Ask for ID" (for past 20 years or so) on our cards and never had a problem. When we first started this and a clerk would not ask for ID I would call them on it. Now days the clerks almost always ask, except restaurants.
Of course that wouldn't have helped in the latest Target fiasco.

[Thebaldeagle]

2 days after getting married I sent my new wife to Lowe's with my credit card, in my name, she had no ID with her new name or any proof she was related, last name was different. The cashier asked for ID. She told the clerk that she had just gotten married 2 days before and none of her ID matched the card. Cashier said, that's ok, we just have to check it. It doesn't have to match. Did not even write down the info off the ID presented. As I was doing a major remodel, I went to the store manager the next day and told him about it. He verified that an ID check was required but in no way does it have to match. That the ID check wax meant to scare anyone with a stolen card.

So I ask, how would putting "ask for ID" on the back of your card help? Just maintain a good control of your cards, keep the 800 numbers for each card and the card number in a separate but easily accessible place and call immediately if you even suspect a card has been compromised. Never leave your card inside while paying for fuel! That is only asking for trouble! If it doesn't have pay at the pump, go elsewhere!

[Dr4Film]

Here is something that I ran across while browsing the Internet.

It's a new concept in using CC, ATM cards, etc.

https://onlycoin.com/

I am not recommending this nor do I have any affiliation with this new device. I am solely bringing it to people's attention as an alternative to carrying a bunch of different cards.

Will this device make using cards more secure, possibly, but when it comes to thieves and hackers, they will find a way to steal anything if they want it bad enough.

Even those new ones where you don't have to even swipe the card can be hacked. Heck that's how thieves started cloning mobile phones back in the day. They simply were nearby with a radio device to intercept the signal.

Someday there will be a cashless method used for all purchases, Exactly what that method will look like has yet to be invented.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

[Dogpatch]

All of our credit and bank cards are chipped in Canada and require a PIN number. The part I worry about is the "Tap n Go" accessibility to the cards now. If you have control of the card and the store has that option, you can charge between $25-$50 on the card with a simple tap on the reader. No questions asked.
It's a great convenience but could be a negative if you lost your card.

[Ed-Sommers]

There is only ONE entity to blame here, and that is those that did the hacking. No program is completely secure, and I'm sure that the majority of people know that.

And seeing as how the majority of people are on the Net nowadays, catching problems with your credit/debit accounts is easy to catch almost immediately by checking your accounts using your computer/phone/tablet, and takes just seconds to a minute or two. I check my accounts at a minimum of twice a day checking for illegal activity.

I'm old school I suppose, and take INDIVIDUAL responsibility seriously, sometimes in association with enterprises like banks .


Ed
USN Ret

[SeeTheUSA]

The folks who got access to the credit card information from Target never need to see or touch an actual credit card ---- they accessed Target's computer data and simply got the necessary credit card information. There is virtual nothing you personally can do to protect against that ---- unless you work in the Target IT group and can influence better computer data security measures ---- or you simply don't use your credit card at their stores.

[mikebrls]

I have been putting this on the back of my card for year's and it work's to good they always ask for it " C I D " THEN SIGN NAME

[gbburgess]

We have had the "check photo ID" on the back of all of our credit cards for years. Most often no one bothers to look. Still, we think it is a good idea.

Ed and Barb Burgess
2007 Georgetown 373
2013 Jeep Wrangler

[Wayne M]

Most, but not all, on-line stores ask for the 3 digit cvv # on the back of the card. I doubt that Target had those numbers. So even though the CC was compromised through their database, only those entries that had the 3 digits could be used. So what does the thief do? He just tries processing each card and when he finds a site that does not ask for the 3 digits he has a shopping spree.

I personally do not like the chipped cards and anytime I receive a card with a chip in it I smash the chip with a hammer on my anvil. The card still swipes but I just cannot use the proximity feature. Also the thief cannot scan my back pocket and acquire the number.

I also keep my credit cards inside a foil pouch that one of the banks issued several years ago. I picked up a half dozen foil pouches from them and my CC's rest inside those pouches. I would think aluminum foil would work also. Just cuts down on the availability of someone scanning my pocket.

I have the "See ID" on my CC's. There is one thing to remember though, an establishment is not required to honor the card if it is not signed. I have never run into that situation, but it is CC policy that the card be signed. (Or at least it was the last time I checked.) Seldom, anymore, am I asked to see an ID. I wish it were done every time I used the card. As a last resort and if necessary I could sign over the See ID. I usually leave enough space for my signature, not that they could read it anyhow.

Edited:

Sign or write see ID

[mel s]

Originally Posted by RickO

I seem to remember the "ask for ID" issue being discussed here before and that a number of members said they do it.

Some said that they refused to tip any server who any server who processed their card in spite of the "ask for ID" comment in the signature section.

RickO
We are 2 of the members who have "ask for ID" rather that our signature on our credit cards.
We did that at the suggestion of a card company after one of our cards was compromised.

Also, as suggested by the card co., we don't tip any server who does not ask for ID.
(We note that on the slip so they know why they didn't get a tip).

Mel
'96 Safari