The fact is that in most cases its just not worth the risk for a store to do
that. I've owned a gift shop for over 15 years and can tell you that a clerk
is not LEGALLY qualified to decide if a signature is real or not even if its
pretty obvious. Most insurers will not allow a store to risk the lawsuit the
store and the clerk would have if they were wrong. It is however perfectly
fine to say "Check Photo ID" but a signature verification requires a
handwriting specialist to be legally refused. We got credit cards all the
time that had that written on the back next to the signature.

On a CC the signature is supposed to be there to be compared BUT again we
are told to run the card because its the card holders responsibility to
report it and if they do, it will show as stolen when we run the card. The
store and the clerk get a reward for a pick up. I've had my credit cards
stolen. One of the first things I was asked was if I had signed the back - I
was told if I hadn't they could not prosecute the thief for "theft of a
forged instrument" and if they recovered my card and found it unsigned I was
responsible for all the fraudulent charges.

As a merchant we were told this past Christmas by VISA not to accept ANY
unsigned cards and if the customers refused to sign the card to pick it up.
I did not want to have a fist fight over a credit card so I put the sheet
they sent me with the instructions and the VISA logo on it on my counter and
told everyone not to even present a card they were not willing to sign it.

Debra




"Damsel in dis Dress" > wrote in message
...
> "Bob" >, if that's their real name, wrote:
>
> >Problem is, most clerks DON'T compare the signature on the receipt to the
> >signature on the card.
>
> I just ordered new checks, and they offered the opportunity to put my own
> little message just above my signature. This is what will be on my
checks:
>
> PLEASE COMPARE MY SIGNATURE WITH MY DRIVER'S LICENSE.
>
> We'll have to see if it helps any.