Credit/Debit Card Payments

[jamesmwhelan]

If you pay for something by CC or DC and signed it something other than your name, and the cashier did not pick up on it, would you be liable for the payment or could you contest it? Technically, you could argue that you did not make that particular purchase.

[LeMarchand]

I don't know the legalities, but whilst I suspect that you could make that claim, I would think that a charge of fraud could be brought against you for deliberately trying to defraud whoever you made the purchase from. Many shops have CCTV aimed at the tills, so there would be proof that you were at the till at the time of purchase etc.

[sft42]

Plus the fact if you hadn't reported your card as being stolen then you would have to have given it to someone else with your permission and you would therefore be liable for any purchases made anyway.

[jamesmwhelan]

It is not something I would ever do, as I much prefer life outside of prison and without a criminal record. The reason I asked the question was because I went for a meal the other day and my signature was not checked, which is very unusual these days.

[Maudlettice]

I think that Arf could have mentioned that you must never ever allow a waiter in a restaurant to take your card away. The details may be copied or cloned. If this is what has happened to you and you are worried then phone your Card Issuer immediately, explain your worry, and ask for a new card and number. Similarly, never leave a chitty uncompleted otherwise you will find all sorts of gratuities and other things added for which you will be liable. Draw a line through all the empty boxes and ALWAYS FILL IN THE BOX MARKED TOTAL. Also, never leave a car hire firm with an open slip. Even if you have to wait around a bit MAKE SURE THE SLIP IS COMPLETELY FILLED IN BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Otherwise you will find, often huge, amounts added for body damage, missing spare wheel etc for which you cannot escape liability. Hope this helps. If there is anything else worrying you please mention and I will try to help.

[BenDToy]

Just an observation. In the US it is very rare for anyone to check a signature. They almost always hand the card back as soon as they have swiped it. Yet I have been told that credit card fraud there is much lower than here.

[tracymort]

i heard once that if you signed in red pen it didn't count. dunno if its true though.

[stephen.hove]

sainsburys said my payment for shopping was rejected, so my girlfriend had to pay on her card. only my payment WASNT rejected and the money came out my account, even though i hadnt signed for it. needless to say theres gonna be trouble.