Recently while out to dinner with friends we all started paying our respective tabs with credit cards. We noticed that not all the backs of the cards were signed. This led us to the great debate...  Do you sign the back of your credit card? What happens if you leave it blank? How about writing “See ID” on the back instead? What’s the right thing to do?

For years, credit card users advised others to skip signing the back of their plastic in favor of writing “see ID”. Some even choose to leave the signature panel blank. The logic behind these moves was to provide an extra layer of protection when a retailer swipes your card. Theoretically, the retailer will check the signature you provide on the sales slip against the signature on the back of your card, and when they find there isn’t one, will ask for your ID to verify your identity.

Where this logic is flawed is that retailers don't always look at the backs of cards. Many retailers have new rules where they don’t even need to see your credit card for transactions under certain dollar amounts.  Not only does the strategy of leaving a credit card blank will rarely help, but it can also backfire. If you don't sign your card and it goes missing it makes it easier for a thief to sign it. In that event, if a retailer compares the signature at checkout to the one on the card, it will match.

The ByteWize recommendation:

Sign the back of your credit card. Taking other steps to keep your personal information safe will pay off much more than writing “see ID” on the back of your card.

Here are a few tips to protect your personal information:

  • Monitor your accounts weekly vs waiting for month end statements
  • Sign up for email and text alerts from your bank
  • Don’t carry all your credit cards with you