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If signatures don't have to match a previous signature, then what is the point of entering the scribble in the first place? Aren't signatures still used as nom

If signatures don't have to match a previous signature, then what is the point of entering the scribble in the first place? Aren't signatures still used as nominal security verification? If not, what is the legal significance of "signing" a document?

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]
mikeash 10y ago
It used to be a security thing, but that seems to have completely fallen by the wayside. I think these days it's basically just formally indicating that you're agreeing to make the purchase at hand, so you can't later go back and say that you somehow didn't realize you were handing over money, or that you thought you were paying less than you were charged.
btkramer9 10y ago
I find signing these days utterly pointless. I literally draw a line on every signature asked for these days.
- seanp2k2 10y ago
  You also have to hit "yes" or otherwise agree to the amount. I do wonder what legal purpose a "signature" actually serves these days. The doodles definitely do get stored and sent to the processor. Sometimes they're also on the receipt.
- stock_toaster 10y ago
  Now I want to try drawing incredibly poor quality cartoons in the signature areas.
kalleboo 10y ago
> If signatures don't have to match a previous signature, then what is the point of entering the scribble in the first place? Here in Japan traditionally identification for things like contracts and bank transactions is done with a seal (custom-carved rubber stamp). A lot of foreigners who move here think it's absolutely bonkers, since what if someone stole it? Isn't it really easy to clone? Many banks here let you use a signature instead of a seal though, and some foreigners opt for it. They usually switch to using a seal after they have to re-fill a form 4 times in a row to get their signature to match the one on file, since they actually verify the things here!

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]

mikeash 10y ago

It used to be a security thing, but that seems to have completely fallen by the wayside. I think these days it's basically just formally indicating that you're agreeing to make the purchase at hand, so you can't later go back and say that you somehow didn't realize you were handing over money, or that you thought you were paying less than you were charged.

btkramer9 10y ago

I find signing these days utterly pointless. I literally draw a line on every signature asked for these days.

seanp2k2 10y ago
You also have to hit "yes" or otherwise agree to the amount. I do wonder what legal purpose a "signature" actually serves these days. The doodles definitely do get stored and sent to the processor. Sometimes they're also on the receipt.
stock_toaster 10y ago
Now I want to try drawing incredibly poor quality cartoons in the signature areas.

kalleboo 10y ago

> If signatures don't have to match a previous signature, then what is the point of entering the scribble in the first place? Here in Japan traditionally identification for things like contracts and bank transactions is done with a seal (custom-carved rubber stamp). A lot of foreigners who move here think it's absolutely bonkers, since what if someone stole it? Isn't it really easy to clone? Many banks here let you use a signature instead of a seal though, and some foreigners opt for it. They usually switch to using a seal after they have to re-fill a form 4 times in a row to get their signature to match the one on file, since they actually verify the things here!