4 ms·
An important part of the value of signatures is ceremonial. The act of signing something reminds you that you're making a serious agreement and not just having
by lopmotr 7y ago
An important part of the value of signatures is ceremonial. The act of signing something reminds you that you're making a serious agreement and not just having a casual conversation or carelessly clicking an OK button. As long as nobody disputes that you actually signed the document, then your signature shows that you really meant it. Perhaps nowdays clicking "I have read the T&Cs" also has that same value but I hope not because it's such a mindless activity.
I wonder if the bank telling you to correct your signature was so that if you somehow claimed that you didn't want to withdraw that money after-all and that the bank did it without your permission, they could point out that you used your "serious business" signature, not your joke signature. Hopefully it wasn't really for authentication.
- jrockway 7y agoMaybe, but you have to sign your signature to buy a pack of gum with your credit card, which is far from serious business. (Yes, I know this requirement has gone away, but not everyone has gotten the message.) As for the bank... they really do allow and deny checks based on looking at the signature. My problem is that I can't consistently draw a signature. Different paper/pen/surface quality throws me off. And I don't really practice... I use a pen and paper like once a month.
- mijoharas 7y agojust fyi, signing when using a card is very uncommon except in america. Most other countries have long since moved to pin/contactless/other things.
- ender341341 7y agoIt's phasing out in America too, usually only when tipping on the signed receipt anymore (though some of those are even moving to pre-swipe w/o signiture). It's mostly getting the word out to smaller businesses that the credit card companies no longer care about signatures and for older POS machines to be updated.