The Signature, outdated?

[ExigeEvan]

Quick backgroudn story, had to send a letter to Student Finance to get some details changed so I e-mailed then and they said I needed to send the letter with ammended information, I'd hoped they would have been changed by now, so I rang up and the women said I needed to send a signed letter to them with the new details.

Signed!? What possible difference does it make? Anyone can forge a signature and I'd already included my ID number that was solely in my possesion.

So, is the signature a lost cause in the days of Chip and Pin, 12 digit security codes and internet passwords?

 

[Speedy Samurai]

In Japan, the signare is pretty much worthless. Everyone has a 'hanko' or personal stamp that they just stamp onto documents. When I tried to open a bank account and didn't have a stamp, they just looked at me like I was crazy. My signature meant zilch to them.

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Since Chip'n'PIN, my signature has become almost infinitely variable. Sometimes my hand literally stops, unsure of what to do, because the brain command "dosig()" has fallen out of use.

 

[Joey D]

You still need it in America, mainly just to sign the back of your debt/credit/bank card. Many stores now ask to see your ID to match them to make sure you aren't trying to pull a fast one on them. Other then that you need to sign or stamp the back of all cheques you are planning on cashing, although some banks only accept a signature.

It seems I'm always signing things, whether it be for the UPS man delivering me a box or sending a letter at work.

 

[G.T]

Let me tell you something more silly... My buspass directly needs to be signed by me before it is given to me and can be used. How the hell is the bus driver going to know it's even my real signature? There's a picture of me on it already!

 

[TheCracker]

You are probably always going to need a signature when applying for personal loans, mortgages etc. It's a way of proving you understand and approve what you are signing for. It is relatively simple to forge a signature, but it's even easier to remember a 4 digit number should you 'happen' to come across someone else's.

 

[Stevisiov]

I agree that signatures are pretty useless mostly, even when I am signing for something important I seem to use a different signature everysingle time and no one has ever queried it ever or even looked as if they noticed.

 

[TheCracker]

I agree that signatures are pretty useless mostly, even when I am signing for something important I seem to use a different signature everysingle time and no one has ever queried it ever or even looked as if they noticed.

It's so much for your benefit, to say to them that 'look, i have signed this, here is my signature' - they don't really care about that. They just want a signature to say 'they have done their part' (say if it was a delivery etc.) It's also for legal reasons. You could be taken to court for not 'holding your end of the bargain' and your signature would be legal proof that you agreed to 'the bargain' (what ever that might be).

 

[Omnis]

My signature always looks slightly different anyway. My hand goes too fast. Still, I like signing it, even if it may only be a novelty as far as security is concerned.

 

[ExigeEvan]

In Japan, the signare is pretty much worthless. Everyone has a 'hanko' or personal stamp that they just stamp onto documents. When I tried to open a bank account and didn't have a stamp, they just looked at me like I was crazy. My signature meant zilch to them.

That's so much cooler, but no more secure

You still need it in America, mainly just to sign the back of your debt/credit/bank card. Many stores now ask to see your ID to match them to make sure you aren't trying to pull a fast one on them. Other then that you need to sign or stamp the back of all cheques you are planning on cashing, although some banks only accept a signature.

Yeah I still have to sign my bank cards and deposit/withdrawl slips at the bank. But whyyy!? They don't even compare my signature to anything. Though frankly if anyone wants to forge my signature so they can deposit cash it would be much appreciated.

Let me tell you something more silly... My buspass directly needs to be signed by me before it is given to me and can be used. How the hell is the bus driver going to know it's even my real signature? There's a picture of me on it already!

Sweet.

You are probably always going to need a signature when applying for personal loans, mortgages etc. It's a way of proving you understand and approve what you are signing for. It is relatively simple to forge a signature, but it's even easier to remember a 4 digit number should you 'happen' to come across someone else's.

Then give everyone a 13 digit code instead But yeah I can understand that use.

 

[YSSMAN]

Where I work, I have to sign far too many things. Where my signature was once an "art form," it has now devolved into what we usually call "a Doctor scribble." Great.

I don't think its "dead" by any means, but I think we should look into a moderation of its use on some things. I hate signing on pointless things...

 

[MagpieRacer]

I signed a cheque today, I have no idea why I needed to cos the person who receives it isnt gonna no any different.

 

[Kylehnat]

Since Chip'n'PIN, my signature has become almost infinitely variable. Sometimes my hand literally stops, unsure of what to do, because the brain command "dosig()" has fallen out of use.

That's the most bizzare feeling ever. "How do I sign my name?" I used to have a full, pretty signature, and then I started dropping letters off my last name. Now, it's a somewhat legible "Kyle M" followed by a squiggle to replace the last 8 letters.

 

[Touring Mars]

I'd rather have David Beckham's pin number than his signature any day!

It is odd, though - a signature still has a function... it's far harder to remember how to fake someone's signature physically than it is to remember their pin from a list you've downloaded off a dodgy Russian website. As a recent victim of credit card fraud, I seriously doubt that the criminals needed my signature... I think chip and pin is very handy, but chip, pin and sig would be even better IMO (except for when one has a hangover, when signatures become a little problematic )