Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

qtrim

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Oct 7, 2011
315
45
Used Apple Pay at OfficeDepot and HomeDepot and both times it went through, but the terminal still asked me to sign. Wondering if it's a vender issue?
 
Also depends on the amount. Some stores dont want a signature below $50. But yes, depends on the retailer. Once they realize the signature is basically useless, they will stop.
 
Once they realize the signature is basically useless, they will stop.

Not necessarily. The signature has traditionally served two different purposes: 1) to confirm your identity and 2) as an agreement to pay the card issuer. With Apple Pay, confirming your identity is moot but they may still want the signature as an agreement to pay the card issuer. In fact, Apple support page on Apple Pay says the following:

You might also need to sign a receipt, depending on the store and the transaction amount.

The first two times I used Apple Pay at Petco, they didn't ask for my signature. The third time I used it when the transaction amount was over $200, they did ask for it.
 
Not necessarily. The signature has traditionally served two different purposes: 1) to confirm your identity and 2) as an agreement to pay the card issuer. With Apple Pay, confirming your identity is moot but they may still want the signature as an agreement to pay the card issuer. In fact, Apple support page on Apple Pay says the following:



The first two times I used Apple Pay at Petco, they didn't ask for my signature. The third time I used it when the transaction amount was over $200, they did ask for it.

Good point. I guess I wonder how long before my "fingerprint" is sufficient as a payment agreement. I ask coz I mostly scribble chicken scratch on the receipt versus a proper signature. But maybe the act of scribbling is enough.
 
Signature verification is a joke nowadays, they aren't even verified anymore. You can draw a dick for you signature and it wouldn't matter.
 
I used Apple Pay at Home Depot with an Amex that wasn't the primary card. It did not ask for a signature, but Petco with the same card did require a signature. I think the terminals that have additional questions, like donation requests, ask for sigs in case you donate. I'm not sure of that, but it's a possibility..
 
Good point. I guess I wonder how long before my "fingerprint" is sufficient as a payment agreement. I ask coz I mostly scribble chicken scratch on the receipt versus a proper signature. But maybe the act of scribbling is enough.

Well, if they can get proof of that for documentation purposes but since they don't have access to our TouchIDs, they have to resort to signatures as a payment agreement even if they look like chicken scratches.
 
I think signatures are just an antiquated way of doing things. My wife makes it a point to just draw a squiggle (nothing like her real signature) whenever she signs anything. She has never been stopped. I actually sign because, well, I don't know why.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.