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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW AP: Fire scorches nearly 5 square miles near Umatilla ... State analysis says corporate tax proposal could cost Oregon 36,000 private sector jobs ... Sheriff warns Eastern Oregon monument proposal could spark standoff ... AP: Fire scorches nearly 5 square miles near Umatilla ... State analysis says corporate tax proposal could cost Oregon 36,000 private sector jobs ... Sheriff warns Eastern Oregon monument proposal could spark standoff ... SINCE YOU ASKED Since You Asked: Cashier, not credit card terminal, inspects your electronic signature Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted May. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News When we purchase something with our credit card or debit card, we sign the screen to confirm it's us and not someone else, but it seems that the machine will accept anything I scrawl. What the heck is the machine reading? — Gena, Ashland We too have wondered what that machine's thinking when it tells us "signature accepted" every time we scribble two pixelated horizontal lines dotting a missing "i". After researching credit card company guidelines for merchants as well as card-terminal systems, it turns out the terminal isn't running your signature through some electronic oracle. Instead, the cashier sees a copy of your signature on his or her screen. Merchants are instructed to watch for obvious signs of fraud — such as initials that clearly don't match and misspelled names — Visa's 76-page card acceptance guidebook says. If something's suspicious, the cashier may ask to see your card to verify, and it's up to store policy if things don't "check out" from there. The guide says that thieves often don't take time to practice signatures and instead are seeking to use a stolen card as quickly as possible before the account is blocked. Companies that process card payments for stores encourage the use of those electronic signature pad-terminals because it protects the store from being on the hook for charge-backs if a card holder disputes a charge. If a cardholder disputes a charge as fraudulent and the receipt wasn't signed, the store could be held liable. However, if the store followed Visa or MasterCard's rules, the liability lands on the card company's shoulders. —Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. To see a collection of columns, go to mailtribune.com/youasked . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. MailTribune.com Writer Posted May. 16, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501