Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site opus.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!eagle!harpo!seismo!ut-sally!opus!rcd
From: rcd@opus.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: ? signing credit card slip without amount ?
Message-ID: <217@opus.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 11-Mar-84 14:13:14 EST
Article-I.D.: opus.217
Posted: Sun Mar 11 14:13:14 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 12-Mar-84 07:23:30 EST
References: <873@cvl.UUCP> <368@ut-ngp.UUCP>
Organization: NBI, Boulder
Lines: 31

<>
 >	Most (all?) rental companies present you with a slip to sign
 >	without an amount.  What rights does that give them, actually?
 >	Am I signing my soul away?
Never, NEVER do this.  In a sense, no, you are not signing your soul away,
because if you get an incorrect charge you can contest it (but be careful;
there are limitations on WHICH charges can be contested) and you can always
take direct legal action against the merchant/agency

BUT

all of this assumes that you don't mind taking the chance of a protracted
battle involving at least the merchant and the card company.  You are
giving an opportunity to misuse your charge account - almost inviting it,
in fact.  Why take the chance?  Also, remember, if you sign the blank slip
you are trusting not only the merchant but any employee who might see the
slip.

I'll suggest an alternative - suggest that you sign the slip but take your
copy out and carry it with you.  That way, the merchant has your card
number and a copy of the signature, but you will have a copy of the charge
slip which won't have any information that might be forged onto it.  When
you return and the charges are totalled, your copy of the slip is first
inserted in with the rest.  Of course, this makes your copy a very precious
item while you're carrying it, but I think it's an improvement if you must
sign a blank slip.  (Opinions?)

I'm beginning to find out that merchants will try practices which are
neither required nor approved by the card companies.  This may be one.
-- 
{hao,ucbvax,allegra}!nbires!rcd