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