Signatures on web sales?

[BluBay]

I recently checked out a site that offers a "signature slip" for online purchases - the customer has to use their mouse to sign. Do you think this will help chargebacks at all? Or will Visa/MS still take the cardholders side? Also would something like this work for avoiding memberships chargebacks?

[Essex_boy]

Like to think it would but guess it wont help.

Card firms will charge back at the drop of a hat, normally yours....

[mack]

Problem being mouse signatures cant be authenticated nearly as easily as a pen and paper signature.

What they should aim for is a web equivalent of chip and pin. A pin for web sales might be a good idea, not sure how this would work though. After all you don't want a merchant having access to your pin. This would need to de done at the gateway somehow.

Perhaps an email from card provider after the purchase with a link to their secure page to type your pin number in. Now that would help prevent charge backs.

Mack.

[ecommerceprofit]

Exactly - a pin code where the merchant never sees it - friggin simple but the credit card companies don't care because they make the cash and the merchant loses out.

[BluBay]

But arnt those touch screen pads pretty much the same? Theyre no real "pen and paper" but count as a legal signature if a chargeback is initiated. . .My problem is with "friendly fraud" chargebacks from customers who would rather chargeback than email/call to cancel their membership - Ive tried showing where the customer "ticked" the agreement box under the terms and conditions but this does not really help because the bank says "we need a signature"/

[topguy29]

Any amount over $1,000 - we send them a PDF to sign and fax back to us. This was recommended to us by our agent and since we initiated it, it has saved us a couple of times.

[Essex_boy]

Thats a good idea.

[lorax]

That IS a great idea topguy!

[Ledfish]

Some kind of signature method is not really going to mean much as long as the "card is not present" This has always been the problem with taking credit cards over the internet. You have no way to show that the person who placed the order was in possession of the card at that time.

In the Brick and Morter world, a card holder can not claim that a charge was not authorized if the merchant has a signature and evidence that the card was present, unless they have reported the card stolen. That is why most merchant who take your card in any method other than swip also imprints it the old fashion way.

[BananaFish]

If you're shipping tangible goods, the delivery signature is proof that the paid goods have been rendered.