The Value of Your “Signature” at the Checkout Counter…

When I go to the local home improvement store, they have a funny little ‘signing’ process they make me go through.  They want me to ‘sign’ on one of those checkout pads when I use my credit card.  Apparently, this prevents people from stealing my card and using it without my permission.  Nice idea, but nothing they do prevents this theft.

When I try to ‘sign,’ either the pad is slippery, or the surface so scratched, I cannot get anything to look remotely like my signature.  That does not appear to matter! 

Apparently, that scratched up signing device isn’t connected to anything that remotely protects my identity. Nothing is ‘validating’ my signature at all – this e-signature process is a total waste of time.

Digital Signature from Tom Gonser

The digital signatures above are actual signatures I provided when checking out!  NEITHER of these looks like my signature and they don’t even look like each other!  How exactly does this prevent signature theft and fraud?

Here at DocuSign, we take signatures more seriously. Our electronic signature process involves creating a customized signature, and adopting it for use online.  Then when you want to sign using YOUR signature, the sender can elect to require several different levels of authentication, thus connecting your electronic signature to YOU. The right authentication level depends on the document and risk.