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From: fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Checks and credit cards
Message-ID: <351@ihu1g.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-May-84 11:35:35 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihu1g.351
Posted: Wed May 16 11:35:35 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 17-May-84 02:58:41 EDT
References: <2969@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 23

(oo)
Apparently it is not necessary for a charge slip to be signed by the
cardholder in order for the transaction to go through.  I have made
several telephone orders on my Visa to a place in PA that sells recording
tape.  The guy on the phone just takes my order, makes out a charge slip,
and sends it in.  What his means is that a merchant could theoretically
make "purchases" on your credit card without your knowledge.  However,
the laws regulating credit card purchases would protect the cardholder
against such illegal transactions; remember that you don't have to pay
a disputed portion of a bill, and the burden of proof is on the issuer.
Since the date, place, and details of a transaction are recorded at the
time it's posted to your account, it would be fairly easy to determine
whether a purchase were legitimate or not.

Regarding check protection, several U.S. Banks *do* offer check overdraft
protection tied to a credit card issued at that bank.  If you overdraw
your account, they chalk it up as a "cash advance" on your credit card,
and you pay userer's interest on the money.  It's still better than having
a check bounce, though.
-- 

                               Bob Fishell
                               ihnp4!ihu1g!fish