Credit cards
Another memory from the bookshop, in the days before Chim & PIN as reminded by a post below. Not really bad customers, but it used to annoy the fuck out of me. It was always Americans:

'Can you sign this, please'
'Sure' (Signs)
I look at the card. 'There's no signature on the card'
'No, I don't sign the card, in case it gets stolen'
(Pause) 'But if it does get stolen, then anyone can just sign your name on the back and then use it as much as they like'
'Are you accusing me of something?'
'Never mind'

It also used to surprise me when every now and then I'd actually ask someone to sign again because their signature didn't match the card, and they'd get all pissy about it. I can't understand this attitude - if your fucking card was stolen, wouldn't you want the shops to be alert for forgeries?

And don't get me started on Chip and fucking PIN. Or the new 'security numbers' on the back. Graaaaughgaah.
( flatfrog Staring vacantly into space, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 16:51, 5 replies)

Gah!
It took me ten minutes to explain to a friend of mine why not signing your card is a Bad Idea.

Ten. Minutes.

Eventually, she did get this look of enlightenment on her face as she realised that ooooh. . .then ANYONE can sign it and the signatures will then always match! Bless her.
(louveciennes , Volvospotter, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 17:08, closed)

Chump and pin
I think I've had the same customer.
(kilt101, Mon 8 Sep 2008, 19:55, closed)

"And don't get me started on Chip and fucking PIN."
Please do. Please.
(oneltrchardonnay, Tue 9 Sep 2008, 12:31, closed)

I would, but then...
No, no, NO, .... HULK SMASH!!!
( flatfrog Staring vacantly into space, Tue 9 Sep 2008, 16:50, closed)

Signatures
Or my all time favourite, the signature matched the card but not the embossed name, the couple had got his and hers confused and apparently I'd been the first person to spot this in TWO YEARS!
(Benzyl, Wed 10 Sep 2008, 19:40, closed)