Survey uncovers card check flaws

Cashiers fail to check credit card signatures on almost half of all cardholder-present transactions, according to a survey by MasterCard.

The research showed that 39 per cent of 1,000 consumers interviewed claimed cashiers were not checking receipt signatures against the card.

The findings coincided with a survey of 1,300 people by the Chip and PIN programme, which showed 78 per cent thought it would be very or fairly easy to forge a signature.

Some 70 per cent believed the introduction of Chip and PIN, on trial at the moment in Northampton, would make credit card use more secure.