Why don't all credit card receipts require a signature?

[aonenterprises]

I purchased the square register. I am a restaurant owner. I still want the signed receipt. We allow tips on the receipt. However not all of the receipts print the signature line. It is not specific to debit cards or just one kind of card, it is random. Can anyone tell me why or if there is just a glitch that can hopefully get fixed etc etc. Thank you in advance 

[ryanwanner]

Hello @aonenterprises !

Credit card companies have done away with the signature requirement on a national (worldwide?) level. This happened about three years ago.

Square gives you the ability to collect signatures on your device if the card issuer requests it though. On your register, More -> Settings -> Checkout -> Signature and receipt. Enable collect signatures, then choose sign on device. If you want signatures on every cc transaction, you can enable receipt signatures on your system. The register will print a tip/signature receipt per transaction. At the end of the day you can go in and settle the tips. Remember you have to store those signature receipts for seven years. And honestly, with the register and the customer display, there's really no reason to go back to paper receipts.

[aonenterprises]

Can I access those signed receipts if they sign on the register? I have won a case where the customer tried to get out of the charge because I had a signed receipt, which is why I am not going away from having that in hand at all times.  

[ryanwanner]

@aonenterprisesYou can't see the signature, no, but when you look at the transaction history you will see that it was a card present transaction. It's been so long since I have had signatures enabled I can't remember if it says "signature captured" or the like though.

[aonenterprises]

Oh and I do have collect signatures turned on as well.