YIKES...Visa and MC help!
 

Just noticed that my VISA and Mastercard both have "See ID" on the back signature line. Will they accept this in Italy?

Are we supposed to bring our California Driver's license with us to Italy...or JUST the passports?

The Italian person may not even be able to read it. I think this is for the US retailers.

If you're asked to show any sort of identification, which in my experience has been unlikely, your passport will be sufficient.

Your passport is way better ID than a driver's license (unless you're driving.)

If you're going to leave your passport in a hotel safe, I'd keep my US driver's license with me anyway. If you're unconscious they at least have an idea of where to get started figuring out who you are.

Hi by,

I write CID on the back of my card as well. The USPS is the only place I have ever had trouble.

Translation to Italian is
"domandare l'identificazione"

Don't see just what good this see ID does...rarely is the problem theft of the actual card. The current scam is for merchants either to swipe the card through a reader or make a copy or simply memorize the number and sell it to organized crime rings operating in the former Soviet Union or Nigeria. These rings then either counterfeit the card (it certainly won't say see ID) or call in the number to merchants who may or may not be in cahoots with them. Net result, you still get tagged and have to rectify the incorrect billing.

Nice thought thought that such a simple solution would prevent fraud but 99.9% of the time it's just a waste of time, unfortunately.

If you are at all worried about theft of the number you can check with your issuing bank..the usual "liability" for such is a max of $50 and for some of the "newer" CC offers it has dropped to $0.
I personally think there are more important things for you to deal with re your upcoming trip than this..enjoy Italy.

And as a follow-on...call your bank and TELL the security dept WHERE you plan to be staying (i.e., the country and for how long) which will PREVENT the "organized crime rings" in Nigeria and elsewhere (except in Italy...cannot imagine there being any crime there) from using the card number at all.

The only valid ID for a non EU citizen in Italy is their passport. You are also required to carry your valid ID at all times here.

Great input and all, but you're missing the point of my question. I'm really looking to find out if I'll have trouble making purchases if my card says "See ID."

We don't plan on carrying our passports with us during the day...so should be bring our drivers licenses with us?

If you're saying you are worried because your card says See ID and is NOT signed on the back....then you might have a valid concern. I'm an American living in the UK. Merchants here DO check for a signature on back and question you if it's not there.

But if you're just worried about the merchants asking to see some ID....then as others have pointed out, your US driver's license won't do the job. You'll have to show your passport.

I don't know...I haven't seen my card say see ID...is this on the signature panel and only visible before you sign it?

While I was in London, saw an article in one of the newspapers that because of rampant fraud (as outlined above) they are going to a system of requiring a PIN number for purchases. Might help with the counterfeiting scheme noted above but what about purchases with stolen numbers through the internet?

If it isn't signed they (merchants in Italy) are supposed to ask you for your ID anyway so the shouldn't have a problem.

By the way, as I wrote earlier, you must carry valid ID on you at all times. A driver's license is not valid ID. Many people leave their passports back at the hotel but carry a photocopy of it with them. This should work fine if a cop does a normal document check (they could always go back to the hotel with you for verification). I also think it would work in conjunction with a driver's license for credit card purchases but don't quote me on this.