Roger Barter, the President of Corporate Intelligence Services, recently sat down with the team at V12 Marketing to discuss a troubling trend his company has been witnessing—companies disputing the validity of e-signatures on critical credit documents.
“We’ve been hearing from more and more companies claiming they never signed those e-signatures on credit applications and guarantees,” Barter explained. “This undermines the trust and confidence our clients need to provide favorable credit terms.”
The solution, according to Barter, lies in implementing robust e-signature verification processes. By following best practices, his clients can protect themselves and preserve the integrity of their transactions.
The Power of Audit Trails
A secure, compliant e-signature platform is the foundation. Reputable providers like DocuSign and Adobe Sign have built-in systems to capture crucial metadata, including:
✔ Signer’s identity
✔ IP address
✔ Timestamp
✔ Device and location data
“Clients need to require multi-factor authentication before allowing anyone to e-sign documents,” advises Barter. “Things like email verification, SMS codes, or even biometrics create an ironclad audit trail.”
Reviewing the platform’s logs can also reveal the originating device and location of the e-signature, providing powerful evidence if a signer later disputes its validity.
Bulletproof Your Policies
Having clear, well-communicated e-signature policies is essential. Barter recommends that clients consult legal counsel to ensure their processes comply with laws like the ESIGN Act.
“Transparency is crucial,” he says. “Customers need to understand exactly how e-signatures will be verified and what legal standing they hold.”
Ironclad Storage and Backup
Secure management of e-signed documents and audit trails is also essential. Barter advises his clients to follow best practices for storage, backup, and access controls.
“If a signature is ever disputed, you need to be able to quickly produce comprehensive evidence to prove it was valid,” he explains.
Don’t Get Caught Off Guard
By implementing these measures, Barter’s clients can have confidence in their e-signature processes and protect themselves from the growing threat of fraudulent signature disputes.
“Taking the time to get this right upfront can save enormous headaches down the road,” Barter concludes. “The integrity of these critical transactions depends on it.”
