5 ms·

> Swiping pressure-sensitive paper over the raised numbers (the original method) is still possible I've seen this still happen occasionally in taxis - or rathe

by munk-a 5y ago

> Swiping pressure-sensitive paper over the raised numbers (the original method) is still possible I've seen this still happen occasionally in taxis - or rather I saw it happen within the past decade. When I last lived in the states I'd bump into it especially with rural taxis - I assume it's dying quickly though because it's incredibly inconvenient when compared to paying via an app or tapping. The lack of raised digits is actually a serious issue for legibility, I've had the digits fully rub off on some flat-printed cards - this may have been a low quality printing issue but either way I wouldn't applaud it being adopted since the raised numbers make it easier to read by eye.

scrollaway 5y ago
Cards are slowly moving towards not having printed numbers at all, and having the numbers only available via the issuer's app or website. This allows for rotating numbers.
- munk-a 5y ago
  Rotating numbers are still extremely viable with fixed card numbers - it's possible to issue a set of semi-permenant printed numbers and also offer a tool that can issue additional digits for untrustworthy retailers or strange one-off payments. The removal of digits from the card itself is a cost being levied on the customer and it provides no real benefit.
  - scrollaway 5y ago
    Removal of digits reduces reissuances which are annoying for both issuer and customer.
    - thasaleni 5y ago
      Cards are moving towards no card at all i.e. virtual cards. USA is very slow in adopting new payment technology compared to the rest of the world. I live in South Africa and tap to pay is so much of a thing that you do not have to worry if you leave your card at home as you can tap at like 80% of the merchants, and if you can't they will have a fall back like QR code etc, NFC enabled cards have been around for years and all the merchants are really quick in adopting them.
- vxNsr 5y ago
  Care to share some examples? I’ve never seen this in the US
  - nsp 5y ago
    Apple card is the only one I'm aware of
  - gleenn 5y ago
    The Apple credit card only shows the number if you reveal it in Apple Wallet app. Their card, technically run by Goldman Sachs, is all white with no numbers. Not sire how to verify but I've heard if you use it with Apple Pay I think it doesn't use that number, but a rotating one.
    - pwinnski 5y ago
      It can use a rotating number, I think, but when I tap my watch, any receipt with shows me the last four digits still shows me the same last four digits. Apple rotates the CVV, but not the card number so much.
      - gleenn 5y ago
        I thought the whole point of the rotation was to make it hard to track credit card purchases across stores etc. Just rotating the CVV is a nice security feature but definitely not that.
      - vineyardmike 5y ago
        Are you doing it with the Apple Card or just Apple Pay?
        pwinnski 5y ago
        Good point! Almost always Apple Pay, not often the physical card.
  - tialaramex 5y ago
moron4hire 5y ago
I've had a lot of taxi drivers tell me they couldn't take credit cards at all. That is, until I tell them "I have no other way to pay, so I guess... later dude". Suddenly it's, "oh, oh, oh, the card reader is working again, look at that!"
- munk-a 5y ago
  Whenever I get into an airport taxi I always mention "Oh you take credit card right?" due to the queue system at airports they either reply yes and, if they actually don't, I get out guilt free at the other end - or they reply no and I move to the next taxi down the line. A significant number of airport taxis do shady stuff to try and extract extra or under the table payment. (Edit, just to clarify - I get out of the Taxi on the other end guilt free because the driver lied to me about payment options. I don't like skipping out on service payments - I think people should be paid fairly for the work they're doing (even if I could get away with not paying)... but if you're lying to me you're doing me a disservice)
- dzhiurgis 5y ago
  I've filled up gas once for the driver in Malaysia.
- CamperBob2 5y ago
  And people wonder why Uber killed the whole taxi industry overnight.
  - munk-a 5y ago
    Well, in all fairness, Uber mostly killed the whole taxi industry by being really really illegal and not following any of the rules - including those meant for regulatory capture and those for safety. About 3000 women are sexually assaulted by Uber drivers every year - I'm not saying that doesn't happen with taxis too, just be careful about painting a too-rosy picture.
    - girvo 5y ago
      No one painted a too-rosy picture. They just pointed out that Uber killed Taxis because Taxis ran on horrible service plus a government mandated monopoly. Take away the latter like Uber did, and there’s no need to put up with the former.
Reason077 5y ago
> "I wouldn't applaud it being adopted since the raised numbers make it easier to read by eye." I disagree with this. The new-style card numbers are printed in a much more legible typeface, with more contrast than the old raised numbers. Much easier to read IMO, although the blind may disagree! I've had no issues with the ink wearing off on any of my cards.

by munk-a 5y ago

scrollaway 5y ago

Cards are slowly moving towards not having printed numbers at all, and having the numbers only available via the issuer's app or website. This allows for rotating numbers.

munk-a 5y ago
Rotating numbers are still extremely viable with fixed card numbers - it's possible to issue a set of semi-permenant printed numbers and also offer a tool that can issue additional digits for untrustworthy retailers or strange one-off payments. The removal of digits from the card itself is a cost being levied on the customer and it provides no real benefit.
- scrollaway 5y ago
  Removal of digits reduces reissuances which are annoying for both issuer and customer.
  - thasaleni 5y ago
    Cards are moving towards no card at all i.e. virtual cards. USA is very slow in adopting new payment technology compared to the rest of the world. I live in South Africa and tap to pay is so much of a thing that you do not have to worry if you leave your card at home as you can tap at like 80% of the merchants, and if you can't they will have a fall back like QR code etc, NFC enabled cards have been around for years and all the merchants are really quick in adopting them.
vxNsr 5y ago
Care to share some examples? I’ve never seen this in the US
- nsp 5y ago
  Apple card is the only one I'm aware of
- gleenn 5y ago
  The Apple credit card only shows the number if you reveal it in Apple Wallet app. Their card, technically run by Goldman Sachs, is all white with no numbers. Not sire how to verify but I've heard if you use it with Apple Pay I think it doesn't use that number, but a rotating one.
  - pwinnski 5y ago
    It can use a rotating number, I think, but when I tap my watch, any receipt with shows me the last four digits still shows me the same last four digits. Apple rotates the CVV, but not the card number so much.
    - gleenn 5y ago
      I thought the whole point of the rotation was to make it hard to track credit card purchases across stores etc. Just rotating the CVV is a nice security feature but definitely not that.
    - vineyardmike 5y ago
      Are you doing it with the Apple Card or just Apple Pay?
      - pwinnski 5y ago
        Good point! Almost always Apple Pay, not often the physical card.
- tialaramex 5y ago

moron4hire 5y ago

I've had a lot of taxi drivers tell me they couldn't take credit cards at all. That is, until I tell them "I have no other way to pay, so I guess... later dude". Suddenly it's, "oh, oh, oh, the card reader is working again, look at that!"

munk-a 5y ago
Whenever I get into an airport taxi I always mention "Oh you take credit card right?" due to the queue system at airports they either reply yes and, if they actually don't, I get out guilt free at the other end - or they reply no and I move to the next taxi down the line. A significant number of airport taxis do shady stuff to try and extract extra or under the table payment. (Edit, just to clarify - I get out of the Taxi on the other end guilt free because the driver lied to me about payment options. I don't like skipping out on service payments - I think people should be paid fairly for the work they're doing (even if I could get away with not paying)... but if you're lying to me you're doing me a disservice)
dzhiurgis 5y ago
I've filled up gas once for the driver in Malaysia.
CamperBob2 5y ago
And people wonder why Uber killed the whole taxi industry overnight.
- munk-a 5y ago
  Well, in all fairness, Uber mostly killed the whole taxi industry by being really really illegal and not following any of the rules - including those meant for regulatory capture and those for safety. About 3000 women are sexually assaulted by Uber drivers every year - I'm not saying that doesn't happen with taxis too, just be careful about painting a too-rosy picture.
  - girvo 5y ago
    No one painted a too-rosy picture. They just pointed out that Uber killed Taxis because Taxis ran on horrible service plus a government mandated monopoly. Take away the latter like Uber did, and there’s no need to put up with the former.

Reason077 5y ago

> "I wouldn't applaud it being adopted since the raised numbers make it easier to read by eye." I disagree with this. The new-style card numbers are printed in a much more legible typeface, with more contrast than the old raised numbers. Much easier to read IMO, although the blind may disagree! I've had no issues with the ink wearing off on any of my cards.