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Amex Blue & Card reader = secure purchase?

I

imported_Sasha

Senior member
Later this afternoon I will call American Express and hopefully they'll be able to better explain this to me.

Recently, I opened an account with Amex in order to take advantage of their extended warranty on a major purchase. Before I actually use it for that major purchase, I thought about testing the card online using the Amex Blue card reader.

Ok, I get the card reader, install it. Download the software and install it. Get a PIN and use it to setup a profile and then format the chip on the Amex Blue card. Ok, time to place a test order. I chose an online etailer that I have not ordered from before (CDW). I create an account with them, drop a couple of items in their basket, and start the checkout process.

I use the Amex IDkeep's FormFiller to assist in filling out the CDW form payment method, address, etc. and proceed to finish up checking out. I get the confirmation webpage, and a confirmation email. I check the Amex account and see that its been charged. Then I go out for a chore or two.

I come home and a message from CDW saying they have a problem with my bill-to address. Strange, as I have a POB bill & delivery address, and a non-POB physical address for deliveries only as an additional address. I made this happen by calling Amex twice to make sure this was in place.

Well, Amex still has screwed up and not listed my physical addy as an additional delivery, and CDW keeps telling me my bill-to addy is the only addy they'll use (which is BS). So, while thinking about this last night I got to wondering exactly how am I being more secure in using the Amex Blue with card reader for online purchases?

I could just as easily have manually typed in the information and got on with the purchase. So, where is this added security in the card reader? I would hope that this is the case, since in a month or so I will have a $3K purchase coming up.
 
I never heard of the additional security thing... I guess I have but not anyone actually using it. And couldn't a thief still use the numbers on the card to make a purchase? It's not really a big deal... worst case (if card number is stolen) you call amex after you get your bill and tell them you didn't make the purchase and fill out a few forms.

I'd be more concerned w/ dealing with a reputable vendor on a $3000 purchase, not the credit card security.


 
Oh, I know it isn't a big deal, but wondered just the same. Why have the card reader and be able to put personal information on the card? Just confused, that's all.
 
if you want security, you don't have to go through all that trouble.. Well, I guess for an extended warranty, apparently you would, but there are plenty of 1-time use credit card numbers you could use... like Discover's Deskshop.
 
The amex card reader was meant for a time when they had one-time number generation. The card reader was supposed to be able to seamlessly create a one time number on the fly (but the software never seemed to work right, at least when I used it years ago). But now that amex dumped their one-time numbers there is absolutely no reason to use their card reader. You're a lot safer by using a credit card that generates one-time numbers, which amex has decided they want no part of anymore.

 
The discontinuation of Amex Blue's "Private Payments" (their one-time CC number feature) was, IMO, the biggest mistake Amex has made. If it wasn't for my Amex Blue's low rate, I would have cancelled it immediately after the program ended.

There are other credit card companies which still offer one-time numbers. Citibank and Discover come to mind.

 
Well, this is going to a very limited-use endeavor. I just want the extended warranty on the purchase it was meant for. Since the card reader's current use is no longer for one-time use CC numbers than I can see it not being worth my time. In fact, that major purchase will be done my telephone, not through email/browser. Thanks for all the enlightenment. I do have accounts with one-time CC#.
 
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