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Replacement Debit Card

Carson Dyle

Carson Dyle

Diamond Member
I received a new MasterCard debit card in the mail today. I'd been having a hard time with my old one in some terminals, probably since I often carry the card loose in my pocket and the magnetic strip gets abused.

I asked that the card be issued with the exact same number. And it was. Same number, same expiration date, even the same security code.

A. Does the new card really need to be activated, being that it has the same numbers?

B. Does the old card actually need to be destroyed, or will it continue to work after the new one is used?

(Interesting, the new card is chipped, but it has no raised numbers or lettering. To my eye, it looks like a dummy card without the raised characters that I'm used to seeing.)
 
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It depends on the issuing bank. Some require you call or go online. Some activate automatically the first time you use them. Call your bank.
 
More out of curiosity than anything else. I figured the sticker on the card telling me to "Call 1-800... to activate, and destroy the old card" is on every card mailed out, whether or not it really needs to be done.

In particular, what is it about the old card that would cause it to no longer work once the new one is working?
 
old card should still work, I reported my card wasn't lost but misplaced, they sent me another which was exactly the same. Both still work for me, ymmv depending on your bank maybe.
 
BTW, where could I find a cheap/free tyvek card sleeve? My credit union didn't have any, I don't need 10 of them (Amazon) and I don't care about RFID protection.
 
They usually have a sticker on the card telling you how to activate it. Also if it has your name on it, it's not a dummy card.
 
The only reason credit cards (used to) have raised lettering was that if the processing system ever went down (power outage, etc) a store could use carbon paper to make a copy of the card and process it later.

I used to work somewhere 10 years ago that still had a few of the "knuckle dusters" crammed in a forgotten storage closet (ironically gathering dust). The bosses never wanted to get rid of them "just in case."
 
midnight growler said:
The only reason credit cards (used to) have raised lettering was that if the processing system ever went down (power outage, etc) a store could use carbon paper to make a copy of the card and process it later.

I used to work somewhere 10 years ago that still had a few of the "knuckle dusters" crammed in a forgotten storage closet (ironically gathering dust). The bosses never wanted to get rid of them "just in case."
Click to expand...

I saw one being used less than ten years ago, for the reason you stated. It was amusing watching the clerk(that probably never saw one before) try to figure carbon paper and a roller :^D
 
I've got my debit card info stolen twice.

First time they printed me a new one on the spot and it had raised letters. The second time it didn't.

On said second card, the last 4 digits are starting to fade.
 
So, someone explain to me the added security of a chipped card. I'm not sure I get it.

Without activating the card, I went to use it at a self-checkout and and it failed. Didn't give it much thought, figuring that proved it needed activation, so I paid with cash. Went to another grocery store, thinking that their terminals only had swiping ability, so the card should work, but they also had terminals that required me to use the chip. It failed again. But the attendant then asked me to try again and it went through. I'm guessing it must have activated automatically, although I can't understand why it had to fail twice before doing so.
 
Did you choose credit (signing) or debit (enter a PIN) for the transactions? Some cards need to have the PIN entered first to activate the card before it will accept a credit transaction. It all depends on your bank and its instructions.

Regular magnetic card information is not encrypted. The chip cards are encrypted so the Point-of-Sale system only gets a one time use code. A hacker or skimmer won't get anything usable. Chip cards also identify themselves to the POS system, forcing it to use the chip instead of the stripe.

I have seen this work first hand. When the system tells them to insert the chip card instead and you can see the card has no chip on it, you know there is a problem.

Right now, the chips are incredibly secure (but I'd never call anything perfect). The encryption is modern and top notch. The cards themselves are only made in a few ultra-secure places.
http://blog.credit.com/2014/06/secret-facility-behind-the-chip-card-revolution-85128/
Nobody is going to be copying / making fakes of these for a long time. Criminals will always go for the easier targets instead.

That being said, nothing is perfect. Chips don't do anything to protect you using your card online or over the phone. You still need to be careful online. Thieves and hackers will always try to beat the system, hopefully this will make the system a lot stronger and safer.
 
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