Scratching off credit card CCV numbers,

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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:53 pm

It ocurred to me that if I scratched off the CCV numbers on my credit cards, it would reduce the risk of fraudulent use if they came into someone else's possession.

Obviously I'd need to remember them for use on internet sites and so on, but does anyone have any idea if this would somehow invalidate the card? I can't see why, but intuitively something tells me this is not a good idea. Any thoughts on this, please?

Elite Baiter Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 1407

some business' are starting to enter them when they swipe your card. This is to combat people stealing your number and making cards.

Best thing to do is write in big black letters on signature line "CHECK ID PLEASE"

Then if the clerk isn't a total moron they will ask you for id before accepting payment.

I wouldn't scratch it off. More trouble than worth.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

Tastysnack wrote:

Best thing to do is write in big black letters on signature line "CHECK ID PLEASE"

Funny you should mention it, I have been doing that for years. The ridiculous part of it is, every time I go to the gas station and buy some beef jerky and a pop (total amount under $5) they ask to check my ID. When I go to Menards or Home Depot (US home improvement stores) and buy $1500 worth of lumber, appliances or whatever, they tell me to swipe my card at the card swipie computer thing on my side of the counter, they never even look it.

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:54 am

^^^me too, pastor. I dropped like 3 benjamins on some electronics at the old Circuit City many years ago and the vacuous clerk just swiped it. The girl at the gas station always check my ID when I get coffee! Strange word

Wannabe Baiter Joined: 08 May 2009 Posts: 90

Here in the US both VISA and MC have instituted a "floor limit" on purchases and ID being checked. What is checked and not checked under that limit is up to store policy. But don't expect someone making minimum wage on a saturday night to check it. Unless they are new.

Under that "limit" ID doesn't have to be checked. Think about the pay at the gas pump transactions. If the transaction is fraud, either the customer has to eat the loss (bad customer relations) or the card issuer has to eat it. It usually comes down to the card issuer eats it as a part of doing business.

If the card issuer has a fraud program in place like "verified by visa" then the third party program may eat some of the cost like a deductible on auto insurance. But if the fraud amounts are small, then usually the issuer eats it all.
As far as scratching the ccv number off, it is personal choice. If you lose your card or there is fraud, notify the issuer (usually a bank) immediately. They usually require notification upon discovery of loss or fraud within a reasonable amount of time. So basically, if you lose it on a friday but don't discover it as lost until sunday, you are still covered for saturday as well because you didn't discover it was lost until sunday. If you find fraud on your statement, you still are covered because you "discovered" the fraud on the statement, not when the transactions actually happened. There might be a "deductible" that you are responsible for. But if you are a good enough customer, or maybe complain a minute or two, they will waive that fee as well as replace the card at no cost to you.

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 8:21 am

I divide my time between South African and Europe/UK. In SA id is never checked when you make a CC purchase, using a SA or an overseas card, anyway the newer SA cards have chip and pin and all are going that way. I am not aware that a merchant ever enters the CCV, but if they needed it, they could ask for it.

In Spain they almost routinely check ID unless they know you. Last week I paid a garage bill of about €600 Euros and they didn't ask for ID (but I suppose they had the car registration details although the car is not in the same name nor registered in the same address as my credit card).

Ironically an hour later we had a meal in a small restaurant and paid the €30 bill by CC and the waiter refused to accept the payment because I presented a Spanish credit card and a South African ID document - obviously both in the same name. AS is normally the case in Spain I stood my ground and eventually he gave in.

To go back to the original question, are there any sound arguments against scratching off the CCV and committing it to memory.

Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2009 1:25 pm

What I find really odd about CC/cash card usage is, if the purchase is under $25 most places in the area I livet don't require you to sign for the charge.

which makes me think this is good way for the CC companies to loose alot of money..

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

mewing_ghecko wrote:

which makes me think this is good way for the CC companies to loose alot of money..

No worries, they just pass the loss on to the CC user and merchants, with higher interest rates and fees.

train boi Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 697

On my work credit card it has my picture on the back of the card and it states that they can request my company ID for any transaction. There is no signature strip as the signature is printed on from the form I filled out. RBS used to issue a similar card before they believed chip and pin was the way. (My work card is chip and pin enabled also but they went for extra security)

Our fuel cards have "Check Company ID" embossed on the front but the retailers never ask for them.

Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 6:03 pm

My CC no longer requires a signature. You have to enter your PIN code as you would for a debit card. That much more difficult to steal and use in person. Doesn't help on the internet unfortunately.

train boi Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 697

^^^

It will all chip and pin enabled cards still have the strip so it can revert to signature.Its a common misconception.

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