Re:Ask HN: Why aren't micropayments a thing?
by egty on Friday January 22, 2021 @05:27PM
(#25877082)
Doesn't directly solve the root problem, but I use https://privacy.com for all of my online purchases. It lets you create multiple virtual card numbers, so every site I pay, I give a different card number. If any single site gets hacked, I can disable just that card. And each card can have a spending limit per transaction/day/month/year. Or, you can make the card a "burner" card that automatically deactivates after the first transaction.
Edit: I suppose that doesn't work as well for hotels specifically, at least in terms of giving a card for incidentals. Since it isn't a physical card, not sure if the receptionist would be keen on entering a digital card like that? But I've definitely used it to pay for rooms online.
I think the bigger issues is that if I see an article presented to me as shared on social media or in search results I assume it is free access. I click in, and if they ask for payment, it's a turnoff since I thought it was going to be free. Also, I don't like how credit card information can be continuously used by the organization.
I want to be able to hand an authorization for a single one-time payment to any organization and not an authorization to charge however much they want, whenever they want.
That goes for hotels too. I want to be able to say "Here's my credit card" [but I don't authorize more than $130/day].