Ask HN: Embossed numbers on credit/debit cards

Posted by Fastidious on Monday October 13, 2014 @12:26PM
from the ask-hn dept.

Embossed numbers on credit cards; why are we still using them? I have never had my credit card "ironed", and embossed numbers add bulk. Is there any reason why they do still exist?

( 2 comments | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: Embossed numbers on credit/debit cards by mcmancini on Monday October 13, 2014 @01:21PM (#8449587)

You're probably living in a city? Outside the city limits, where connectivity can be marginal, it's not uncommon to need to run a card through the carbon copy imprinting thingy. Seems to happen most frequently at old gas stations.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Embossed numbers on credit/debit cards by YoAdrian on Monday October 13, 2014 @01:25PM (#8449603)

Imprinters are always on-hand as backups in case the phone lines go down.

[ Parent | on HN ]