5 Tricks That Make Your Credit Card ‘Readable’
We’ve all been there. We go to the store and plan to use our card, but when we get to the register and the clerk swipes it, there’s an error message. The card is unreadable. Argh! It’s frustrating and just a tad embarrassing because the people behind you don’t know what’s going on. All they see is the clerk looking at you funny.
I went to the store today and had that happen. I needed a new card anyway, but it got me thinking about this post. I know several tricks to get the scanner to ‘read’ a card and an internet search provided a couple more. So, here are a few tricks that work and then I’ll give you an idea of why they work.
Trick # 1: Licking the card
The first time I saw a clerk lick my card I about had a conniption fit. My very immediate response was, “what the hell are you doing?” He looked at me in surprise and said that it was a trick to make the scanner read the card. Upon hearing that I was still grossed out, but it made sense.
A magnetic strip is basically a bunch of barcodes strung closely together. But, when a strip gets dirty, it makes it hard for a scanner to read the information. By licking the card, the dirt is removed from the strip and in most cases will allow the scanner to pick up the required information. However, I was a little irritated that he didn’t even wipe my card off before handing it back to me. A stranger’s saliva on my credit card is a bit dirty, in my opinion. I’d much prefer they do something else – like use water or Windex.
Trick # 2: Wiping the card on your clothes
For the same reason as number one, wiping a magnetic strip against clothing will help clear off any dirt that is lodged on the strip. This one isn’t the best because clothing can pick up microscopic bits of dirt and transfer it to the card, or it can simply spread the dirt across the strip. However, on occasion it is effective.
Trick # 3: Scotch Tape
You can use this one of two ways. One, you can put it on and then pull it off. This works a lot like those Biore pore strips that rip the dirt and grime from your pores. Guys, you may not know what I’m talking about, but the ladies probably do. The sticky part of the tape pulls the dirt off of the magnetic strip and gives the scanner a better chance of reading the card.
The second way that you can use the scotch tape trick is to simply leave it on. When a scanner reads a card, it’s looking for a specific amount of information. When you get an error that the car is ‘unreadable’ it’s because the scanner was not able to retrieve the information it needed. However, there are provisions within the technology that allow for anomalies. Without getting too complicated, leaving the tape over the magnetic strip blurs the data signal which fools the scanner into thinking there’s an anomaly, so it allows the scanner to ‘read’ the card.
Trick # 4: Plastic Bag
Many of you have probably seen this one as it’s the easiest for a grocery store clerk to do. Grab a plastic bag and put it around the card, then swipe it through the scanner. The plastic bag works in the same way that the tape does.
Trick # 5: Dollar Bill or Register Receipt
The use of either of these two works in the same way as the plastic bag or the tape; it’s just a different item. Dollar bills or receipt paper are especially handy when standing at an ATM. Just be careful that you don’t get the item lodged into the ATM.
Ok, those are all the tricks I’ve got up my sleeves – though I won’t be licking any cards anytime soon. Let’s hear from you guys. What card tricks do you know?
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