What would make a credit card magnetic strip go all weird?
I mainly depend on my bank debit card, but between paychecks, if need be, I use the credit card. It’s an AmEx credit card and it was working perfectly fine, even yesterday. But at some point… well, when I went to to eat somewhere, the the credit card machine would not read the card. The guy punched the number in and all was fine. Then, later, at Wal-Mart, same thing happened. It kept coming up, Card Read Error. I tried one more time at a gas station, with the same result. The number goes in, but I guess something is wrong with the strip… what did I do to mess that up? It had been in the same pocket as my cell phone… could that have caused a problem somehow? Although, I’ve had the two in the same pocket, before.
Thanks.
@Reena: Will the numbers still work if they are keyed into the card machine? Or will the card be perpetually rejected, simply because the magnetic strip doesn’t work? I’m just wondering for the "meanwhile" while I wait on a new card.
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5 comments
Reena on October 8, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Whatever it is…. it won’t change the fact that you need to call Amex and tell them you need a new card because your magnetic strip is demagnetized.
It can happen when your card gets too close to a magnetic field including exposure to a magnet, eel skin wallets and any and all other electronic devices. The only one that will immediately demagnetize the strip is the good old magnet. Usually in the form of a name tag that has been thrown into a purse. All other electronic devices (cell phones) will toy with your card’s strip for months on end without any damage and then decide all the sudden to do their dirty deed when you need the card the most.
xiiixiiixiii on October 8, 2010 at 11:51 pm
if its gotten close to a magnet it will de-scramble the magnetic strip and render it useless, just got back to your bank and they should be able to re-code it
Raina on October 8, 2010 at 11:51 pm
if you put nearby another magnet of any type. the magnet could be messed up
Chris A on October 8, 2010 at 11:51 pm
I corrupted a hotel keycard with a cell phone once. I suppose the same thing can happen to a credit card.
My Take on It on October 8, 2010 at 11:51 pm
It could have been demagnetized somehow.
I also know that when I have had a debit or credit card I use a lot, just the sheer use of it by running it through a machine can scratch or wear it down.
Maybe your cell phone scraped it up and it cannot be read. As long as they can manually put it in, you should be ok til you get a new card. I have had to get replacement cards because the magnetic strip would wear out.