Yet another credit card processor breach!

[laura*]

News feeds are starting to report yet another credit card processor breach. Mastercard and Visa are saying that perhaps 10 million cards have been compromised. Reading between the lines of the reports, it sounds like this may primarily involve cards used at merchant terminals.

Starting sometime last fall I've become really reluctant to use my credit card(s). Security breaches are simply happening too often! Plus, having my number stolen when I had only used a card 4 or 5 times has really made me distrustful of web merchants.

Has anyone else here changed their behavior? What will be the longer term impact on merchants like teamestrogen?

[goldfinch]

Because your liability for unauthorized charges is minimal I have not changed my charging behavior. I charge just about everything and use minimal cash. I travel all the time; for me cash is far less secure than plastic and checks are not well accepted when you are on the road.

That said, I set up various email alerts on my credit cards. If the balance exceeds a certain dollar amount I get an alert. I also check my account online regularly.

[shootingstar]

Not using my credit card often, actually helps me budget and not overspend.

For instance, when in a grocery store, most of the time I pay straight cash. To ,fresh produce and credit cards don't mix, because fresh produce is elemental, basic stuff and unprocessed, therefore use the real stuff: cash to pay. Yes, I make wierd analogies to help myself.

I do not use debit at all. It will not help me budget.

I'm not concerned about "security"...I bike home with my stuff. Not walking along in the dark, where someone could bop me more easily. Anything else I want, I can wait most of the time until I get to an even bigger city to buy it in person.

So laura* your experience definitely would influence your method of payment. A good thing, laura* to be cautious for online buying.

[marni]

I have one credit card for any and all online purchases which has a low limit. The credit card company gave me grief because my credit rating is very good and they couldn't believe why I would want a credit card with such a low limit but I stuck to my guns. When thekids were younger they could borrow it to pay for some on line game memberships, but had to space their purchases out because the limit was low. I use this as a backup to the small amount of money I carry when I ride my bike.

Other purchases are on one credit card, groceries and real stuff are paid for with cash and debit cards are an anathema.

marni

[salsabike]

I have two Visas, and that's all. I put a security freeze on my credit accounts several years ago when my social security number was on an accountant's laptop that was stolen from his car---that means no one, not even I, can open new credit accounts or take out loans without an extensive process. That's as safe as any of us can get, I think. I am comfortable using the Visas because federal law protects us against credit card fraud. I think debit cards are far more dangerous since those tap right into your bank account, so I have only an ATM card. That's my best effort to stay protected.

[pll]

I have two Visas, and that's all. I put a security freeze on my credit accounts several years ago when my social security number was on an accountant's laptop that was stolen from his car---that means no one, not even I, can open new credit accounts or take out loans without an extensive process. That's as safe as any of us can get, I think. I am comfortable using the Visas because federal law protects us against credit card fraud. I think debit cards are far more dangerous since those tap right into your bank account, so I have only an ATM card. That's my best effort to stay protected.

How do you put a security freeze? That sounds very appealing to me.

[salsabike]

https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html--this explains how to do the freeze request.

You need to do it with all three agencies. We did do a temporary lift a few years ago for a refi and it all worked fine.

Also, when my ss number was lost on that stolen laptop, my insurance company had recently contracted with ID Theft 911 to help protect their customers from fraud. They were very helpful--they know all the tricks like how to get through the endless voice mail chain to a real person at the three security agencies. http://www.idt911.com/

[pll]

https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html--this explains how to do the freeze request.

You need to do it with all three agencies. We did do a temporary lift a few years ago for a refi and it all worked fine.

Also, when my ss number was lost on that stolen laptop, my insurance company had recently contracted with ID Theft 911 to help protect their customers from fraud. They were very helpful--they know all the tricks like how to get through the endless voice mail chain to a real person at the three security agencies. http://www.idt911.com/

Many thanks!!