[nabs-l] Using a credit/debit card

Mon Nov 10 02:09:12 UTC 2014

Hi all,

Maybe I'm not understanding this right, but why would you want to have
your card in braille?  I found it pretty easy to just memorize my
number, my security pin, and my expiration date for both of the credit
cards I've had.  The number that I am to call in case of an emergency
is available in emails I receive with links to view my statements
online.  With this set up, is there anything that would be available
in braille that I'm not getting using these methods?

As for using a credit card, I have not really had a problem with it.
As others have said, the slot should always be on the right side of
the machine, and you can usually use the raised numbering on the
picture side of the card to help you tactally orient it.  A sticker
will also help too, and should not cause you any problems swiping.   I
have no shame in asking the cashier to swipe the card for me and put
in my acceptance of the charges if the screen is inaccessible, and in
my experiences the signature box has always shown up towards the
bottom or the middle of the screen.  Usually the cashier will tell me
that the okay button is in the top right corner, or bottom right, etc,
and I'll be able to hit it with the pen based on those directions.  I
always ask to make sure the card swiped okay.  I find this method
extremely helpful when doing things like grocery shopping; that way I
don't have to worry about having a certain amount of cash on hand, I
can keep track of my spending habits over time, and I can build my
credit by paying back my bills on time.

Hope this helps.

On 11/8/14, Carly Mihalakis via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Good morning, John,
>
> My roommate banks at Wells Fargo and receives his card in braille,
> while I bank with BofA and do not receive my own debet card in braille.
> Car01 AM 11/8/2014, starmy22--- via nabs-l wrote:
>>Hi,
>>I have a question: when getting a new debit or credit card, is it
>>possible for the company who makes the cards to put them in braille
>>if requested by the blind user so they could read them?
>>I hope to hear from you soon.
>>Sincerely,
>>John Sanders
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message----- From: Jorge Paez via nabs-l
>>Sent: Friday, November 07, 2014 4:42 PM
>>To: Cindy Bennett ; National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Using a credit/debit card
>>
>>I can say from personal experience that using a signature guide on a
>>touch screen is fine.
>>Good point about the location of the swiping mechanism though.
>>Also, labeling your cards is another option, so that you know, for
>>instance, that the letter W for Welsfargo always faces away from you
>>when you swipe, that kinda thing.
>>I find that very useful on my cards as well.
>>
>>
>>
>>On 11/7/14, Cindy Bennett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I think the suggestions thus far have been great. If the card just has
>>>a magnetic strip, you can even cut one of the two corners that does
>>>not have a strip. This is not good to do on cards such as bus passes
>>>or student ID's if you don't swipe them but wave them in front of a
>>>sensor.
>>>
>>>I would say that credit card machines tend to be oriented in 2
>>>fashions. Either the slot is on the right or the top. I always slide
>>>my card from top to bottom or from left to right depending on where
>>>the slot is. I always orient the card so the magnetic strip is sliding
>>>through the slot itself, and I face the card so the magnetic strip is
>>>sliding against the part of the machine that is bigger. For example,
>>>if the slot is along the right side, you would want the strip facing
>>>toward and sliding against the left edge of the slot since the bulk of
>>>the machine is to the left of the slot. If the slot is on top, face
>>>the strip toward you as you slide it. Sometimes, the slot is on the
>>>right side, but it is oriented so you lay your card down on the
>>>machine and slide it down. This means that the magnetic strip would be
>>>facing down. It would be similar to laying your card flat on a table
>>>and sliding it down the table.
>>>
>>>I do get irritated at businesses that require a touch signature. I
>>>find it difficult to know where the field is and often just sign my
>>>initials or an X. If you carry a signature guide with you, you could
>>>ask the cashier to place the guide accordingly. I have always wondered
>>>however if the presence of a guide would activate other touch buttons
>>>on a touch pad.
>>>
>>>I have noticed that the touch ok button is often on the lower right
>>>corner of the screen.
>>>
>>>I've come to learn which businesses have which minimums. It is
>>>interesting that you can slide as debit or credit and the transaction
>>>shows up similarly, so I go with the path of least resistance if I
>>>know. For example, I know that Rite Aid does not require a signature
>>>unless over $25, so if my transaction is $25 or less, I will slide as
>>>credit. If it is more, I will enter my pin as their pin pad is
>>>tactile.
>>>
>>>
>>>I'm sure excited about Apple Pay though. Start asking around for it!
>>>There are a couple of apps sponsored by various banks that give
>>>location-based information about what businesses support soft card aka
>>>ApplePay or Gogle Wallet forms of payment.
>>>
>>>Cindy
>>>
>>>On 11/7/14, Jorge Paez via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>Darian:
>>>>On machines that have the tactile keypad the ok button always has a
>>>>circle on it and is usually in the lower right corner of the machine.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>On 11/7/14, Darian Smith via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>>>Hi Kaley,
>>>>>
>>>>>  Point of Sale machines are notorious for their inaccessibility
>>>>> ty.
>>>>>   Most times I find it fairly simple to find the card reader slot as
>>>>> it
>>>>>tends to either be on the right side of machines  in such places as
>>>>>supermarkets.  I tend to be able to  tactually identify a  groove where
>>>>>the
>>>>>card would go.   however  finding   the "ok" button has been pretty
>>>>>difficult to do without sighted assistance  in  my view.
>>>>>   For obvious reasons the clerk is very willing to help you find what
>>>>>you
>>>>>need to find, though it would be  much   more ideal to be able to go
>>>>>about
>>>>>the process   independently  as  others in the store can.
>>>>>  Hope this helps,
>>>>>   Darian
>>>>>>On Nov 7, 2014, at 11:30 AM, kcj21 via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
>>>>>>wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Hi all,
>>>>>>            Generally, I pay with cash, but it is difficult when I
>>>>>> have
>>>>>>to
>>>>>>use my credit or debit card. I find that the machines aren't uniform
>>>>>>and
>>>>>>I
>>>>>>can't always tell where I am suposed to swipe or where to press "ok".
>>>>>>Do
>>>>>>you guys have any tricks for using debit/credit cards.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Best,
>>>>>>Kaley
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Jorge A. Paez
>>>>
>>>>LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeapaez11994
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>--
>>>Cindy Bennett
>>>1st Year Ph.D. Student, University of Washington
>>>Human Centered Design and Engineering
>>>
>>>Treasurer of the Greater Seattle Chapter and of the National
>>>Federation of the Blind of Washington
>>>Affiliates of the National Federation of the Blind
>>>
>>>clb5590 at gmail.com
>>>
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>>
>>
>>--
>>Jorge A. Paez
>>
>>LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeapaez11994
>>
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-- 
Kaiti