[nabs-l] Using a credit/debit card

Mon Nov 10 16:13:31 UTC 2014

I have been told that sometimes a signature guide will interfere with
some touchscreen systems. I, personally, hate the point of sale
devices. I can never see what the charge is, I work with many that are
completely touchscreen, including the pin pad, and I just don't have a
lot of faith in the average Joe behind the counter. Call me paranoid,
but there you have it. I would love to have my cards in Braille so
that I don't have to ask someone for all that information on anny new
card that I get.

On 11/9/14, Cindy Bennett via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> I think that everyone has their preferences for how they keep track of
> information. I have three credit cards and am the treasurer of 2
> organizations. each with their own card. Not to mention my insurance
> card, various loyalty cards, my student ID, bus pass, the list goes on
> that are crammed in my wallet. I have pretty much gotten my credit
> card information down, but it always takes me a while when I get an
> updated card to memorize the new information. I do not use the
> treasury information enough to have it memorized. I can read the print
> numbers on credit cards with raised numbers but can't read the
> three-digit cvv and can often not read the expiration date since it is
> in a smaller font. Some credit cards have no raised lines. So, if you
> can memorize everything, that's awesome. But I don't trust myself
> enough. If I am ordering a pizza, the person on the other line doesn't
> really have time for me to think about my credit card number. I need
> to spout it off quickly. I can often do this, but having a braille
> backup is really handy.
>
> The nice part is that I think braille is one of the safest ways to
> store personal information like that.
>
> Cindy
>
> On 11/9/14, Kaiti Shelton via nabs-l <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>> 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
>>>>>>
>>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>>nabs-l mailing list
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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
>>>>>
>>>>>_______________________________________________
>>>>>nabs-l mailing list
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--
>>>>Jorge A. Paez
>>>>
>>>>LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgeapaez11994
>>>>
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>>>>
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>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>> --
>> Kaiti
>>
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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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-- 
Aleeha Dudley and Seeing Eye Yellow Labrador Dallas
Vice President, Ohio Association of Blind Students
Email: blindcowgirl1993 at gmail.com
Follow me on Twitter at @blindcowgirl199

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