Re: [Sheflug] Re: bounce

[Will Newton <nospam [at] misconception.org.uk>]

On Wed, 10 Jan 2001, Stephen J. Turnbull wrote:

> Not true for MC/VISA.  It depends on your bank; some MC/VISA numbers
> will not go through.  This has gotten a lot better over the last
> couple of years, for sure.

Never had a problem.

> Amex is different because it's a single company doing everything.

VISA ain't just a logo.

>     Will> The Consumer Credit Act gives you a level of
>     Will> protection that debit transactions do not give.
>
> Which is paid for by the much fatter bank margins.

It's called "interest".

> TANSTAAFL.  It ain't whether there is a bank or not, it's how the bank
> makes its profit (and how big it it) that matters.  If the banks
> weren't raking it in from credit cards, the CCA would kill plastic dead.

I only pay a few quid a month on a large balance, so I think I can live
with it TBH.

> Huh?  Just because you are foolish enough to think it's somebody
> else's responsibility to safeguard your details when you post them on
> a broadcast medium doesn't mean the banks are obliged to buy in.

And why is it any more likely that a malicious hacker with the skills to
catch the (usually encrypted) packets in flight than it is that the guy at
your local restaurant is swiping cards twice (the standard way to take
numbers)? Statistically? No.
Remember, if your machine is hacked or the other end's machine that's
hardly anything to do with "broadcast media" is it?

>     Will> but it saves them money, and
>
> And you, too.  Fraud comes out of your pocket in the end.

Not if I'm doing it. :)

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