Who still makes embossed credit cards?

dave__p

As per the title really.

I've booked a hire in the USA and the T&Cs state that I will need an embossed credit card when i collect the car.  I know it seems ridiculous but I've been stung by ridiculous hire car rules before.  I'm happy to apply for a new credit card just for this purpose.  I have a Virgin Money credit card and asked them if they could provide an embossed card - they can't.

I'm hoping someone has recently had a new embossed card.

WillPS

Natwest Group (credit cards)

Co-operative Bank (all cards) + Smile

Tesco Bank (not Clubcard Pay+)

Sainsbury's Bank

Amex Nectar + Platinum Cashback, possibly others

Virgin Money - they allowed me to pick a design, one of which was embosssed (pride/rainbow)

Nationwide - pretty certain all their cards are embossed.

Fluid

Vanquis

Capital One

Aqua

Ocean

EarthBoy

Nationwide and First Direct.  

With First Direct you'll need to have a current account in order to apply for the credit card, and with Nationwide you'll need a current account, savings account, or a mortgage.

born_again

Given cards all come from the same few production facilities (banks do not make their own) It could be a hard job. Given how Visa & Mastercard set the base design of the cards. Banks just add their own logo etc where they want.

Might need  to contact hire co & explain we do not have them in the UK.

WillPS

born_again said:

Given cards all come from the same few production facilities (banks do not make their own) It could be a hard job. Given how Visa & Mastercard set the base design of the cards. Banks just add their own logo etc where they want.

Might need  to contact hire co & explain we do not have them in the UK.

What makes you think we don't have them in the UK?

Card production facilities are perfectly capable of producing cards with and without embossed lettering (as well as other features like notches, bumps... even additional embedded circuitry!)

Issuers have more and more flexibility over design nowadays.

mr_stripey

Just checked in my wallet and my credit cards (HSBC, MBNA, Tesco) are all embossed cards 

born_again

WillPS said:

born_again said:

Given cards all come from the same few production facilities (banks do not make their own) It could be a hard job. Given how Visa & Mastercard set the base design of the cards. Banks just add their own logo etc where they want.

Might need  to contact hire co & explain we do not have them in the UK.

What makes you think we don't have them in the UK?

Card production facilities are perfectly capable of producing cards with and without embossed lettering (as well as other features like notches, bumps... even additional embedded circuitry!)

Issuers have more and more flexibility over design nowadays.

We do have them, but the move in the UK is to non embossed. As a lot of people complained the tipping rubs off & they can not read the numbers. As well as the security side.

So while you may have a old card with embossed  numbers, the change is towards non embossed.

I was going to add in 1st post ring some CC's but the odds on front line staff actually knowing is very slim.

WillPS

born_again said:

WillPS said:

born_again said:

Given cards all come from the same few production facilities (banks do not make their own) It could be a hard job. Given how Visa & Mastercard set the base design of the cards. Banks just add their own logo etc where they want.

Might need  to contact hire co & explain we do not have them in the UK.

What makes you think we don't have them in the UK?

Card production facilities are perfectly capable of producing cards with and without embossed lettering (as well as other features like notches, bumps... even additional embedded circuitry!)

Issuers have more and more flexibility over design nowadays.

We do have them, but the move in the UK is to non embossed. As a lot of people complained the tipping rubs off & they can not read the numbers. As well as the security side.

So while you may have a old card with embossed  numbers, the change is towards non embossed.

I was going to add in 1st post ring some CC's but the odds on front line staff actually knowing is very slim.

Not universally. Nationwide released a new card last year and made a song and dance about the accessibility of it, including embossed numbers: https://www.nationwide.co.uk/news-and-stories/accessible-cards/

We're a very long way from embossed cards becoming a thing of the past.

Fingerbobs

I've had a few non-embossed debit cards now, but all my credit cards have been embossed, including the NatWest and RBS cards I opened last month. 

Alexd52

Fingerbobs said:

I've had a few non-embossed debit cards now, but all my credit cards have been embossed, including the NatWest and RBS cards I opened last month. 

I have a Santander credit card and a Barclaycard Rewards credit card that are not embossed, so there is no hard and fast rule

WillPS

Fingerbobs said:

I've had a few non-embossed debit cards now, but all my credit cards have been embossed, including the NatWest and RBS cards I opened last month. 

Santander, TSB, LBG (except maybe BOS?), Barclaycard and Virgin Money (unless you select an embossed design, if they still offer that) are all flat now.

Natwest Group seemingly haven't got around to it yet for whatever reason but I don't doubt they will at some point.

It's only really Co-op Bank and Nationwide who show no signs of changing to flat, in terms of high street names.