Who still makes embossed credit cards?

TakeittotheLimit.

mr_stripey said:

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

Just recently opened up all three of these cards, only Tesco came with the embossed card.

Alex9384

I think Metro bank CC is embossed as well.

Marchitiello

TakeittotheLimit. said:

mr_stripey said:

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

Just recently opened up all three of these cards, only Tesco came with the embossed card.

My HSBC card was also replaced by a printed not embossed version in 2022, as have others issuers

MrFrugalFever

Perhaps it would be wise to ask the car hire co exactly why they require it embossed. Years ago, if a payment system went down in a ship, the cashier would take your credit or debit card and put it in to a device that would swipe over the card and effectively copy the card details by putting pressure on the embossed numerals to enable them to take payment when the systems came back up again. It was called a few things but where I was they called it a ‘whim wham’ machine. Perhaps they do something similar at the car hire co? Can’t they just take a photocopy of the card or a holding fee instead?

most of my cards are no longer embossed, I think 1 of my cards is (capital one).

WillPS

MrFrugalFever said:

Perhaps it would be wise to ask the car hire co exactly why they require it embossed. Years ago, if a payment system went down in a ship, the cashier would take your credit or debit card and put it in to a device that would swipe over the card and effectively copy the card details by putting pressure on the embossed numerals to enable them to take payment when the systems came back up again. It was called a few things but where I was they called it a ‘whim wham’ machine. Perhaps they do something similar at the car hire co? Can’t they just take a photocopy of the card or a holding fee instead?

most of my cards are no longer embossed, I think 1 of my cards is (capital one).

You don't need to take an impression to process a manual payment, it's just a shortcut (as opposed to filling out the details on the manual payment slip in pen).

Rather like back in the days of cheque acceptance you could often hand a blank cheque to the cashier who would then print on all the details for you to sign. If the customer preferred they could just write all those details in themselves. 

I suspect the 'embossed numbers' thing is a very old fashioned and clumsy way of saying they need a card which can be authorised offline - even though embossed numbers does not guarantee such a thing. I'd be very surprised if they didn't accept Amex cards for example, many of which are now issued flat.

born_again

MrFrugalFever said:

Perhaps it would be wise to ask the car hire co exactly why they require it embossed. Years ago, if a payment system went down in a ship, the cashier would take your credit or debit card and put it in to a device that would swipe over the card and effectively copy the card details by putting pressure on the embossed numerals to enable them to take payment when the systems came back up again. It was called a few things but where I was they called it a ‘whim wham’ machine. Perhaps they do something similar at the car hire co? Can’t they just take a photocopy of the card or a holding fee instead?

most of my cards are no longer embossed, I think 1 of my cards is (capital one).

Remember the OP is talking about a US co here.
They are still using them 🤣

brianposter

Send an email to the car hire company, and if they say you will be OK, take a printed copy of the email reply with you. For extra security use Auto-europe or Rentalcars.com to make the booking.

jackjones01

WillPS said:

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

I seen a post on Twitter suggesting Sainsburys bank credit cards are no longer embossed. 

WillPS

jackjones01 said:

WillPS said:

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

I seen a post on Twitter suggesting Sainsburys bank credit cards are no longer embossed. 

Possibly - all the card renders on their website still show an embossed card tho: Credit Cards | Apply Online | Sainsbury’s Bank (sainsburysbank.co.uk)

ForumUser7

WillPS said:

jackjones01 said:

WillPS said:

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

I seen a post on Twitter suggesting Sainsburys bank credit cards are no longer embossed. 

Possibly - all the card renders on their website still show an embossed card tho: Credit Cards | Apply Online | Sainsbury’s Bank (sainsburysbank.co.uk)

https://twitter.com/Sainsburys_Bank/status/1655839881778569217?s=20

https://twitter.com/Sainsburys_Bank/status/1653297960774451201?s=20