Archive through January 05, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: Archive: 2003 April: The return of The Return of the Gripe Thread (ARCHIVES): Archive through January 05, 2003

Wargod

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:11 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Hmmm...Jmm...would that include the magnetic strip on my drivers license? Or my Costco card? am very bad about my cards...I don't carry a purse or a wallet most the time, so keep them in my back pocket. I'm going to feel silly if thats what the problem is.

Draheid

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:16 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm not an engineer (can't hardly spell it but copied it from your post! lol) but I can say, given the right conditions (temp, humidity, etc) it is possible for plastic bags to create static electricity. However, I don't believe it's nearly enough to create the kind of magnetic field required to alter the info on a credit/debit/atm card.

However, it is entirely possible that it could be accidentally coming in contact with things like the security scanner/remover pad at a checkout (Walmart uses them as do many other stores now) that could easily render the card unusable.

War: When you use your card, do you ALWAYS scan (swipe) it in the machine that's setup for the customer or do you hand it to the cashier to scan it where s/he might set it on the security pad?? Something to think about! :)

Edit to add: It could be your magnetic personality coming out of your .... nevermind! :O

Halfunit

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:19 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Dra, you are an engineer without a degree!

Wargod, if you've gone through so many cards, it HAS to be your magnetic stripe. Does Darren carry his in a wallet?

I'm wondering if it's static created from being in your back pocket and then sliding in and out of your car seat, sliding against your pocket, etc.

Edit - that might explain why the plastic bags somehow "ground" the static built up in the stripe?

Now I sound like I'm talking out my butt.....

Lancecrossfire

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
War, having heard what you just said about keeping them together in your pocket, I think you've come across the problem. The strips don't seem to like rubbing againts each other. They also don't like rubbing against anything else. Small scratches can while out the ability of the strip to be read, even if most of the information is intact.

Ease fix--try getting some kind of protection for the next one (or put it in your glove box) and see if the life is extended. Cheap to run the experiment and you will know once the card exceeds the typical life you are accustomed to one having.

I'm betting this is the problem.

Wargod

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:21 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Only one I have to actually hand it to the cashier is at the convience store I buy gas at. And thats only if I go in for something to buy at the store itself. Everything else, I do myself. Well, the grocery store for them to do the plastic bag, but the rest I do.

Wargod

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Man, ya'll are going to have me carrying a wallet...which creates a new problem...remembering to take it with me, LOL.

Halfunit

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lancecrossfire

Quote:

try getting some kind of protection




Oooohhhh... ATM Card Condoms !! Something more chic than what the banks provide!

<Halfunit gets busy on the patent since she missed out creating the Pasta Pot.>

Pamy

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:31 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
War...eel skin will ruin the magnetic strip on the cards, so make sure your purse/wallet does not have any eel skin

Pamy

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 05:33 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Also, there might be something in your life that is causing this to happen, kinda a feng-shui type thing.

Zachsmom

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 06:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
YAY Pamy!!! I couldn't remember what type of wallet it was..I used to have the same problem war did with ATMs. Finally someone told me that my eel skin wallet was causing this..Since then I have changed to leather wallets and have no problems.

Webkitty

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 06:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Yep, Pamy is right, eel skin did that to my husbands cards. He had to get a new wallet. (it didn't help they were all smooched together in there but...)

Lancecrossfire

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 06:45 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
1/2, I have no doubt it's something that if done with imagination and creativity could catch on--ATM card condoms.

Yes, War, you would have to remember to take the wallet with you--or just keep in in a pocket at all times. I bet you remember your shorts/pants most of the time you leave the house. Ok, maybe you don't.

Urgrace

Thursday, January 02, 2003 - 08:56 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
How about if you just take Lancecrossfire's ATM card? He is very generous with his credit card

Schoolmarm

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 07:41 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Speaking of banks...

I was on my way to Twinkies yesterday and I wanted to stop by a neighboring town to pick up my paycheck from church, thinking I would go to the church's bank and cash it.....WRONG....I went through the drive through and gave them my check and passport (for ID) and asked for cash. The teller told me that if I didn't have an account there, that I would have to go inside, get thumbprinted and pay $5 to cash a check DRAWN ON THEIR OWN BANK. I told her to forget it (she asked if I wanted to open an account) and give me my check and passport back.

I've NEVER heard of a bank charging to cash one of their own checks. And for cripes sakes, it was a PAYROLL check from a CHURCH...what, do they think we are dishonest?

I drove around the corner to the branch of my hometown bank and had NO problem cashing the check.

Go figure!

Juju2bigdog

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 07:47 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Actually, my ATM card came with a condom. Or one I got quite a few years ago did, and I have kept it over the years. I think it is made of Tyvek, the stuff those really strong priority mail envelopes used to be made of, the stuff they use as a moisture barrier on new houses.

I haven't read much of this thread since wargod first posted about her malfunctioning cards, so don't know if anybody else has suggested it. But, wargod, you could ask your bank if they have anything like that for your ATM card. It is just a simple, long-wearing cover for the ATM card, adds no bulk, protects the card.

Wargod

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 11:24 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I get my new cards in the mail...stuck to a piece of paper. But I do have to go into the bank to change the PIN number when it comes so I'll ask for the condom thingie, LOL.

This morning, the kids and I walked up to Walmart...because I can't get gas in my car with no ATM card and the fact that the car is totally dead...again, but I got up there, and had to write a check for 3.84 for turtle food. Now that is annoying.

Anyways, besides the condom for the ATM card, I guess I'll start carrying a wallet or something so I don't have to go through this again. Everytime I go through this it turns into a huge hassel...usually for both me and Darren, LOL.

Draheid

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 11:30 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wargod: As JMM suggested, a very small wallet with a key ring attached might be just what you need. I'm sure you don't leave the house without your keys. Walmart has a few to choose from. :)

Staceyinpa

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 11:46 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I have a gripe...
Why is it when you buy a box of Mike and Ikes 9 out of 10 of them are red??? I mean, I like red and all.. but I think someone is lime-prejudiced!!

Draheid

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 11:49 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Staceyinpa: All I can offer is that it's either a conspiracy against you personally or it's wargod's fault ... In fact, I think you should just presume it's wargod's fault since everything else usually turns out to be! :O
{{{hugs}}} warhoney!

Zachsmom

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 12:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I thought everything was Maris's fault Draheid?

you know I love you maris!!!

Wargod

Friday, January 03, 2003 - 12:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Dra, you'd be suprised how often I leave the house without keys, LOL. I drive Darren and my mom insane by the fact that if I go anywhere with someone else driving, I don't even take my drivers license.

I'll check Walmart next time I go to see what they got. I really don't like to carry anything cuz I'm bad about remembering it, but if it saves on the hassel I'll do it.

Willsfan

Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 02:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
One of my pet peeves is about people using fog lamps for no reason.

Why do people drive with their fog lights on when it is a perfectly clear beautiful night? (stupid!!)
Is it because they want people to know they have fog lights or because they want everybody to know they have an IQ large enough for them to be able to find the switch/button.

Or do they think its "Cool"? Okay, I think my sunglasses are cool but I don't wear them at night because they look cool. Fog lights are for fog - why they do not understand this I don't know.

These people are totally inconsiderate of other drivers!
Rant over...whew. I feel better now.

Pamy

Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 02:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Willsfan..don't some of the newer cars have those lights that automatically stay on if the car is running? I wondered why so many were driving with lights on during the day and someone told me that was the reason.

Willsfan

Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 02:30 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Pamy those are daytime lights.
My last two cars had those and I love them. I think they make some cars more visble during cloudy days, especially if they are driving those sliver/gray cars that blend in with the pavement. LOL

Pamy

Sunday, January 05, 2003 - 04:25 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
aaahhh, thanks for clearing it up!