Community Chat

[terrier3]

On 3/19/2015 Kalli said:

I agree but if the cc company refuses to tell me who the merchant is, how do I know which merchant to avoid? I use my card for at least 20 purchases each month. The cc that sent me the email won't tell me which business is responsible for the breach. If I'm going to start avoiding using my cc at all the merchants I patronized recently, I might as well go back to paying cash or writing a check for everything.

Once the breach has been FOUND, there is no reason to avoid them in the future. It sometimes takes months before companies know they have been hacked...but once they realize it, they take steps to secure everything.

Plus, you aren't responsible for one cent of money lost to this kind of fraud.

I was one of the people who used my bank card (debit/credit) to buy flowers at Home Depot last year. My bank issued me a new card. The only "hassle" was checking some of my automatic pays...that turned out not to be a problem either, because they wre linked to my checking account - NOT to the number of the debit/credit card attached to my checking account.

There is fraud inherent in checks too...they sometimes get "lost" in the mail and cashed by other people...and who wants to carry around huge sums of cash to pay bills??? It's not necessary - you won't be out anything in the case of fraud.

[Still Raining]

I am beginning to feel left out. I shop at Home Depot. I shop at Target. Where is my shinny new card?

Gotta wonder how they decide who gets one.

[millieshops]

On 3/19/2015 Kalli said:

I figured I might see it on the news. I'm one who won't even use a debit card because I know they're more likely to be compromised. So seeing this in my email concerned me.

I've had this card for a long time. Would not like to give it up but want to be protected. I realize the breach has already taken place but if I'm uncomfortable with this card, I'm not likely to use it. So why keep my account with this co?

I've kept one of my oldest cards through at least 4 different re-issues. My credit cards are my only "debt" at this point in my life - when I draw my FICO score up, although it's just fine, they tell me if I want to raise it I need to get a new mortgage or a car loan!!! Not happening. But, I do hang on to the credit cards that have a long history; that history continues even when the issuing agency changes the numbers for safety reasons as I understand them.

[lulu2]

The past few years we've had (maybe) 3 reissues due to possible breaches. I doubt they had any effect on our credit report.

At this point in my life I really do not care about my FICO score. In the fall, I purchased a new car. I was surprised when they told me FICO score.

[Kalli]

I thought canceling a card affected the FICO? It's not that I need my FICO to be high. We've never had a problem doing business with our local bank. Still, I don't want my FICO to go down if it doesn't have to.

Anyway, I'm going to pay off the card this coming week. Then I'm going to tuck it away and see if I really miss using it. If not, I'll cancel it.

[muttmom]

We've cancelled a number of credit cards that we no longer used. Based on our present FICO scores it has not affected it.

[terrier3]

On 3/20/2015 Still Raining said:

I am beginning to feel left out. I shop at Home Depot. I shop at Target. Where is my shinny new card?

Gotta wonder how they decide who gets one.

I think at Home Depot, only bank cards were compromised, not their own CC. I used my bank debit/credit card because I just bought flowers....so the card was caught up in the breach.

I exclusively use my Target card at Target to get the 5% discount, so they didn't need to reissue a card.

[KathyPet]

having a card replaced with a new number because your card was lost, stolen or compromised in some way does NOT affect your credit score. The account retains its original opening date, credit limit and payment history.

[straykatz]

On 3/20/2015 Kalli said:

I thought canceling a card affected the FICO? It's not that I need my FICO to be high. We've never had a problem doing business with our local bank. Still, I don't want my FICO to go down if it doesn't have to.

Anyway, I'm going to pay off the card this coming week. Then I'm going to tuck it away and see if I really miss using it. If not, I'll cancel it.

It can affect your score if you have balances over 30% of total credit lines between all cards. Typically if you cancel a card you should open a new one at same time that has same credit limit. Scores take into consideration your total credit line and unused balance along with length of time you had the card and payment history. You shouldn't close you oldest/longest standing history.