What this zip code nonsense?

On Mar 21, 1:06 am, Vince <vi...@vbphoto.net> wrote:
> Coming back from work tonight I had to renew my Metro card.
> UNREAL is the word the first three machines at 42nd and 6th
> either were too slow of too fast and I couldn't get my metro you'd
> think I never operated a machine before.
> At last I went to the credit/debit only machine, now why in the HELL
> does it want my ZIP CODE? In any case it wouldn't honor my credit
> card and at last I got it at my home station.
> I'm sure this ZIP CODE bit has come up before on here so I'm sorry if I
> don't recall what the answer is.

It's like your PIN. If someone steals your card, would you like them
to be able to use it with no controls?

When you get a new card in the mail and have to call a number to
activate it, it tells you to do it from your home phone, since that's
what's on file to identify you.

Vince wrote:
> Peter T. Daniels wrote:
>
>> On Mar 21, 1:06 am, Vince <vi...@vbphoto.net> wrote:
>>
>>> Coming back from work tonight I had to renew my Metro card.
>>> UNREAL is the word the first three machines at 42nd and 6th
>>> either were too slow of too fast and I couldn't get my metro you'd
>>> think I never operated a machine before.
>>> At last I went to the credit/debit only machine, now why in the HELL
>>> does it want my ZIP CODE? In any case it wouldn't honor my credit
>>> card and at last I got it at my home station.
>>> I'm sure this ZIP CODE bit has come up before on here so I'm sorry if I
>>> don't recall what the answer is.
>>
>>
>> It's like your PIN. If someone steals your card, would you like them
>> to be able to use it with no controls?
>>
>> When you get a new card in the mail and have to call a number to
>> activate it, it tells you to do it from your home phone, since that's
>> what's on file to identify you.
>
>
> OH? Thats funny seeing as I've been using the card for over six months
> now and if thats the case why did the other machine(s) ask for it?

My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.

"Bolwerk" <bolwerk@> wrote in message
news:13u6f19pdhr2i10@corp.supernews.com...

> My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
> but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.

One other anecdote: it appears that the machines within my home zipcode
have naver asked, but that all others do . . . Of course maybe that merely
indicates that the machines in this neighborhood are the technilogical
versions of, say the condition of stations on the Sea Beach line <g>.

Cheers,
Jim

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:31:16 -0400, "J.R.Guthrie"
<jguthrie1@nyc.> wrote:

>"Bolwerk" <bolwerk@> wrote in message
>news:13u6f19pdhr2i10@corp.supernews.com...
>
>> My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
>> but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.
>
>One other anecdote: it appears that the machines within my home zipcode
>have naver asked, but that all others do . . . Of course maybe that merely
>indicates that the machines in this neighborhood are the technilogical
>versions of, say the condition of stations on the Sea Beach line <g>.

I only get asked for the zip in Manhattan, never in Brooklyn. I have
not bought metrocards in any other borough.

IIRC, when this requirement was first announced a couple of years ago,
it was stated that it would only be implemented in Manhattan. I use
a Wageworks card (it works like a credit card but is only valid at
metrocard/LIRR/MNRR machines) to pay with pre-tax dollars and
Wageworks sends me a monthly e-mail to remind me what my zip code is.

--
Peter Schleifer
"Save me from the people who would save me from myself"

On Mar 21, 7:45 am, Peter Schleifer <pschl...@speakeasy.org> wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:31:16 -0400, "J.R.Guthrie"
>
> <jguthr...@nyc.> wrote:
> >"Bolwerk" <bolw...@> wrote in message
> >news:13u6f19pdhr2i10@corp.supernews.com...
>
> >> My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
> >> but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.
>
> >One other anecdote:  it appears that the machines within my home zipcode
> >have naver asked, but that all others do . . .  Of course maybe that merely
> >indicates that the machines in this neighborhood are the technilogical
> >versions of, say the condition of stations on the Sea Beach line <g>.
>
> I only get asked for the zip in Manhattan, never in Brooklyn.   I have
> not bought metrocards in any other borough.
>
> IIRC, when this requirement was first announced a couple of years ago,
> it was stated that it would only be implemented in Manhattan.   I use
> a Wageworks card (it works like a credit card but is only valid at
> metrocard/LIRR/MNRR machines) to pay with pre-tax dollars and
> Wageworks sends me a monthly e-mail to remind me what my zip code is.

Sure, how many people need to write their return address anywhere?

On Mar 21, 9:19 am, Steve Grant <ACE1...@> wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:39:03 -0400, Bolwerk <bolw...@> wrote:
> >My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
> >but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.

(Credit cards don't have PINs.)

> What is this Personal Identification Number number of which you speak?

You need it at the Automatic Teller Machine machine.

On Mar 21, 12:27 pm, jdoe <j...@> wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:00:14 -0700 (PDT), "Peter T. Daniels"
>
> <gramma...@> wrote:
> >On Mar 21, 9:19 am, Steve Grant <ACE1...@> wrote:
> >> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:39:03 -0400, Bolwerk <bolw...@> wrote:
> >> >My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
> >> >but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.
>
> >(Credit cards don't have PINs.)
>
> wrong again, many cc do have pins so the holders can use atms for cash
> advances.

Then you're not using it as a credit card, are you.

> No wonder there is a credit crisis in the US if losers like you are
> given credit cards

No wonder the entire US banking system is in crisis if they let people
like you speculate.

That's your third strike. You are out of here.

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:15:25 -0400, Steve Grant <ACE1242@>
wrote:

>It's a mild security check against credit card theft. If you're
>buying a Metrocard with a stolen credit card, you're unlikely to know
>the ZIP code of the card's billing address.
>
>Of course if you stole an entire purse or wallet to get to that point,
>the ZIP code is probably in there somewhere, so the security check
>isn't all that rigorous.

Or you would know what zip code you were in when you stole the purse.

--
Peter Schleifer
"Save me from the people who would save me from myself"

On Mar 22, 3:59 pm, Peter Schleifer <pschl...@speakeasy.org> wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:00:38 -0700 (PDT), "Peter T. Daniels"
>
> <gramma...@> wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:00:38 -0700 (PDT), in nyc.transit you wrote:
> > >On Mar 21, 7:45 am, Peter Schleifer <pschl...@speakeasy.org> wrote:
> >> >> IIRC, when this requirement was first announced a couple of years ago,
> >> >> it was stated that it would only be implemented in Manhattan.   I use
> >> >> a Wageworks card (it works like a credit card but is only valid at
> >> >> metrocard/LIRR/MNRR machines) to pay with pre-tax dollars and
> >> >> Wageworks sends me a monthly e-mail to remind me what my zip code is..
>
> > >Sure, how many people need to write their return address anywhere?
>
> I do need to snail-mail something every once in a while, but I always
> use one of those address stickers that some charity has sent me in a
> futile request for a donation.   But me zip code is there whenever I
> want to read it...

I.e., you don't need to memorize it.

> I also do need to write my address anytime I am ordering something on
> the web that I actually want to get delivered  :)

Your browser doesn't fill in your address automatically after you type
one or two letters? How primitive!

> Actually, I assume Wageworks point with the reminder is that I should
> use my home zip code, not my work zip code.

You should use whichever ZIP code your credit card knows.

(Zone Improvement Plan)

On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:52:30 -0700 (PDT), "Peter T. Daniels"
<grammatim@> wrote:

>On Mar 21, 12:27 pm, jdoe <j...@> wrote:
>> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 09:00:14 -0700 (PDT), "Peter T. Daniels"
>>
>> <gramma...@> wrote:
>> >On Mar 21, 9:19 am, Steve Grant <ACE1...@> wrote:
>> >> On Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:39:03 -0400, Bolwerk <bolw...@> wrote:
>> >> >My experience has always been it asks for a ZIP code with credit cards,
>> >> >but is satisfied with your PIN # for debit cards.
>>
>> >(Credit cards don't have PINs.)
>>
>> wrong again, many cc do have pins so the holders can use atms for cash
>> advances.
>
>Then you're not using it as a credit card, are you.

Actually, yes you are. If you look at a typical credit card statement,
you'll see that there are often two interest rates: one for purchases
and one for cash advances. Even if you have a zero balance before you
get a cash advance, the clock starts ticking immediately on cash
advances as there's no "grace period." The APR on cash advances is
often higher, but regardless of whether it is or not, they use the
average daily rate to start charging you interest immediately on cash
advances.
>
>> No wonder there is a credit crisis in the US if losers like you are
>> given credit cards
>
>No wonder the entire US banking system is in crisis if they let people
>like you speculate.

Who's speculating?
>
>That's your third strike. You are out of here.

But he's right and you're wrong.