From: Jonathan Cooper <entropy@IntNet.net>
To: Cypherpunks <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Message Hash: e23815e5ba2fbc062481a0bed1982e9139249eb7701b379382bfedab56f8d323
Message ID: <Pine.SV4.3.91.950102153905.24408A-100000@xcalibur>
Reply To: <Pine.NXT.3.91.950102120713.12977A-100000@kisa>
UTC Datetime: 1995-01-02 21:00:10 UTC
Raw Date: Mon, 2 Jan 95 13:00:10 PST
From: Jonathan Cooper <entropy@IntNet.net>
Date: Mon, 2 Jan 95 13:00:10 PST
To: Cypherpunks <cypherpunks@toad.com>
Subject: Regarding anonymous debit cards..
In-Reply-To: <Pine.NXT.3.91.950102120713.12977A-100000@kisa>
Message-ID: <Pine.SV4.3.91.950102153905.24408A-100000@xcalibur>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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> Alot of the banks in the US are now offering these cards for use with
> checking accounts.
Yes. There are also the ``secured'' credit cards where one deposits X
dollars into the issuing bank and is allowed 1.5 * X in credit. Many of
these will promote to ``real'' credit cards after a year or some specific
amount of charging that's been paid back on time (usually about $1000).
These are a godsend for those who've gone bankrupt; as such I wouldn't be
terribly surprised if the issuers didn't even bother to do a credit check
until the card promotes, if at all. If this is the case, what's to stop
someone from filling out the application under a pseudonymous identity
with a mail drop as the contact address?
> I think they should. If they would is another matter. It would be
> similar to having a 'secret' Swiss bank account that can be accessed from
> anywhere in the world, converted to cash at cash machines, transferred to
> others, etc.
It's a great idea - at last year's Siggraph convention I needed to
stay in contact with an associate 24 hours a day if need be. I
discovered that in the Kinko's in the Orange County Convention Center
there's a cellular phone rental machine, but it took credit cards and the
people at the desk wouldn't let me rent one without one - even though
I offered to leave my ID and a sizable deposit.
I'm technically not old enough to get a credit card, and regardless of
that fact when I spoke to someone at Barnett Bank about getting one and
listed my occupation as 'Consultant' she laughed in my face.
Solution: I got a secured card from a bank in Vermont. They have $500
of my money in an account, and I have a card with a $500 limit in my
father's name.
> If there was an Anonymous Visa debit card I'd defiantly go for it. It
> would certainly keep those marketing types from tracking my spending
> patterns.
Without a doubt. I wonder, again, if the issuing bank even _cares_
who you are if you get one of these secured cards. There was discussion
here about debit/secured cards some time ago - anyone remember the upshot
of the discussion?
-jon
( --------[ Jonathan D. Cooper ]--------[ entropy@intnet.net ]-------- )
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