A few weeks ago, salesclerks and waiters all over the Central Texas area started getting mad at me. It wasn't because I was surly, or that I made a mess in the store or restaurant (as the case may be)... nope. It was because the magnetic stripe on my Visa Checkcard stopped swiping.

This sucks, because anytime you need to spend money, someone has to enter in a million different numbers. Also, my Checkcard is also my ATM card, so I couldn't withdraw cash with that card... I had to use a separate ATM card... and that's no fun.

So on Tuesday, I go into the bank, sit and wait. Eventually, an kind-looking older lady called me by name over to her desk with a smile.

I explained my situation and she took the offending card and tried to swipe it on her machine, but alas, it didn't swipe. Glad she tested me... I could have been lying, you know?

She told me that there was no problem, and that a replacement card could be sent to me in a week to ten days. I told her that would be very nice, and this time, could you please not put my full, God-given name (yes! middle name and all!) on the card?

She agreed that my checkcard didn't have to be quite that formal and proceeded to type WAY more into computer than "Please Send Tim a New Card"

Damn if she didn't type what seemed like the equivalent of a ten page document in front of me, all into my super-secret bank record. Or she was a frustrated novelist and was in Word, tapping away while I was there... I don't know.

Then, It happened. She looked at me, smiled and cut my debit card in half.

I was aghast. I mean, the damn card worked! It only didn't swipe! I still had money! I have things that auto-bill to that card! Oh GOD I'm going to die without my CheckCard PLEASE OH GOD PLEASE.

I was a bit concerned and confused. I asked why she cut my Checkcard in half, and she explained that I couldn't have two of them, and a new one would be in my mailbox in ten days.

I explained that I didn't have TWO of them, I had NONE of them, and that I needed my card NOW NOW NOW and TOMORROW and NEXT WEEKEND.

Fucking bank.

There has to be a better way, I'm sorry, but there does. I'm going to guard this new card with my life, because it pretty much runs it.

I use my CheckCard for EVERYTHING. I don't like to borrow money on a credit card (even for a few weeks) and if I have cash, I'll spend cash... the key to effective money management for me is to use the debit card. Alas, I don't have one.

The upside? I couldn't go shopping this weekend, or out to eat, or to anything that required money, so I didn't spend much. That's a nice side benefit, but I'm going to be out of town next weekend, and I need my card, dammit!

Eww. That sucks.

What I've seen done, not that its helpful for you now, is if a card has trouble reading, you can put a strip of clear scotch tape on the stripe. I don't think it holds the magnetic bits in, rather it makes the card slightly thicker, and it pushes against the read head more evenly.

Guess its back to the basic banking for ya, eh? Withdrawn nasty cash & spending that. How 70's of you!

Oh man, that bites - big time. In the words of someone who sounds a lot like a Televangelist...."Ah feel yer pain". It could have been worse Tim - you could have done what I did. I withdrew money at an ATM, took the receipt & money & walked away without my card! I didn't realize it until I got home. How's that for stories that suck? Like you, I had to wait the obligatory week to 10 days....it was hell. I now make sure that the card is back in my wallet before I walk away from ANYTHING/ANYWHERE where I've used it.
However, like you said - the upside is that you don't spend as much. Even still.......it sucks!

Good luck.

CheckCard is king. I don't even go places that don't accept them. Not McDonalds, not the shaved ice place down the street...well, I do have one weakness. Steak and Shake. I would begrudgingly take out cash for that, but ONLY for that. And even then, I would be muttering under my breath to the cashier or anyone who would listen. But, BUT, - I think it worked. You see, now they take CheckCards. All because of me. I said all of that to say...wow man, that sucks.