

The heat can make the plastic malleable, leading to a distorted shape. Leaving your credit or debit card in a hot car or directly in the sun can cause damage. You may find that your credit card won't swipe. Over time, dust, scratches and oil from your fingers will build up. Your card may touch many surfaces, or hands, every time you pull it out of your wallet. This means the magnetic stripe may be unable to retrieve the identifying information it needs to complete the transaction. Over time, these magnetic particles may get muffled or severed by normal wear and tear. The magnetic stripe on the card is made up of tiny iron-based magnetic particles that convey information when swiped through the credit card reader.

However, if you only have stripe technology and swipe your card at a terminal that only accepts chips, you may find it rejects your payment. You'll notice most cards have both a chip and a magnetic stripe on the back. You need to use your chip to payĬhip cards have been rolled out by credit card issuers in recent years to enhance payment security.

Why can't I swipe my credit card?īelow are six reasons why your credit card won't swipe, what you should know about the magnetic stripe and some suggestions for preventing damage to it in the future.
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However, with so many cards supported by the stripe still in circulation, it's important to know how to troubleshoot when you encounter difficulties with your card. New chip technology and tap-to-pay are now available, which replaces the need for a magnetic stripe, and essentially the entire need to "swipe" a card through a reader. If grime and scratches become excessive, you may find yourself unable to swipe your card at a really inconvenient time. Like any product that is handled regularly, your credit card (and debit card) will likely see some wear and tear over time.
