How do I update CC info for multiple online accts after a data breach?

October 18, 2014 10:50 AM

I am looking for the best way to coordinate credit card or other payment information for multiple online accounts...

Following the recent data breach at Home Depot I was issued a new set of credit cards, and find myself about to embark on updating billing info for numerous sites - Fandango, Starbucks, NYTimes, Amazon,ATT,Comcast etc. - close to 10 or more at last count. I'm going to try to systematically update all of them a single time and am looking to MeFite's for tips on doing this in the easiest, safest, and most durable fashion.

My thought was to use a CC that we keep at home and don't use at merchants to limit the chance of a data breach in the future. Is there any CC that does not require a person to update each site with new security code info every time the card reaches an expiration date? Is there any tech solution that allows for a single portal to link all of these various merchants together so I don't go through this again?

Thank-you.

posted by docpops to Technology (5 answers total)

I haven't found a technical solution to this problem. The last time I had to update my credit card info, I created a little sticky note that I keep in my desk that lists all the sites where my CC info is stored. Should make the next time I have to do this quick and easy.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 11:08 AM on October 18, 2014

I do what you've suggested in your post -- for recurring payments and websites I trust a whole lot and use regularly (Amazon, PayPal), I use a card that I don't use for anything else, so it doesn't get compromised as often. I still have to update it when it expires. I use my other card for offline payments and random websites where I'm typing the card number in.

When it does expire, I just grab the last 3 months worth of bills and go through them, updating each site that appears on the bills. I figure if I haven't had a charge in 3 months, I'll just have to update it next time I actually use that site.
posted by jacquilynne at 11:11 AM on October 18, 2014

This has happened to me enough that I now have a spreadsheet with a list of places where I need to update the card number. I just work down it. But I also do have a separate card for recurring payments, which limits the number of places I have to update it when my regular card gets compromised.
posted by primethyme at 11:41 AM on October 18, 2014

As for preventing having to do this in the future, you could start using paypal for everything that permits paypal payments. Then, all you have to do when a card expires is update your paypal account.
posted by melissasaurus at 11:47 AM on October 18, 2014

Response by poster: Thanks everyone. Sounds like it's as good as it can get. I like the Paypal method but it doesn't seem as though too many places use that option currently.
posted by docpops at 1:54 PM on October 18, 2014