[NewAccnt]

Wow, four times? You should probably be more careful about who you give your number to. Personally, I usually get a new card every 3-5 months. If someone ever sat on my card number, it's useless to them now. Never had any issues either.

[zallen]

@kansface It's not bad for your credit rating. A number is simply a representation of the account. The account doesn't change. It's not like getting a whole new item of credit issued. Just the means to access it.

Also, great idea. But a pain, because most of my bills - cell, internet, insurance(s), etc all go through my credit cards. Is a gigantic pain to change the numbers.

[joewee]

Even old card numbers can be used for transactions in some cases.

[Evbn]

Sure, but that isn't the former owners problem.

Are you thinking of expired cards? That is different.

[runeb]

I can be in some cases. I got mugged and my card was used to pay for parking garages for 1.5 years until it expired even though it was canceled and blocked by the issuing bank. They said that for some transactions, the blocking mechanisms are so expensive its more economically sane to them to refund whatever was drawn.

[Evbn]

Ugh. Did that require you to protest each charge? Or did you get a charge and credit on every bill?

[danneu]

I also do that, but it's because I'm scared of recurring subscriptions that I've forgotten about, especially those that decide to sneak into my pocket after I've deliberately canceled them.

[kansface]

This is bad for your credit report I believe.

[JshWright]

He's not tearing down and setting back up the entire credit line, just the card number associated with it. It won't be reflected on any credit reports.