Can you photocopy cards with magnetic strips

[tgavin71]

Ok this has absolutely nothing to do with saving money but I have been trying to find out if it is safe to photocopy cards with a magnetic strip. I wish to copy the front and the back of all my cards in my wallet and keep a copy at home just in case my wallet is stolen. That way I can prove who I am. I am fairly sure that you can as a lot of places take copies for id purposes.

[Bookie]

Making a photocopy will not harm the magnetic strip on a credit card. The practice is commonly recommended as a security measure. I've done it with no problems.

[Broken Arrow]

Yes, I've done it before with no problems. Hope that makes you feel better.

[PrincessPerky]

so apparently we should copy the stuff in the wallet? And keep it where?

[sarah4554]

I have copies of all mine also front and back that I keep in our safe. The safe is fire retardent and weighs about 500lbs so I know that everything I put in there is there to stay.

Got the safe when we moved into the house. When we sell that safe will stay with the house. I have no idea how they got the safe in the darn house to begin with!

[vsjhoc]

No problem to copy the cards. You might want to enlarge them to read those tiny phone numbers on the back (OK, I've got over 40 eyes).

I've got copies of the cards, plus bank and 401(k) account numbers, driver's license, social security card, passport, etc, but they're not in a safe. If I have to get out of the house in a hurry, I can't take the safe with me and I may not be able to get to it. I've got everything in a backpack by my bed so I can just grab it and go. It includes a car key, a disc with docs from my computer, some cash, and copies of my marriage license and divorce decree (in case I want to marry the fireman who saves me). It even has a clean t-shirt and underwear (the t-shirt was from a walk I did to raise money for the homeless ).

Yes, I know, there may be a fire downstairs (due to one of my cooking efforts) and I may not be able to get the backpack which is upstairs. I also gave copies of everything to my sister. She lives in another state and put it in her safe deposit box. So I'm ready for ... whatever.

[greedy4chips]

Better yet scan the cards or whatever you have into your computer and you can have a permanent copy. Yes permanent because I have mine uploaded to a site and also sent them to myself via Yahoo email and they are stored there forever (hopefully).

Mythbusters tested that magnetic strip to see how much you would need to demagnetize the strip or delete the data and it is ridiculous the magnetic field needed to do it.

In the old days we would copy the card by using paper and a pencil to do a tracing like you did at the cemetary in art class. That's where I learned how at least.

[sarah4554]

Originally Posted by greedy4chips

Mythbusters tested that magnetic strip to see how much you would need to demagnetize the strip or delete the data and it is ridiculous the magnetic field needed to do it.

I am completely addicted to Mythbusters!

[neatdesign]

Originally Posted by greedy4chips

Better yet scan the cards or whatever you have into your computer and you can have a permanent copy. Yes permanent because I have mine uploaded to a site and also sent them to myself via Yahoo email and they are stored there forever (hopefully).

Yikes. For your sake I hope Yahoo! never has any hacking problems.

~ Jenney

[greedy4chips]

Jenny,

Encrypted files...for my eyes only!

If yahoo does get hacked, very unlikely but yes a slight chance, I doubt anyone would sift through the billions of spam emails to find the one with my images.

I wish them good luck in their quest!



Mythbuster addicts unite!

[tgavin71]

thanks all. Never thought of scanning them. Will save me a few dollars.

[debtfreeme]

i did when i made my emergency financial binder. (what you put in your home emergency grab and go kit)

photocopy front and back. no problems using them after that eitehr.