A Workplace How to Guide: How to Read A Credit Card Number

How to Read a Credit Card Number:
A Workplace How to Guide

I have held a variety of interesting jobs since my first job, daycare assistant, 19 years ago at age 15.  I have worked with children at daycare, children at the McDonald’s Play Place (and their kids…), a teacher’s union, an auto parts store, several chiropractic offices, an engineering firm, and a big, neighborly insurance company.  I’ve encountered children and adults throwing fits, people in extreme pain, people in a hurry, people that don’t know how to work their computers, smart people, less than smart people. I’ve had great questions, less than great questions and funny questions.

Now, I work in customer service for a company that provides basic services…you know, like heat and water.  And more than children throwing a fit, an insured whose car was totaled or home burned to the ground; I speak with very upset people on a daily basis.  Name calling, swearing and yelling can become “the usual” in this line of work.  And it's ok; I smile and use my “phone voice” in an attempt to calm them.  Now, you may be thinking I’m about to tell you how to be nice to your customer service representative – maybe on a later date.

Today, my primary directive is to explain HOW TO READ A CREDIT CARD NUMBER.  “But that’s so simple,” you may say.  No. Apparently it is not so simple.  Here is a list of several things that are unnecessary and/or just less than good ideas when reading your credit card number to your friendly customer service representative.

What Not to Do:

·         Turn into a robot.  That’s right – it’s unnecessary to use your awesome robot voice to read me your card number.  I understand people talk.  Beep beep boop beep.

·         Be a truck driver.   “Three – four – six – niner” Its ok to just say “nine”.  Promise.  Over and out.

·         When I ask, “Would you like to use a Visa or Mastercard?”  Don’t say, “Yes.”  Cause I actually need to know which one.  K, thanks.

·         Don’t spew out your card number, expiration date and CVV code before we ask for it – chances are we aren’t ready if we didn’t ask.  Nobody likes an over achiever.

·         When I say, “Ok, what is the card number?”  Don’t say:
     -  Oh I don’t know, let me go get it.  (Did you not know we were doing this right now?)
     -  Are you ready for the card number?  (Welp, I just asked for it so…yeah.)

·         Don’t read your card numbers 3 at a time.  That is nonsensical.  Also, no need to read them 2 at a time with a 30 second pause in between.  Just go ahead, 4 at a time, very brief pause, continue.

·         Lastly, don’t try to give us a fake card number.  There are a full 16 digits in the card.  Don’t give us your bank account number and tell us it’s a Visa.  Don’t tell us your expiration date is “ten,” then when we ask for the year say, “2012.”  C’mon, lady.  The only thing you’re helping me do right now is write a future blog.  You’re welcome.