# Have you memorized your credit card number(s)? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043 "2020-07-22T20:13:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/1 "2020-07-22T20:13:50Z")
Do you know your VISA or Mastercard or AMEX account number? Or any other I missed? Looking back, this was asked 13 years ago, but rather than revive a zombie, I shall pose the question again. Plus with more of us making more frequent online purchases, the answer may have changed since the plague hit. As for me - yes. We have one credit card and I know the number, expiration, and the security code. It’s actually the third one in the last 5 years or so (one lost, one compromised), and because they were all issued by the same credit union, some of the numbers remain the same - specifically the first 4 - and others have been close enough that the relearning wasn’t too difficult. I almost never use my debit card, so it’s not memorized. But my main VISA is imprinted in my brain! ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/2 "2020-07-22T20:15:23Z")
I know two of my VISA #s, including the expiration dates and the CCV. I also know my driver’s license #. ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/3 "2020-07-22T20:20:58Z")
I know my Discover number because I’ve had it since 1987 and for a while it was the only card I really used. So it was memorized by repeated filling out of order forms. The other cards are newer and not used as much so no on those. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/4 "2020-07-22T20:28:14Z")
I used to know most of my cards, but as the cards have been replaced over the years due to fraud and the fact that I use a password manager to fill in my card details most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/5 "2020-07-22T20:34:30Z")
No. I keep the number written on a post-it on my desk so I can use it without getting up to retrieve my wallet. Every time I type it out online (which is a lot, maybe once a week or so. I do a lot of random donations.) I think to myself “_Damn, why haven’t you memorized this?_” And it’s been my number for several years. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/6 "2020-07-22T20:45:42Z")
I know the Amex number as I online shop constantly and it’s the main one I use. It really pisses me off when the card gets compromised and I have to relearn the numbers. It happened so many times at gas stations that we don’t use cards at them anymore for that reason, only cash. We try to use cash for most small in-person transactions to reduce the frequency of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/7 "2020-07-22T20:59:53Z")
Yeah, it is easy for all you young whippersnappers. I memorized it when I was young (70 or so) but all I can remember now is the last four numbers. I too have a program (app as they say now) so can enter it with just one click. Or rather with holding down the ALT or CTRL key and hitting a letter or number. Very handy. Besides, I am lucky if I can even remember my name these days. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/8 "2020-07-22T21:05:22Z")
I memorized my main credit card (including CVV and exp date). When the stupid annoying chip started throwing errors in chip readers, instead of having them send me a replacement, I had them issue me a duplicate card and put it in my wallet, while keeping the one I’d memorized in a safe place at home, still valid, so that when I input for purchases online or over the phone, I can still rattle off those pieces of information. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/9 "2020-07-22T21:08:11Z")
Yes I have. It is made you look. ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/10 "2020-07-22T22:09:58Z")
No. I remember the last four since that is useful. It is all familiar when I look at numbers I use frequently. Still I do not have to input them often enough to bother transitioning from the stuff I brain dump immediately after use category. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/11 "2020-07-22T22:17:11Z")
This would have been my answer (except since 1989) up to 4 months ago…but they had to send me a new card with a new number. I’ve got the 16 digits down (although it requires some thought, I can’t rattle them off like the old card) but I keep forgetting the CVV. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/12 "2020-07-22T22:20:02Z")
I know one of my charge card numbers, but not the other three. I only use the one. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/13 "2020-07-22T22:53:45Z")
I gave up on memorizing the new codes in their entirety. These past couple years all the vendors seem to remember it for me, anyways. I just need to memorize the last four. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/14 "2020-07-22T22:58:16Z")
Haha, yes! I do so much online shopping that it’s just easier for me to have it all memorized. I ordered pizza over at my daughter’s house the other day and she was banjaxed when I just up and recited it all over the phone–I guess she always has to go get her purse and look. That’s too much work IMO and memorizing numbers is easy for me so there you go. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/15 "2020-07-22T23:27:58Z")
Yes. Not intentionally, it’s just that when you enter something into a form enough times it gets in your brain. I’ve also memorized my drivers license number, my library card number and used to have my passport number memorized, but it’s been long enough since I was traveling regularly that it’s no longer there. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/16 "2020-07-22T23:28:00Z")
I came close to memorizing it once when traversing a city and using a lot of apps (bike/scooter/venicluar/ferry/tram/train and some other things). Each time I had to re-enter the info and since each app was unique autofill didn’t work. But it did not stick, so no. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/17 "2020-07-23T00:30:49Z")
Not any more. I used to memorize my credit card number, expiration date, CVV code. Then my bank (BoA) started reissuing the card with a new number almost every year due to data loss at one merchant or another (T.J. Maxx, Home Depot, etc.) So I gave up. Now I have a secure online app to enter it automatically anyway, which is the only time I need to know it without having the card in hand. At many stores I use my phone or watch to pay, so the only time I even need the card is at restaurants. American restaurants are still years behind the rest of the world in terms of handling credit cards. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/18 "2020-07-23T01:02:14Z")
No, I used to, but the constant security breaches and new cards issued has made it impossible. I do like that the last two security codes have been my goal weight for one and an area code I’m very familiar with for another. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/19 "2020-07-23T04:10:28Z")
No. I do have my library card number memorized, and my checking account/routing number, but credit or debit card numbers no. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2020, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043/20 "2020-07-23T06:27:29Z")
I have now. A few weeks ago I was ordering something online, as I do a lot these days, and I didn’t have the card in front of me. But then I realized I’d memorized it. Haven’t had to look at it since then. I do know my checking account number and for some reason still remember my driver’s license number from the days when you had to put that information on a check. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-memorized-your-credit-card-number-s/916043.md?page=2)