Calgary Herald: Credit card fights fraud with voice recognition

Update: Arguments with Voice Recognition Credit Cards Surpass Cellphones as Public Nuisance.

Wilmington, DE— Earlier this morning, Cathy Aikens stood at a Safeway Checkout counter, arguing with her voice-recognition credit card as a line of impatient shoppers grew behind her. “Apparently, the card thought that she’d bought enough stuff” said Michael Scott-Patterson “...from where I was in line, I could hear it giving her heat about a box of Entemanns cookies, saying that she didn’t need that box and that she was always sneaking food and why did she have to get rid of the Visa Card because things were just working out again and she was always blocking... real rough stuff... it was extremely personal.” Added Scott-Patterson: “It went on for ten minutes and we just stood there until she could complete her transaction… it took forever. Some people clapped when she was done…the card cursed us out.”

Such conflicts are becoming familiar as credit card customers sign up for voice recognition security cards. New polls suggest that arguments between customers and their credit cards have replaced public cellphone conversations as America’s leading nuisance. “The conversations can be very intense because the card has the upper hand.” stated Dr. Alix Wallace, transaction psychologist for MasterCard, “The cards will allow or disallow the transaction and you can’t really switch to another card because the voice cards will either cease to cooperate on future transactions or, in some circumstances, will actively screw with the credit rating. It’s a very aggressive relationship… these cards are mad with power.” Wallace suggested that current credit card holders reconsider using the cards, instead contacting their credit agencies in order to get a special issue old-style or “classic” card. In the event that a cardholder is in a relationship with an aggressive voice card, Wallace recommended credit counseling. “These cards have issues…they often feel used and think that it is just a money thing…” Asked about her situation, Aikens agreed with Wallace: “It was mean... this whole thing about the cookies...I was upset the whole way home and it would not talk to me… its just sat there in my purse humming that new ‘Life Ain’t Nothing But Digits and Money’ song like some little thug.” “Don’t tell the card,” said Aikens, “but I think that I’m going to switch back to my old Discover Card, [the voicecard] can go out with all the Platinum Visa Hotties it wants but it won’t be coming back to my house in the morning.”

- posted by JB @ 7:04 AM