Fliar

I've been reading up on virtual credit cards - seems ideal for when you need to make a payment on a less than optimally secured website or when you simply don't trust the merchant.

I've found a couple of websites but they look like they've been created by a 10 year old on a Sunday afternoon.

Can anyone recommend a reliable provider? (I am based outside the US)

ScottC

I Use Paypal, and it works surprisingly well. I'm not sure it is available outside the US (doubt it). I'd check with your current CC and bank card providers and see if they offer it.

JadedTraveler

The ones I'm familiar with are virtual credit card numbers attached to, and generated by, a credit card you already hold.

AT&T Universal Card, Discover Card and several other of the big CC providers in the US have this service, and it's no additional cost. The charges show up on your regular statement. AT&T's setup is nice because when you generate a virtual number, you can set both a dollar limit, and an expiration date. So for anything that has an automatic renewal, I always use it. And I've used it for purchases on websites that have a less that fortified or home grown feel to them. In total, a few times a year.

There are a few things you should not use then for, purchasing airline tickets where at check in you might be asked to show the credit card the ticket was purchased with, same with movie tickets. Getting a refund to a card number that has expired will be complicated, I'd imagine.

AT&T's demo/explanation is here, the Virtual Account Numbers > Learn More.

CPRich

My Discover and MasterCard providers both allow me to generate single-use numbers, with a defined credit limit. I can do it on their web site or with a small downloaded applet. I've seen quite a few other providers with the same capability.

gfunkdave

Citibank and Bank of America also let you do this with their cards.

cblaisd

Scott, I've been meaning to ask you what you thought about the "PayPal Plugin" that allows such. Iirc (but I may not -- the mind leaks away quickly after 50 ) you haven't always been a fan of Paypal.

As noted by someone else, BofA Visa allows virtual cards.

CApreppie

My Citibank, Disco and BoA cards allow me to create one-use numbers. I always use them to pay for things on the Web for the most part.

Fliar

Thanks people, I've never seen that advertised here in the Netherlands but will check with my cc provider here (Rabobank - Mastercard).

I'll also look into Paypal but I don't think it's available outside the US, IIRC.

lin821

That's not accurate.

Please see their website: PayPal Offerings Worldwide

Netherlands is one of the listed 190 countries.

Fliar

But I don't see any mention of a virtual credit card for a predetermined amount...am at work now, will search more tonight.

wsbombers

Citibank lets you specify the credit limit and expiration date with their virtual account number system. I'm not sure about the other services.

yevlesh2

Citibank.

Would be nice if Amex would offer such a feature - I am really surprised that they don't have it.

JadedTraveler

Citi = AT&T Universal Card. Hadn't realized until this thread came up.

CApreppie

I second that one.

JadedTraveler

AMEX had these years ago, and discontinued them. I remember getting the email and was disappointed to see it go away.

They called their version AMEX Private Payments. And they discontinued the feature several few years before all the other cards started to offer it.

I thing the explanation from AMEX was this overlapped the existing zero liability policy they have against fraudulent transactions, so no need to duplicate.