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Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

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Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#51
post #11

I wonder why this isn't standard service from every credit card provider, ideally as an app. It would make the CC numbers from database leaks a less valuable target since users could easily compartmentalize for every transaction.

Tokenized payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) which are supported by many card providers work by generating a new card number when you add it to the device.

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That may be a bad idea — you have entered into a contract, one that likely doesn't account for that sort of "cancellation" and so gyms could legally keep charging you, consider the account delinquent for awhile, then close it and sell that debt to a collection agency. On the other hand 24h fitness auto-canceled my membership when I didn't go for a little while, so at least some have some kind of incentive to not have…

you have entered into a contract, one that likely doesn't account for that sort of "cancellation" and so gyms could legally keep charging you, consider the account delinquent for awhile, then close it and sell that debt to a collection agency. This happens. A LOT.

My wife and I own two gyms, and no matter how easy we try to make it for people to cancel - you can literally email us at 9pm the day before you get charged and if we see it we'll cancel it - people still treat the charge back functionality like an "oops didn't mean it lol" thing.

Huge gyms like Gold's or PF have these oppressive terms because they have to, otherwise at their scale they'd be getting hit with multiple charge backs every day at every location. We have less than 300 members between our two facilities and still see one every month or two, mostly from people who don't understand what they're actually for - fraud, subpar delivery of whatever you purchased, or not receiving whatever you purchased - not as an easy refund button so you don't need to take 10 seconds to write an email.

The most we can hope to get out of fighting a charge back is the money back (less the additional charge back review fee which is $15-30 depending on merchant) and a very high likelihood of a 1-star Google and/or Facebook review. And that's best case scenario when the merchant is willing to side with us instead of the customer, which is why we're forced to now have contracts detailing cancellation policies. It will never happen, but I really wish consumers had to pay the charge back fees when they use the feature fraudulently like many do.

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#53
post #18
post #2

That’s awesome. I wonder how easy would it be to code an easy service that generates a different card for every subscriptions. No more hassle to cancel this gym membership!

Look at https://privacy.com/

Just got API access with privacy.com. This space is ready for lift off IMO. Long in the works and long overdue. Good luck to everyone involved in creating, and god speed to those integrating.

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#54
This is really impressive, like the rest of the Stripe API! Although many people here are asking about creating virtual banks and issuing cards to customers, it appears that the intended audience of this API is a business that has a Stripe account, that wants to be able to issue cards to employees/trusted officials that charge against that single Stripe account. There is no mention of issuing cards to external customers that link against their own, external accounts, right?

I ask because the webhook that Stripe fires at purchase time is fantastic, and you could build some great things if their API gave you access to authorized real-time purchase data for customers. This doesn't appear to facilitate that though.

Does anyone know of an API that would allow a Credit Card user the ability to grant real-time webhooks to a 3rd party as they swipe their card? The closest I've ever found would be setting up spending email spending alerts (that certain banks allow), and then forwarding the emails to said 3rd party. It's clunky, and would only work with a few banks. Something like this issuing API would work if Stripe allowed you to issue a card that was linked to a customer's existing card/account. They'd basically be saying, "If I swipe _this_ card that you sent me, I'm agreeing to let you get notified." The other way I've considered would involve creating your own bank and issuing your own cards, but that's real work on both the developer and the customer's part :)

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#55
post #33

Are these credit or debit cards? Asking because I've previously had issues with virtual debit cards where merchants "force posted" transactions through.

Have only spent 10 minutes skimming through various docs. Seems like it's upto the businesses to treat an issued card as debit or credit. I can even see use cases for overdraft. Below is a snippet from their doc[1] > Any use of an issued card that results in funds entering or leaving your Stripe account Here's what I've understood so far. 1. Businesses create, maintain and own customer accounts. It's upto the busines…

That doesn't answer the question of which network and what rules the transaction is governed by.

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#57
Google (and likely others) tend to block these types of virtual cards, similar to how they block Twilio generated phone numbers from being used in registration.

How do you ensure the card numbers will be respected?

Last time I asked this in another thread I got one response that indicated it may be to prevent card number inception, of sorts...

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17524398

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#58
post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have only spent 10 minutes skimming through various docs. Seems like it's upto the businesses to treat an issued card as debit or credit. I can even see use cases for overdraft. Below is a snippet from their doc[1] > Any use of an issued card that results in funds entering or leaving your Stripe account Here's what I've understood so far. 1. Businesses create, maintain and own customer accounts. It's upto the busines…

That doesn't answer the question of which network and what rules the transaction is governed by.

About the network they are quite clear right upfront.

> "Stripe Issuing is certified directly with all major card networks as an issuing processor, which ensures reliability and rapid feature releases"

As for the rules I guess the business needs needs to adhere to the rules of whichever country it operates out of. Don't see Stripe helping there. They have built the roads, it's upto the driver to procure valid license.

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#59
post #40

So the question then begs. Is this the beginnings of a digital bank? Will they start to do things like: - Virtual Accounts / Ledger support. - Micro Loans. There doesn't seem to be a digital bank that does end to end payments in the US, that businesses can plug into with an API and have everything taken care of. There is Railsbank[0], yet they are located in the UK and US support may be in Q4 this year. But they aren…

Have a look at: https://openplatformbbva.com https://synapsefi.com https://www.marqeta.com

Thank you for posting the first link. I know BBVA are behind many companies such as Simple, Azlo, Holvi; either as investing in them or buying them outright.

But I hadn't come across that link when searching on google. I am highly appreciative! I'll send them an email in the morning.

Re: Stripe Issuing – An API for creating physical and virtual cards

#60
This looks really intriguing. I wish it provided some clues on pricing (e.g., order of magnitude numbers on what it will cost to issue a card, monthly fees per card?). That would help one better determine what kinds of business models could use it.
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