PSA: Some Account Providers Automatically Renew Your Credit Card When You Receive a New One
When you get a new credit card, you usually have to update your automatic bill payment information. However, some services update automatically. So how do they find out your new credit card number?
One redditor asked exactly this question after it was unable to update a Netflix account and then discovered that Netflix had updated its credit card information on its own. Typically, some service providers participate in Account Updater programs for credit cards. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover all have these programs and, in a nutshell, they send qualified merchants your new information every time you change your card. You can learn more about the Visa program here.
A consumerist approached Visa on this topic a while ago, concerned about security. Visa’s answer:
Issuers decide when to provide updated account information to merchants: either when cardholders activate their new cards, or within two business days of the date of the change. VAU members must also meet certain eligibility requirements, including Visa security requirements for data transfers. In addition, transactions cannot take place until cardholders activate their new cards.
This is still something to be aware of if you plan on using a different card before updating your information, or are just wondering how Netflix magically found out your new number.
Does Netflix somehow know my new credit card number and I don’t give it to them? | Reddit