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Infinia How do I safely destroy a metal card (it in 🗑)

1RC

TF Premier
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Creatures of the internet.
I need your best advice on how to safely dispose / destroy a metal CC.

Quick Background: My partner thought she lost her CC and immediately called customer care to block and reissue her a new card, which they did. I scared her about tap to pay feature. I have now found her card in my gym shorts.

Now bending HDFC Infinia is basically a wasted effort. I am thinking of hammering a nail through the EMV chip but I also want to cut/scratch off the cardholder name as well. I tried scissors. They don't work. What have you done in the past?

Again, thank you for your advice.

1RC


Update as of June 29, 2023:
  • Received the replacement card within 2 business days. I am surprised with HDFC's speed. It's like they were waiting for her to misplace her card. (I am not taking any responsibility).
  • The original card is now bent and scratched up. I wanted to keep it but I've been told, it's now in garbage.
  • Community members wasted no time in messing with me with their hilarious comments and suggestions. Some even quoted LoTR (#IYKYK).

In conclusion: If you want to destroy your metal card. Refer to the comments below. Proceed at your own risk. Some are safety and health hazard.
 
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I understand that but it's also important to be cautious of disposing something that has your personal information - even if it's just your name. Maybe its just in my head.

That being said, I have a new idea in my head - I am going to tie up with banks and provide their metal card owners reward points when they dispose their metal cards, which can be recycled. I am still doing the math on this venture. 😁
Treat it with some acid, the faceplate will be beyond recognition.
 
In US, you need to return it back to the issuer and they'll do the rest. In India, they simply ask you to do whatever you want to with it as it is deactivated from their end. Discuss this directly with HDFC regarding the disposal of your Infinia.
 
In US, you need to return it back to the issuer and they'll do the rest. In India, they simply ask you to do whatever you want to with it as it is deactivated from their end. Discuss this directly with HDFC regarding the disposal of your Infinia.
Not what I would have expected Walter White to suggest 🤣
 
Creatures of the internet.
I need your best advice on how to safely dispose / destroy a metal CC.

Quick Background: My partner thought she lost her CC and immediately called customer care to block and reissue her a new card, which they did. I scared her about tap to pay feature. I have now found her card in my gym shorts.

Now bending HDFC Infinia is basically a wasted effort. I am thinking of hammering a nail through the EMV chip but I also want to cut/scratch off the cardholder name as well. I tried scissors. They don't work. What have you done in the past?

Again, thank you for your advice.

1RC


Update as of June 29, 2023:
  • Received the replacement card within 2 business days. I am surprised with HDFC's speed. It's like they were waiting for her to misplace her card. (I am not taking any responsibility).
  • The original card is now bent and scratched up. I wanted to keep it but I've been told, it's now in garbage.
  • Community members wasted no time in messing with me with their hilarious comments and suggestions. Some even quoted LoTR (#IYKYK).

In conclusion: If you want to destroy your metal card. Refer to the comments below. Proceed at your own risk. Some are safety and health hazard.
punch a hole in the emv.. use as a keychain for old keys 🙂
 
A simple plier can easy bend the card and a file / nail filer can mess up whatever is left of the etched name.
By the way, not just metal but plastic credit / debit cards can also be recycled. My local trash merchant ("bhangarwaala") takes plastic (hard one, not the one used in polythene bags) at Rs 10/kg. He also takes any and all cardboard / paper at Rs 3-10/kg. All torn envelopes, bus/train tickets, correspondence, packaging, invitation cards, calendars are game. Newspapers get a premium of Rs 15-17/kg. I collect all such trash generated at my home and sell it off every month or two for around Rs 50-150 back.
 
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A simple plier can easy bend the card and a file / nail filter can mess up whatever is left of the etched name.
By the way, not just metal but plastic credit / debit cards can also be recycled. My local trash merchant ("bhangarwaala") takes plastic (hard one, not the one used in polythene bags) at Rs 10/kg. He also takes any and all cardboard / paper at Rs 3-10/kg. All torn envelopes, bus/train tickets, correspondence, packaging, invitation cards, calendars are game. Newspapers get a premium of Rs 15-17/kg. I collect all such trash generated at my home and sell it off every month or two for around Rs 50-150 back.
Cashback on card closure 😎
 
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