The Benefits Challenges of Using Plastic Identification Cards in Our Everyday Lives

Introduction

Plastic identification cards are becoming increasingly intertwined with daily life, from debit and credit cards to gym and loyalty cards. We use these cards to pay for our favorite meals, enter business buildings, and even prove our identity. But as the number of plastic identification cards taking up room in wallets grows, so do the benefits and the challenges.

Benefits of Plastic Cards

For starters, plastic cards are a convenient alternative to using cash or paper check. Customers can simply use their card to make quick, safe transactions without worrying about bringing the right amount of cash; most businesses accept plastic cards. Plastic cards also track and reward customers for their loyalty and purchases.

Rewards Programs

That's right plastic cards often help you get ahead by enabling businesses to track and reward customers for their loyalty. Loyalty programs are oftentimes associated with different types of plastic cards, for example, gas station rewards cards or airline loyalty cards. Through collecting and tracking points, customers can benefit from rewards such as free flights, discounts, and even free food or other goods. In addition to the rewards, customers can also receive promotional emails or texts about new products, services, sales, and offers.

Security Features

The safety of plastic cards cannot be overstated. Not only do these cards allow customers to make safe, secure transactions, but many also contain additional security features such as contactless payments, chip, biometric, or even facial recognition. When shopping online, plastic cards are highly recommended because they're more secure than debit or credit cards. Due to fraud prevention technologies, customers are less likely to have their identity stolen.

Challenges of Plastic Cards

On the flipside, plastic cards can present some challenges. Many businesses may not accept plastic cards, or they may require the customer to pay a surcharge for card payments. Additionally, identity theft is still a real risk for those who use plastic cards.

Fraud Protection

Despite all the security measures, customers must still be careful when using their plastic cards in order to protect against fraud. Fraudsters are constantly coming up with new, clever ways to scam cardholders, from fake websites to credit card skimming and card cloning. Customers should be vigilant and never give out their card details, use unfamiliar ATMs, or enter their PIN in places that don't appear secure.

Environmental Impact

We can't forget to mention the environmental cost of using plastic cards. In an effort to make plastic cards more secure, card manufacturers are now using more durable products such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Both PVC and PET have long lifespans, making them difficult to recycle and contributing to the overall plastic waste problem.

Summary Review

Plastic cards offer many benefits to cardholders that cash, checks, and paper vouchers just can't compete with, such as convenience, loyalty and rewards programs, and improved security. Unfortunately, there are also some problems associated with using plastic cards, such as a lack of acceptance, increased risk of fraud, and environmental impact.

On the whole, the convenience, loyalty, and security benefits provided by plastic cards far outweigh any potential drawbacks. So, it's a good idea to make sure your wallet contains a few plastic cards to help make your day-to-day life a bit easier. Just make sure to keep an eye out for fraudulent activity and reduce your plastic consumption.