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Comment by elmerfud | Hacker News Reader

Card issuers will not automatically update merchants with changed card numbers. Card issues will identify automatic charges and alert you too update them.

Merchants can have an agreement with issuers to access your account but this is 100% opt-in mechanic and can't be accidentally tripped over. I haven't looked on my Amazon account but I've never been offered that option as they have no reason to access my credit card account.

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Have a look at some merchant facing (sales) documentation about account updaters [1]. I'm not affiliated (or even in the payments business, thank goodness), but this seems like a pretty decent overview of programs.

Maybe your issuer doesn't participate, but most do. Many merchants that do recurring or card on file billing will use these services because people often inadverdantly forget to update accounts and don't respond to notifications but do contact customer service when the renewal fails or their new order fails.

[1] https://paymentcloudinc.com/blog/account-updater/

All of these are opt-in services not automatic services that get enabled without your knowledge.

My experience has been the opposite, that customers are automatically opt-ed in if their bank participates in an updater program. Like this Bank FAQ[1] mentions.

[1] https://www.ussfcu.org/_/kcms-doc/1362/48854/Visa-Account-Up...

The merchant may have to opt-in, but the card holder generally doesn't.

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