Credit Card Expiry: The Cascade of Failed Payments

Credit cards typically expire every 3-5 years. Your bank sends a replacement. You activate it. Done.

Except for all the places still trying to charge the old card.

The Problem

Every subscription, recurring payment, and saved card detail is tied to your old expiry date. When the card expires:

• Streaming services stop
• Cloud storage suspends
• Domain registrations fail to renew
• Insurance payments bounce
• Gym memberships lapse (sometimes a feature)

Some services update automatically through card network updates. Many don't.

What Updates Automatically

Visa and Mastercard have account updater services that share new card details with participating merchants. Large companies (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon) typically participate.

Smaller merchants, international services, and older payment systems often don't. These will fail silently until you notice something's wrong.

What to Do When Your Card Arrives

1. Activate the new card - Usually via app, phone, or first transaction
2. Update critical services first - Insurance, utilities, anything with late fees
3. Work through subscriptions - Check your bank statement for recurring charges and update each one
4. Update saved cards - Amazon, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay
5. Destroy the old card - Cut through the chip and magnetic strip

The Timing Problem

Banks typically send replacement cards 2-4 weeks before expiry. This gives you time to update everything, but only if you actually do it.

If you're travelling when the card arrives, or the mail goes astray, you may not have the new card before the old one expires.

A Better Approach

Add credit card expiry to your tasks. Confirm it when you've updated your details, and we'll remind you when the next renewal approaches.