Eli5: When your credit card doesn’t read at a credit card machine, why does covering it with a plastic bag suddenly make it work?

Question

Had this done multiple time at the register. Card not reading, so the cashier will cover the ribbon or the chip with a plastic bag and YATZEE, it goes through. Why?

In: 407

Answer 1

Woah. This is such a blast from the past for me. I used to work as a check out chick in Aus around 2006-2009 and I would always do this before PayWave/ PayPass came around. Unlocked a memory for sure!