The proliferation of credit cards happened before the proliferation of the internet. How did credit cards work before the internet?

Question

The proliferation of credit cards happened before the proliferation of the internet. How did credit cards work before the internet?

In: 155

Answer 1

Multipart paper/carbon forms about the size and shape of a cheque, and a “card machine” jig. Card went in first; form over the top; roller whizzed along and made an imprint of the embossing on the card. Then (this obviously being pre-PIN) you signed the form to authorise the transaction. You got one of the copies; another went to the card company for processing.