Sorry Unc, I'll explain .... instead of using your own Visa (etc) card, the French bank offer a service whereby you have a piece of software on your computer, and when at the point of purchase, you click on this programme, it then asks for your password (provided by the bank) then gives you a card number to use for the purchase. It's a one off number every time. It's a system used here to attempt to stop card fraud on line. Although I'm extremely careful where I buy from on line and use very few retailers, I thought it might be an idea as these 'hackers' get ever more devious.