Barclays PINSentry - get another card reader

danwednesday

Hi,

I'm still miffed about the PINSentry device Barclays now insist we use to access our online banking. I have 3 accounts with them: 2 personal current accounts and a business account, but they will only provide 1 card reader so I need to remember to carry it to and from work on a daily basis if I want to log in to my online banking from home and from work, which I do very regularly.

I just called their customer services department and they said I could obtain a second reader but it would cost £6. I said that my initial card reader was broken, but they still wanted to charge me £6. So even if they deliver a faulty reader, or a reader which breaks after 6 months, you still have to pay £6 for a replacement - which is compulsory if you need online banking!

Has anyone else managed to get a second reader without forking out £6 for the priviledge of using online banking? If so, how? It's completely impractical to carry the reader around everywhere - it's bigger than my mobile phone and wallet, and stands a pretty good chance of getting rained on or breaking if I have to carry it in my pocket 12 hours a day! Not to mention if I go on holiday.

I read somewhere that you can pre-generate your passcodes from the reader, which sounds laborious but useful - although that makes a complete mockery of the 'extra security' these things are supposed to provide. I've also read that there are now hacked machines on the market which contain a SIM card to broadcast your pin and magnetic strip info to criminals, which makes the whole concept completely flawed.

Grrrr!

jack-t_2

Why not open a Natwest account just to get one of their card readers - you can use Natwest readers with Barclays cards.

Natwest readers are free and I believe replacements are free too!!!

Fair enough, Natwest may not offer very competative rates, but full Faster Payments system and free card readers are a bonus.
http://www.natwest.com/global/security/security-centre/online-banking/online-banking-security/card-reader.ashx#180

Can I get an extra Card-Reader?

Yes. Simply log in to online banking, and select 'Order a Card-Reader' under the 'Change Settings' option on the left-side menu. There's no charge for this service.

robertjonesuk

danwednesday wrote: »

Hi,

I'm still miffed about the PINSentry device Barclays now insist we use to access our online banking. I have 3 accounts with them: 2 personal current accounts and a business account, but they will only provide 1 card reader so I need to remember to carry it to and from work on a daily basis if I want to log in to my online banking from home and from work, which I do very regularly.

I just called their customer services department and they said I could obtain a second reader but it would cost £6. I said that my initial card reader was broken, but they still wanted to charge me £6. So even if they deliver a faulty reader, or a reader which breaks after 6 months, you still have to pay £6 for a replacement - which is compulsory if you need online banking!

Has anyone else managed to get a second reader without forking out £6 for the priviledge of using online banking? If so, how? It's completely impractical to carry the reader around everywhere - it's bigger than my mobile phone and wallet, and stands a pretty good chance of getting rained on or breaking if I have to carry it in my pocket 12 hours a day! Not to mention if I go on holiday.

I read somewhere that you can pre-generate your passcodes from the reader, which sounds laborious but useful - although that makes a complete mockery of the 'extra security' these things are supposed to provide. I've also read that there are now hacked machines on the market which contain a SIM card to broadcast your pin and magnetic strip info to criminals, which makes the whole concept completely flawed.

Grrrr!

you can try and go to your local branch and it is possible they will have a spare one that they will give it to you. i work for barclays and we usually have few lying around the branch that i am happily giving away - free of charge.

on the other hand - is your reader really broken or not....

coupaman

When I upgraded to PINsentry the original card reader never arrived through the post. I called the helpline number and said as much to them and they sent another reader without charge and with very little fuss.

Would have been nice if the original had eventually shown up too as I, like many it seems, could do with a second reader handy in the desk drawer at work.

I'm not shelling out £6 for one though.

genieuk

I logged in today on the log-in page there is a message saying that you can still log-in without the pin sentry just follow the link 'forgotten your PINsentry card reader' on the Barclays site

HTH

loulou41

I use barclays for online banking and I did not know I can upgrade to PINSsentry. I wonder whether I should? With NW, I had no option but to upgrade. Thanks

Richard019

genieuk wrote: »

I logged in today on the log-in page there is a message saying that you can still log-in without the pin sentry just follow the link 'forgotten your PINsentry card reader' on the Barclays site

HTH

What a worthwhile exercise introducing that "requirement" was then. :rotfl:

jonwade

danwednesday wrote: »

Hi,

I'm still miffed about the PINSentry device Barclays now insist we use to access our online banking. I have 3 accounts with them: 2 personal current accounts and a business account, but they will only provide 1 card reader so I need to remember to carry it to and from work on a daily basis if I want to log in to my online banking from home and from work, which I do very regularly.

I just called their customer services department and they said I could obtain a second reader but it would cost £6. I said that my initial card reader was broken, but they still wanted to charge me £6. So even if they deliver a faulty reader, or a reader which breaks after 6 months, you still have to pay £6 for a replacement - which is compulsory if you need online banking!

Has anyone else managed to get a second reader without forking out £6 for the priviledge of using online banking? If so, how? It's completely impractical to carry the reader around everywhere - it's bigger than my mobile phone and wallet, and stands a pretty good chance of getting rained on or breaking if I have to carry it in my pocket 12 hours a day! Not to mention if I go on holiday.

I read somewhere that you can pre-generate your passcodes from the reader, which sounds laborious but useful - although that makes a complete mockery of the 'extra security' these things are supposed to provide. I've also read that there are now hacked machines on the market which contain a SIM card to broadcast your pin and magnetic strip info to criminals, which makes the whole concept completely flawed.

Grrrr!

i just phoned barclays because i lost my pinsentry device, they said they would have to charge me £6 if it is for business account but its free for personal account, considering pinsentry accesses all my accounts you know what i said!;)

fiendishly

genieuk wrote: »

I logged in today on the log-in page there is a message saying that you can still log-in without the pin sentry just follow the link 'forgotten your PINsentry card reader' on the Barclays site

HTH

you can only do it the once, as an emergency

BeenieCat

I have had 2 replacements and each time they were adamant i would pay the £6 charge. I was adamant i would not!!

The first time, i said it had broke (it did, it wasn't reading the chip) and they wanted the charge. I said no thanks can you put my online banking back to how it was? They said they'd send me one free as a "goodwill gesture" :rolleyes: Gee thanks.

The second time, they asked for the £6, and i told them my ex took it with him when he moved out, which is true. He said no problem we'll send one free.


Also, i rarely use it, cos i only ever check my balance or transfer between my own accounts, it's much quicker to say i've forgotten it and set up a password which i can use for about 2 weeks (?), then when that time is up i just do it again. All it asks for is your ccard number and security code. Unless i want to pay someone else, then i need the reader.

Pixiethecat

I'm even more annoyed with Barclays now, more than I was since they introduced the blasted pinsentry reader. My pinsentry stopped working a while ago, so I attempted 'basic access'... However in order to set up basic access, I need my pinsentry reader. Great.

I also tried to get a new one, but no.. they want £6 for it.

I've since stopped using my barclays account, and when they called me about services I explained that I didn't want any due to hating the pinsentry.. they told me I was the first person to say that I didn't like it?!?

Mentalists.