Nationwide Card Reader

deevineb

My account has just been activated to start using this card reader but I have already had to make a complaint to Nationwide about it. Firstly, I was unaware of the exact date it would be activated and was at work this week when I simply wanted to transfer money to another person's Nationwide a/c and was asked to use the card reader. As I had not brought it to work with me, I was unable to make the transfer. I contacted Customer Services who told me there was NOTHING they could do! In the end, I had to slip out of work and run to my nearest branch to make the transaction. Shouldn't Nationwide have a grace period for people to get used to the reader, as they did with chip and pin?

I agree that banks have to do everything they can to make online banking safer HOWEVER, there are loopholes. Nationwide have only issued the card readers to those accounts with Debit Cards. Anyone with a Cash Card does not have to use the reader. This, as I pointed out to Nationwide in my complaint to them makes a mockery of the whole system because, my partner has a a FlexAccount like mine and uses the internet like me. The only difference is he has a Cash Card and not a Debit Card but he is able to make internal transfers and pay his bills online WITHOUT the use of the reader whereas I have the inconvenience of having to use the reader EVERY TIME I pay a bill or make an internal transfer. I have asked Nationwide why I have to use the reader as making an internal transfer or paying a bill online does not involve me using either my Debit Card No. or my pin no. and the fact that if you have a Cash Card you can still do these things makes the whole thing farcical. I also pointed out to them that I often use my internet account whilst abroad - it means that I now have an additional item to pack in my suitcase - a card reader!

LittleVoice

Have you had your account for very long? Mine is of quite long standing and I am only infrequently asked to use the card reader - usually when I'm setting up a new transaction rather than making a payment to an established payee.

I do, however, agree it is annoying when it is unpredictable whether you may need the reader.

Marg

I am a bit worried now I have a Nationwide flex account but no card reader has appeared - I've had the card for years is it perhaps that I hardly ever use the account - only for holidays?

LittleVoice

Yes, Marg, they probably decided your usage of the card did not warrant issuing the reader. Don't worry.

noh

LittleVoice wrote: »

Have you had your account for very long? Mine is of quite long standing and I am only infrequently asked to use the card reader - usually when I'm setting up a new transaction rather than making a payment to an established payee.

I do, however, agree it is annoying when it is unpredictable whether you may need the reader.

Are you sure?
I have had to use mine for every third party payment whether new or existing. I have had the FlexAccount for more than 20 years and have used their online banking since the days before the internet when it was a dialup service.

Nigel

Milarky

I would just point out that the card reader is not always asked for once you have signed in - and not at all in setting up standing orders (IME) I discovered the inconsistent application of this security device when I first tried to set up a 'single payment' on a set of existing payee details. In addition, the card reader was asked for again just when I wanted to amend the amount or date of the payment.

In contrast, I found I could accomplish pretty much the same task - without being asked for the card reader - by setting up a 'regular arrangement' (SO); allowing the first payment to leave and act as the intended 'single' payment.

Later, however, when I tried to amend this SO so that the next payment would not be identical to the last I hit the buffer of being asked to use the card reader. I left it, came back later - and the same thing happened - so I left a few days instead. When I came back and tried to make an amendment on the SO it let me without asking for the card reader!

So what gives with Nationwide's erratic exercise of this added layer of security? It is a pain but the only way to justify the pain it inflicts is to apply this consistently - not have the thing wafting in and out. How will people ever believe a word NW says about its rationale if it doesn't have one?

noh

My experience was only in making one off payments to a third party when I have always been required to use the reader. I don't find it a problem.
Their FAQ says
"Why do I have to use my FlexAccount Visa debit card when making some payments and not others?
There's a number of factors that determine when you need to use your card and Card Reader to make a third party payment, so please be prepared to use it at any time. However you won't need to use your Card Reader to transfer money between your own Nationwide accounts."

It appears to me if you wish to make an immediate payment to a third party you will need the card reader. If you wish to perform an action that changes or sets up a future payment you may not need to use the card reader.

Nigel

jago25_98

This might be a little offtopic.

I have some thoughts on the card reader.

Fortunately for me, the Nationwide account I just use for travel and online; AKA slightly dodgy stuff. So this could be useful for me. I've noticed these devices used for banks on teh continent. I was skeptical/worried back then.

In theory the card reader does have a place and I think this is why:
- you can clone the card,
- you can use another card reader (I bet they're all the same)
- but the pin creates a unique number that is seems hard to get hold of

So, to this end it could be a big improvement for online transactions that could be a big plus.
However, it might just be that the pin can be worked out using that unique number and card number - who knows. I did a search to see how safe the system is and found nothing. This worried me as there is usually some individual out there who tests it off their own back.

The next thing I notice is that it's not opt in. I would like to enable this for signing online to the bank, so I can bank online at internet cafes. But I can't.

But what about this? Does the card reader present another thing to go wrong? Another way to discover a pin?
The first thing I thought when I got mine was `Crickey, now those buttons are going to wear off and everyone will now my pin is the same number 4 times!` :-)

hethmar

Ive got a Capital One for online transactions now - my NW was skimmed twice or copied somehow.

Kavanne

is a card reader only issued if you have a visa debit?

No extra security for us plebs with cashcards then!!

deevineb

LittleVoice - I have had my a/c for over 10 yrs and have had to use the card reader for ALL transactions, including payments to payees that have been established on my account since I started using the online payment system i.e Thames Water, Council Tax.

I have no problem using the card reader for external transactions, e.g. purchasing items from the internet but I do not understand why it has to be used for standing orders, transferring money to other Nationwide a/cs or even to other bank a/c's.

You do not use your debit card no. or pin no. for this transactions. They go through the same banking process as direct debits (apart from paying money to other Nationwide a/c's, the payment is instant).

If Nationwide were concerned about the security of their customers, why have they not issued card readers to online customers who only have cash cards. Until they can explain what my debit card has to do with me making standing orders or paying to other accounts, I will not be happy with this new system.