smile card reader

SparciaM

I've been sent a card reader today from smile and it turns out you need it to amend or make any Standing orders, bill payments, or transfers - so basically most things you would do online, and said that you may have to use it to do phone transactions as well.

I rung up to see if I can opt out and they said it was mandatory and everyone would have one.

Are there any banks that people know of that will definately not be using these card readers?

Why I don't want one is cause I access my banking from many different locations and from my phone and being a bloke, I don't have space in my pockets to carry it round with me everywhere I go.

The_Pedant

Are you allowed any access without it?

I'm with Barclays & was against the use of a reader as I'm overseas from time to time, or access my a/c from other locations. For me though, it turned out that I can access most functionality temporarily (up to 7 days) without the card reader. I just have to enter my card details & some additional security info. This at least allows me to manage my money between accounts & pay some existing payments.

Worth checking, it may not be as bad as you think.

ShelfStacker_3

HSBC have ruled out the readers, as have Lloyds, First Direct and HBOS.

SparciaM

With the smile reader if you amend a standing order, or send money or pay a bill you have to use it.
To log on to view balance is fine and switch between accounts is fine. Even transfers from smile to smile, you need the card.!.

I think they've taken it way too far.!.

realaledrinker

Blame the fraudsters not smile. Personally I am happy to put up with a mild inconvenience ( I will be requesting a second card reader for office use) than risk fraud.

James

realaledrinker wrote: »

Blame the fraudsters not smile. Personally I am happy to put up with a mild inconvenience ( I will be requesting a second card reader for office use) than risk fraud.

Room for thought?

Could card readers be similar to Chip & PIN and another exercise in liability shift? After all, it's the exact same principle.

Just a thought.

billbob

The whole card reader thing seems well over the top just to make a bill payment. I was going to apply for the Co-op account today until I read this. I really don't want the hassle of carrying one of things around as I use internet banking from different computers. I thought that they were already a secure internet bank?

the_annoyed_customer

Well I don't think that card readers are going over the top, as it makes it just a bit harder for people to defraud accounts, and yes I do think at card readers will be the furture of banking. Plus you only use it to set up the payment so the second time you make a payment to another account lets say you don't need to use the card reader. But it's alright until the banks are stupid and lock the account even though its very hard for the fraudsters to have every piece of information as most of the information is not written down, and its not like you have the card reader and your card in the same place all of the time. Use on the phone thats a new one, how are they going to give you a code to autherise it LOL

SparciaM

According to smile, you need the reader to set up payments & transfers but also to do them aswell regardless if it's a new transfer or existing one.

I think I've found a way round it though, by not activating my card reader - so far I've set up and done transfers & not been asked for reader. Reader is still in box & un-activated. Hopefully this'll continue to work.
The idea of using a reader on a train while I do my banking on the phone doesn't appeal at all

JoseChungsDoomsday

hmm, haven't got mine yet... but then that doesn't shock me with smile

realaledrinker

SparciaM wrote: »

According to smile, you need the reader to set up payments & transfers but also to do them aswell regardless if it's a new transfer or existing one.

I think I've found a way round it though, by not activating my card reader - so far I've set up and done transfers & not been asked for reader. Reader is still in box & un-activated. Hopefully this'll continue to work.
The idea of using a reader on a train while I do my banking on the phone doesn't appeal at all

As smile don't support mobile banking how do you manage this?