Card Readers. I hate them!

Imperfect_One

Co-op doesn't require you to use card reader for transfers to/from your own existing co-op accounts - at least that's something.

premierfella

I recently finally ditched a Co-op account, mainly because of the annoying card reader. Personally, I think it is complete overkill to require use of a card reader to log into an account (Barclays) and/or make a payment to an existing payee (Co-op).

The Co-op telephone advisor dealing with my closure request tried to sell me the virtues of it reducing fraud (surely minimal difference compared to, say, NatWest's approach of card reader only for new payees) and also tried to tell me that ALL banks would be using card readers by the end of the year (plainly untrue as I do not believe Lloyds TSB or HSBC have plans for their use over that timescale - the former using telephone verification instead).

There was a lot of typing going on at the Co-op end, so hopefully my comments were being noted.

rossjp_2

I'm with the Co-op's Smile. I now have a card reader and hate it. The problem of security is a problem for banks because when someone steals money from your account, they have to cover it (not you). Hence the reason they have kicked the problem back to customer and said "here's a problem for you, too".

In the pre-card reader days, I could check my account from work, home, holiday and send money to anyone with information stored in my head, i.e my account number, sort code, PIN a number of questions (last school, memorable date, etc). If my girlfriend and I are on holiday, I might loose my card (or it might have decided to stop working), no problem, find a PC and send money to her account, then use her card to withdraw.

This is my point, that with the advent of internet banking I could use memorised information to move my money around (with a computer connected to the internet, of course). I cannot over emphasise how much of a step forward I think this was. Now it's gone and the excuse from the bank is "security". They have chosen an easy solution for them and inconvenient solution for the customer.

On the other hand, I don't want to leave Smile / the Co-op, for the same reasons I joined them, ethics. Anyone know of another remotely ethical bank?

jamespir

i accisently typed in the wrong number that iwas given from the card reader into my online account and it said number was wrong try again

how do they know this ?

they are not linked and i thought the number you were given is completely random

DrScotsman

jamespir wrote: »

i accisently typed in the wrong number that iwas given from the card reader into my online account and it said number was wrong try again

how do they know this ?

they are not linked and i thought the number you were given is completely random

Let me get this right, is this a number your card reader gives you to log in or do some action, without having to enter a number (besides your PIN) into the card reader first?

If yes, what would the point in the number be if it was completely random?

jamespir

DrScotsman wrote: »

Let me get this right, is this a number your card reader gives you to log in or do some action, without having to enter a number (besides your PIN) into the card reader first?

If yes, what would the point in the number be if it was completely random?

no you put your pin int the card reader and it gives you a number to type into the website

DrScotsman

jamespir wrote: »

no you put your pin int the card reader and it gives you a number to type into the website

...isn't that what I said?

1. Put card in card reader
2. Press button (I'm guessing identify)
3. Enter PIN
4. Number appears on screen
5. Enter number on website.

Am I correct yet?

Olipro

jamespir wrote: »

i accisently typed in the wrong number that iwas given from the card reader into my online account and it said number was wrong try again

how do they know this ?

they are not linked and i thought the number you were given is completely random

do you realise what you're saying? you're suggesting that the bank shouldn't know what number to expect, how the heck is it supposed to work then? magic pixies?

The card generates an ARQC in exactly the same way as it does when you buy something with chip and PIN, this is then filtered against a bitmask contained on the card which reduces the cryptogram down to a number that's 8 digits at most, the bank perform the computation on their end since they know the private key stored in your card and if it matches, the transaction goes through.

DrScotsman

Olipro wrote: »

do you realise what you're saying? you're suggesting that the bank shouldn't know what number to expect, how the heck is it supposed to work then? magic pixies?

Um, james is the one who's saying the numbers are random, not me. Have another read of my post dude.

(Or did you hit the wrong quote button?)

~Chameleon~

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I have a card reader for Nationwide too but have only ever used it once to set up a new payment authorisation. That account too will eventually become defunct as I've since lost the PIN so the next time it asks me to use the card reader I will be unable to.

Haha since this thread has been resurrected I can now confirm the above did happen. I wanted to set up a future transaction to pay off a bill on a date which I knew I wouldn't have internet access. Yes, you guessed it, I couldn't proceed without using a card reader! :rolleyes:

Phoned up the bank to complain and ask if they could instead set up the payment for me.... sorry "computer says no" we can only send payments now, not in the future. Great so how am I supposed to pay my blasted bills then!!! :mad:

I had to request a new PIN & card reader just so I could transfer funds to my main current account and set up the payment from there. I have now closed the account so that's both Barclays and Nationwide that have lost my business now due to those blasted card readers.