Rental application form (paper) asking for credit card authorisation number

mooch

I'm filling in an application form for a rental property and it's asking for credit/debit card details in order to do ID checking.

Fair enough, but it has a 3 space box for 'authorisation number'. I assume this must mean the CVV and I'm very reluctant to write this down on an application form that is going to be kept and stored.

Am I write to be cautious? I'm going to go into the letting agents office to handover the form. Do you think I should insist that the CVV not be written down anywhere? Can it really be needed to do a credit/ID check?

ben500

Absolutely not. No way would I supply this info any more than handing my front door key to a stranger. The only need for that pin is to access the account and withdraw money and the bank is not going to entertain any claim if you have given it out to a third party.

normanmark

They should only take the CVV if they're taking a payment. For credit checks then it shouldn't be required.

Xbigman

This happened to me when looking at renting. The estate agents branch did not have the facilities to take a card payment themselves so it was all on the application form. As long as its a legitimate company its probably ok.
Regards



X

Jemma-T

That number is only your number and the bank's.

Putting it on a form that may end up in a skip is obviously not a good idea. Fair enough if it's the Web (secure) but nothing is secure but you still have to look after your private business.

I've never written my CVV number down on a paper form (or something long term on the Web) and can't see why I ever would.

ElkyElky

Jemma-T wrote: »

That number is only your number and the bank's.

Putting it on a form that may end up in a skip is obviously not a good idea. Fair enough if it's the Web (secure) but nothing is secure but you still have to look after your private business.

I've never written my CVV number down on a paper form (or something long term on the Web) and can't see why I ever would.

I agree. I recently purchased from a secure and known website. After ordering, I noticed this website recorded my card number and CVV number, and made it viewable under the "My Account" section. I was mortified and made them delete that information promptly. I believe storing the CVV number is illegal, isn't it?

TFD_2

ben500 wrote: »

Absolutely not. No way would I supply this info any more than handing my front door key to a stranger. The only need for that pin is to access the account and withdraw money and the bank is not going to entertain any claim if you have given it out to a third party.

They didn't ask for the pin. Read again!

TFD_2

mooch wrote: »

I'm filling in an application form for a rental property and it's asking for credit/debit card details in order to do ID checking.

Fair enough, but it has a 3 space box for 'authorisation number'. I assume this must mean the CVV and I'm very reluctant to write this down on an application form that is going to be kept and stored.

Am I write to be cautious? I'm going to go into the letting agents office to handover the form. Do you think I should insist that the CVV not be written down anywhere? Can it really be needed to do a credit/ID check?

Are you right to be cautious? Not really. For them to do a small authorisation, which is how I assume they get an address match, they will need the full card details inc the CVV number. You use all this information when you purchase online or over the phone. If you don't like their procedures, then rent from somewhere else!

speedbird1973

the whole point of a cvv is it's a pin that isn't your pin.. for "customer not present" transactoins. No problem at all to divulge it.

mooch

Thanks for the replies. Addressed my concerns to the manager of the letting agency today. He said that I could leave the auth number off and they'd do the credit check, but if it fails then that could be the extra information they need to get a pass. I should have a good credit score, so not too concerned.

Thanks again for the advice.

djm1972

The 3-digit "security code" system wasn't thought through at all.