Chip 'n' Pin - A Quick Guide Discussion Area

Margaret_Millne

Quite right.  eg.  We rang Texaco to request they increase the credit limit they had given him yesterday - the conversation went something like this:

Texaco lady:  Oh no, they won't do that until you have had the card 6 months.

Me:  Well you did for me only last week, and I have just got the card.

Texaco Lady:  No, we don't do that. You will have to wait 6 months.

Me:  Well, go and check my card then, and you will see that you do.

TC:  I will put it forward to the underwriters, but I don't think they will do it.  What do you want the increase for anyway?

Me:  To transfer a balance from another card and close it!!

TC:  Well I will put it forward, but I don't think you will get it.


We will wait and see.

Oh, and if I make him take charge he will see just what I have been doing with his credit cards these last months ;D ;D

Just to update you all, went on line this morning and the limit increase we couldn't have has appeared. That's an extra £3700 at 3.9%. So don't take no for an answer, push and you never know what you will get.

By the way, the original limit they gave him was only £1500, so quite a turn around don't you think.

System

Will the pin number automatically be the same number as the number you use to get your money out of the hole in the wall? I am terrible at remembering numbers. Just imagine the embaressement of using your card but forgetting the number at the checkout.

student100

Will the pin number automatically be the same number as the number you use to get your money out of the hole in the wall?

Yes.

System

thanks for the info student, then it wont be much different to drawing money out of the postoffice with those mini screens where you need to pop in your code to verify who you are.

VelvetGlove

I've just remembered something which may help people to remember or pick PINs.

If you think of a 4 digit word which people wouldn't immediately associate back to you & be able to guess.. then just see what the numbers would be if you 'texted' the word

Example:

PIN word - LOVE
PIN number from phone pad - 5683

PIN word - LEEK
PIN number from phone pad - 5335

PIN word - GOLD
PIN number from phone pad - 4659

So you wouldn't have to try to remember a number, you could remember a word which some people find easier.

Hope that was understandable? and that this helps someone

mrme

Actually stannerack, most fraud occurs in shops. (I work at a wine merchant here in Edinburgh).

The fact that no-one in this country seems to sign their signature the way it appears on the cards is the start of the problem.

I spent my first couple of months getting people to re-sign their debit/credit slip as it looked nothing like their signature and got nothing but abuse in return.
I explain that it's to protect them as well as me but they don't listen as no-one else has ever checked their signatures!

If no-one signs their name PROPERLY and no-one bothers to REALLY check the signature, then you have an environment where fraud can flourish.

The Chip&Pin system is similar to EFTPOS back in Australia. Something we've had for over 20 (TWENTY!) years.

A PIN system makes a ton of sense as it makes it VERY difficult (but of course, not impossible) to commit fraud over the counter.


I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the backwards, lazy British banking system was considering this system. They don't seem to like doing anything modern - or sensible!

The next step is to adopt the functionality of EFTPOS.
In Oz, there are no SWITCH or SOLO type cards.
You simply use your normal BASIC hole-in-the-wall ATM card.
You don't have to "qualify" for it, and it's NOT like an overdraught. So EVERYONE in the country, kids included, can happily shop with their basic ATM card.

When you use your ATM card in a shop in Australia, the system checks your bank balance THEN & THERE.
If your balance is even one cent short of covering the sale, the transaction won't go through.

So Australians NEVER get fined by their bank for spending over their limit via EFTPOS.

Of course, the British banking system HATES this idea, as they LOVE getting their all-too-regular £30 fines from SWICTH & SOLO users.

If anyone knows a way we can lobby the banking industry here to change their ways, let me know.
I'm well up for it because I'm sick to death of these old, clunky, inertia-laden British banks.

What are these regular 30 pound fines solo users get, i have never got one (which is obviously great ;D)??

System

Heh - The Tesco garage where I live (no - not in the garage itself! LOL!!!!) accepts Solo cards now, both at the pump and at the kiosk (They never used to). However, a few months back, I put my card in, with the intention of spending my last tenner on fuel before pay day 3 days later, and it authorised saying I could spend a maximum of £60! Of course, I only used a tenner, but it can be done!

Simon

System

You will be blamed for Bank PIN fraud. (The Financial Mail, Mail on Sunday, 09 May 04, pages 24 & 25).

As the new high-security debit and credit cards are issued, customers are warned they may be left to pick up the bill if criminals strike.


Disability fears for new credit cards. (BBC News, 10 May 2004). (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3694593.stm).

Takes me back to my original question - If you dont want to draw money at a cash machine, is it compulsory to have a PIN with a credit card?

Maybe Martin would like to address this question.

James

student100

1. The Mail are renowned for blowing things out of all proportion
I note you say, "they may be left to pick up the bill", but do not justify in what cirumstances this may happen. Remember that although they may, they also may not.

2. Some people have trouble signing a signature. Has anyone actually done a study to find out whether more people find PINs difficult to enter or signatures difficult to sign?

sly_dog_jonah

Hmm, well today I tried changing my PIN on my egg credit card, because I've never used the old one and because its too similar to other cards I use, and it could become confusing!

Anyway, following egg's advice I went to my banks cashpoint, selected 'English', entered the old pin, selected PIN services > Change PIN, re-entered the old one to confirm, then entered a new PIN, and again to confirm it.... Thought to myself "that was easy enough"..... only for the cashpoint to spit out the card and complain that my 'Card didn't allow this service'! So I repeated the process, only to be denied again!

Now I know my egg card is getting on a bit (issued June 2001) but why on earth is changing my PIN such a mare?!?! Is the chip a pre-chip&pin jobby, or could it be knackered? I've sent egg a secure message...

I can see consumer spending on credit cards actually being seriously decreased by C&P, especially for those people who have long forgotten the PIN on their credit card. Perhaps that is why egg have introduced a mechanism for card holders to access their PIN online if they can't remember it.