Giving my card details (is it safe?)

eXtremer

Hi all,

I want to apply for a CRB check and the umbrella company with whom I want to register sent me the information pack and in one page I have to give my card details:

1. card number
2. expiry date
3. issue date
4. CVV
4. name on the card
5. my address

Practically I give all the information about my card details and with this details anyone could use it fraudulently, shoud I give all of this information to that umbrella company ? is it safe ? Or should I contact them and ask for their bank details (sort code/account number) and pay myself ?!

Thank you in advance

chattychappy

I don't like giving out my details unnecessarily. I'm assuming you are giving your details so they can charge you and the company has at least some repute? If so I wouldn't worry. It is a "cardholder not present" transaction, so whilst people might use these details I believe the risk is on the merchant not on you. This information is not such a big secret really.

Different story if the card is swiped, you give out your PIN, "verified by visa" password...

eXtremer

This is what I'm talking about I don't like giving my my bank details neither, doesn't matter in written form or over the phone, yes I think it's a well known company, all right then I think it is safe, could you exaplain what a "merchant" in this case means, thank you.

izools

Merchant = company taking your money.

If you, the cardholder ever disputes a transaction on your account, the card company will check to see what type of transaction it was. "Cardholder not Present" shows that you didn't sign for anything, didn't put in your PIN, and didn't enter your Verified by Visa / Mastercard Securecode password. This makes it easier for you to claim back the money as it shows the card company the transaction is less unlikely to fraudulent. So the risk is lower to you and higher to the "Merchant" (shop / company).

If you're concerned about security in this manner, you could open either a basic account with no overdraft like a Co-Operative Cashminder and only pay in what you're about to use the card for just before you use it so there's no money for someone to go spending, or use a prepaid credit card like the O2 Cash Manager.

eXtremer

Thank you, chattychappy & izools

chattychappy

eXtremer wrote: »

I don't like giving my my bank details neither, doesn't matter in written form or over the phone

Don't worry... it looks like this girl isn't using a phone! http://www.penhellis.co.uk/contact_us.html

gillhammer

This section of the form is no longer relevant (well in Wales anyway, I can't speak for rest of the UK). I recently had a full CRB check for working in schools and I didn't like this section either - this still appears on the forms but I was told I wasn't required to complete it - I got full CRB check back a couple of weeks later with no issues.