Joint account PINs

MoneySavingUser

Seems to be 3 scenarios

1) Each holder has a separate pin and can only use their own
2) Each holder has a separate pin but if they use the other persons pin with their card it will work
3) They have the same PIN for both cards

My parents used to have the same one years ago - but nowadays seem to get sent different ones

Can someone clarify how it works?

Superheavy

Each holder will have an individual pin which can only be used with their own cards. If they choose to change the pins so they both match that's ultimately up to the parties of the a/c, but I suspect the bank would advise them not to.

rb10

Different PINs for each card.

Joint account holders should not know the PIN of the other person's card. If they did, then they (technically) could be personally liable for any fraud that took place on the account, as they have not kept their personal security details safe.

EarthBoy

MoneySavingUser wrote: »

Seems to be 3 scenarios.......

2) Each holder has a separate pin but if they use the other persons pin with their card it will work

Scenario 2 would mean that a card could have more than one PIN attached to it, and I would be surprised if this was technically possible.

j2011

My OH and I have a joint account and we have the same pin and the cards are identical, account name Mr and Mrs J

Jake'sGran

My OH and I have separate a/cs at the same bank but I have always administered his. They are internet only. The bank realised I was doing this and there was a great hoo-hah.

The manager I spoke to agreed to let me continue after OH signed a letter giving me permission to handle his a/c. He is not disabled in any way, just cannot use a computer and does not want to go back to the Nat West. Weird I know....

To get to the point, I know his PIN but I am not sure he can remember mine. The bank did send us new PINs but we changed them back to what we wanted at the cash machine - easy!

Don't know what he'll do when I pop off.
I have warned our daughter.

agrinnall

EarthBoy wrote: »

Scenario 2 would mean that a card could have more than one PIN attached to it, and I would be surprised if this was technically possible.

I have a very vague memory from more than 20 years ago when I last worked on card issuing software that there may have been a facility in the mag stripe to have a second PIN offset coded. I could be completely wrong about that , and I've never heard of such a thing for cards with a chip. I doubt if any bank would be prepared to accept the additional risks associated with this scenario these days.

DevilsAdvocate1

But if your married and its a joint account what is the problem with both parties having the same pin. We do - and if I've gone into town and forgotten my purse then I meet DH at his work and he'll give me his card. We're married, we trust each other and its the same account anyway.

EarthBoy

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

But if your married and its a joint account what is the problem with both parties having the same pin. We do - and if I've gone into town and forgotten my purse then I meet DH at his work and he'll give me his card. We're married, we trust each other and its the same account anyway.

Most banks will let you change your PIN to whatever you like, so there's nothing to stop you both having the same PIN if you want, although I don't think it's advisable. It's against the terms and conditions of your account to let anybody else know your PIN so, in theory, you shouldn't actually know whether your partner has got the same PIN as you or not. Letting someone else use your card is also against the conditions of your bank account.

rb10

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

But if your married and its a joint account what is the problem with both parties having the same pin. We do - and if I've gone into town and forgotten my purse then I meet DH at his work and he'll give me his card. We're married, we trust each other and its the same account anyway.

If you suffered from fraud on your account, then the bank is likely to ask whether anyone else knows your PIN.

You can then either tell them that your husband knows it (in which case you would be technically liable for any fraud that has taken place, as it's your responsibility to keep your PIN secret, and you have not done that); or you can lie, and say that only you know it.

Jake'sGran

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

But if your married and its a joint account what is the problem with both parties having the same pin. We do - and if I've gone into town and forgotten my purse then I meet DH at his work and he'll give me his card. We're married, we trust each other and its the same account anyway.

I don't know who this message was intended for, just wanted to say that ours are not joint accounts. The bank have been quite accommodating really as when I log in to my a/c my husband's a/c is on the next page.

Many moons ago we did have a joint a/c but I changed it quickly when I realised he was hopeless about money.