Smile account problems - Anyone had anything similar?

topher_2

Hi all - bit long winded sorry!!!:

I've recently opened a Smile current account and been very happy with service etc etc but today I've had a problem and was wondering if anyone has had anything similar?

When I received my card I activated it and changed the PIN. I know the pin is correct because I can access a cash machine and get a mini statement etc.

I have a positive balance in my account and tried to pay for goods in M & S - when I entered my PIN it told me it was wrong, so I typed it again to ensure that I hadn't made a mistake - still claimed it was wrong.

Went to cash machine and tested PIN - no problems. I phoned Smile to ask what was happening - they claimed I may need to unblock my PIN.

I did this and then went to Tescos and bought a few things - tried to use Smile card again and till claimed PIN was wrong. Getting annoyed now!

Paid for goods using different card and phoned Smile. Told that unblocking PIN will take an hour, as VISA system updates at 5 past the hour.

So I need to try again and am concerned.....

I asked why PIN was blocked as I hadn't used card apart from in a Tesco petrol station that takes card at pump and requires no PIN. Advisor claimed that this may have blocked PIN?

Any comments appreciated!

Thanks!

Voyager2002

Two responses:
1. why not use a cash-back credit card to pay for things, rather than a debit card?
2. your experience confirms that things can still go wrong with chip and pin: that is why I insist on chip and signature.

topher_2

1. I don't really want to - too much hassle for very little returns in my case
2. In the future no one will accept signatures as the cost if fraud is involved will not be covered by the banks

Anyone had to unblock a VISA debit card, even though not used the card previously?

Thanks!

Hazzanet

I've only had one issue with my Chip and Signature card, and that was in Currys Digital.

The EMV guidelines factored in a signature as part of the standard. As long as the chip was used and it returned a signature instruction to the card reader, the retailer is covered completely. A retailer is only going to lose his/her protection where they override a PIN entry in favour of a signature.

C&S cards do not prompt PIN entry.