Credit Card conundrum

dhanwell

Hi all,

I have one credit card, which I need to use today to do some (long-needed) clothes shopping. However, as it had been such a long time since I'd used it, I got the PIN wrong 3 times and locked myself out of the card. That said, I can still use it for online purchases, but anything requiring a PIN is a no-go.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I might be able to get around this? Buying a pre-paid card using the credit card? Do all shops require a PIN?

Thanks!

leicsmarkyr

Call the issuer up and ask for a PIN reminder.

Alternatively if you have online banking and they give you the PIN online do that, e.g. MBNA

thenudeone

If you can remember the PIN you can unlock the card at a cash machine (often it has to be from the bank that issued the card).

Otherwise you'll have to ask for a new PIN and wait, unless your bank offers online PIN retrieval (CapitalOne and egg do).

SevenOfNine

Not sure if the OP was asking how to unlock the card, or whether it was possible to have a CC that doesn't require a pin (seeing as they only use it infrequently, therefore the odds of forgetting a pin number again may be high).

Don't know of any CC's that don't require a pin nowadays. I wonder if you ever changed the original pin that was allocated to you by the CC company to something a bit more memorable.

Best advice seems to be to contact the card issuer, get it unlocked, then change the pin to something you'll have a better chance at remembering on the few occasions you use it in the shops.

chanz4

when you get the replacement pin change it to one you know

Curr946

I'm sure you can request a card without a PIN, under the disability act. I know that all chip and pin terminals are still able to process payments the old way. IE with the cashier just looking at your signature. After all, some countries do not yet have chip and pin. So when they visit... This is why we still have the magnetic strip on the back of cards, so they can be used in the older terminals abroad without the chip being read or a pin being asked for.

Farway

As curr946 says, you can get a card without a PIN, it may take a little bit of effort as it is not mainstream, but it is possible

They are issued to those who have difficulty remembering, or maybe poor eyesight, unable to use the number pads etc

leicsmarkyr

It is true that you can get a Chip & Signiture card but most issuers will need prove of your disability or a valid reason for not giving a Chip & PIN. They won't give willy nilly to anyone

reclusive46

leicsmarkyr wrote: »

It is true that you can get a Chip & Signiture card but most issuers will need prove of your disability or a valid reason for not giving a Chip & PIN. They won't give willy nilly to anyone

They are legally not allowed to ask about the disability.

socks_uk

Don't know if you sorted things out to go shopping yesterday but my daughter once had forgotten her pin and so sent me money to my bank account from her credit card via paypal. I then just withdrew the money and gave it to her.