Getting Chip & Signature Cards vice Chip & PIN

James

The Co-op Bank offers advice on PIN free cards but this too reads as if you have to be disabled to acquire one. You do not however need to provide any medical evidence?

http://www.coopbank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?cid=1118128774853&pagename=CoopBank%2FPage%2FtplPageStandard&c=Page

Exactly what are the criteria to obtain a Co-op Bank Chip & Signature Card?

Nationwide it seems have removed any reference to Chip & Signature from their site, although I could be wrong.

Barclays on the other hand, is just ask and we will give you one (a Chip & Signature Card).

James

PinkPig

The whole point of Chip and PIN is that it only works properly if the vast majority of cards use a PIN - saying that "it's your choice" is stubborn nonsense. There is no legitimate disadvantage in having a PIN number, and unless the vast majority of people have a PIN number criminals are still easily able to steal credit cards on the basis that they can expect to be able to use them without needing any more information. A signature takes no effort whatsoever to get around - a squibble with the right letter at the front will be enough in any shop. That's why PIN numbers are important!

Chip and signature cards are intended to be exlusively for people who have a genuine reason for being unable to enter a PIN number, not for someone who decides he doesn't like the sound of remembering a PIN number.

Altarf

C&P is simply a method for the banks to shift the risk to the cardholders.

It is trivially easy to discover somebody's PIN. Why should I now have to run the risk that somebody could take my credit card and use it in an ATM to withdraw cash. If the banks were considering the security of their customers, why don't they allow their customers to request that their credit cards can only be used for purchases, not cash withdrawals. Greed. Do I trust these piggies with their snouts in the trough, do I heck.

As for who C&S cards are for, when I challenged my bank on the terms & conditions on their C&P cards (which were written in such a way that the customer would inevitably break them) they simply issued me with a C&S card.

James

Liverpool Victoria Call Centre Conversation:

Me: I would like to be issued with a Chip & Signature Card vice PIN. (I explained that I had trouble with PINs).

LV: We need written medical proof that you cannot manage a PIN"

Me: Are you sure? Can you check with your Supervisor?:

(I spoke with the Supervisor and repeated the above, she confirmed that this was the instruction call centre staff were give. She was very helpful and decided to check with the card department).

LV: We can give you a Chip & Signature Card!.

Me: So you don't need written medical proof?

LV: No. We judge each application case by case.

Me: Well wouldn't you say I had been misinformed or misled.

LV: Yes, but we can give you a Chip & Signature Card!

Jane.tweedynn

Nationwide knew what I meant when I asked for Chip & Sig card but would only offer them to customers with disabilities.

Morgan Stanley issued Chip & Pin cards to me while my Chip & Sig card was still valid. I didn't register the new Chip & Pin cards and continued using Chip & Sig for about 8 months till they were out of date. Used a different credit card that was Chip & Sign, didn't use the Chip & Pin cards from Morgan Stanley. Within a month a Chip & Sig card from Morgan Stanley arrived without having to ask. Continue to use this card today.

This is interesting
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/saving-and-banking/article.html?in_article_id=399534&in_page_id=7

These are quite interesting
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/saving-and-banking/article.html?in_article_id=398909&in_page_id=7
http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=399762&in_page_id=2

James

"Nationwide knew what I meant when I asked for Chip & Sig card but would only offer them to customers with disabilities."

I've banked with Nationwide for years now and am not disabled. I was firm with them and the met my requirements: Chip & Signature Debit and Credit Card.

I wonder if card issuers would issue or inform these card usuers that Chip & Signature Cards ARE an option:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/story.asp?intid=12699

WHICH? (Consumers Assoc) in their latest offering, "Update on Chip & PIN," say that your option to sign will end, unless you have a disability that stops you from using a PIN.

Computer Active issue 196 replied to a letter on Chip & PIN cards, this is part of their reply:

""Card issuers realise that some blind or partially sighted people and others too may find it difficult or impossible to use a keypad or PIN. Chip and Signature or Chip and PIN Suppressed cards are available for these people.

Banks don't widely advertise this option, but if someone wants such a card they will have to prove they have some kind of impairment that makes it difficult or impossible for them to use Chip & PIN cards.""

The Chip & PIN web site contradicts this, they say:” You will not be required to provide medical evidence to support your request.” (for a Chip & Signature card)

Conclusion: Which are sending out a message to all its readers that the only people who will be signing in future will be disabled. I am sure most of the pensioners mentioned in the Reading artilce are not disabled, they just have difficulty recalling numbers.

The Computer Acive artilce is well written except that it misinforms by saying you have to prove you have something wrong that prevents using a PIN or entering a PIN.

What message are these two renowned magazines sending out to their readers? Where do you find information on who is and who isn't entitled to a Chip & Signature Card?

What will pensioners do when they have difficulty with their PIN issued with a Basic Bank Account or Post Office Card Account? These two types of account do not offer the signing option at all. WHY? Someone may like to ask the DWP? Do Basic Bank and PO Account Card accounts comply with the DDA 1995?

thechatking

A few months back, I called into my local Natwest to ask for a C&S card and the staff there had absolutely no idea what I was on about. "You have to use C&P", they told me.

I then phoned Natwest and, after much explaining and battering, was told by a supervisor that I could have C&S, but wouldn't be able to use it in ATMs. I declined and used my non-PIN Marbles card for all purchases. However, that card is going C&P now so I think it's time to re-claim my debit card back... are C&S cards that work in ATMs definitely available? What exactly should I be asking for?

I have also tried to get C&S on my Egg card, but no luck there either. I am very concerned about shifting liability. Money-lenders are devious and evil and I don't trust them one bit.

thechatking

I've just read the terms and conditions of my Natwest card protection. They will give up to £1,000 before reporting a stolen card and up to £50,000 after, but only £50 for transactions where the PIN has been used.

Does a clearer demonstration exist of the actual reason we have chip and pin?

James

"I've had ladies in tears at the counter because they can't remember their pin numbers. They just feel so humiliated. It really isn't fair on them, this new system."


Why oh why are we allowing our senior citizens to be humilated because the card industry wont tell them Chip & Signature Cards are available?

Whole story:

http://www.bostontoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=756&ArticleID=1139003

Altarf

dag wrote:

To be honest, I'm not sure that people really do have a choice.

My bank decided that it would prefer to give me a Chip & Signature credit card rather than have me comply with their T&C on the Chip & PIN card.

The terms of the C&P card required "cardholders to notify the bank immediately the cardholder suspected anyone else knew their PIN" - the banks words not mine. I pointed out that everytime I used the card in a store I must suspect that someone knew my PIN (shop assistant, customer behind, CCTV camera operator). Even if I shielded my PIN I could not be sure nobody knew. Therefore I was duty bound to call them and advise them of my suspicion and they could take what action they deemed necessary.

The T&C did not specify what action they would take and I would not insist on any. When they told me that the automatic action they would take was to cancel the card and re-issue it, the penny then dropped with the bank that they could either issue me 50 plus cards a year or issue a C&S card.

The thing I found interesting was the bank commenting that they didn't expect people to read the T&Cs. I wonder why.