Bank card readers: Love 'em or hate 'em?

Former_MSE_Debs

Poll started 28 Aug 2013

Customer service champion First Direct is planning to introduce a card reader that you'll always need to get full internet banking facilities. These devices are designed to improve security, but they also get on some people’s nerves. How do you feel about them?

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pete_v

I did switch banks to avoid them. I also wrote to the new bank letting them know that this was the reason, and asking them to please avoid introducing card readers in future. So far they've shown no plans to do so. (Not that I think my one letter made a difference, but if enough of us made our preferences clear...). Instead, when I set up a payment to a new recipient, they make an automated phone call to my registered number (my mobile) and I type in a code to authorise the transaction. This seems acceptably secure against an attacker somehow accessing the Internet part of my account.

My friends and I quite often need to transfer money around; Faster Payments has made this quite a practical way to pay for a shared takeaway or trolleyful of shopping for a week away. But more and more people now say "I'll have to do that when I get home, I need one of those card reader things" - that's not progress.

Pete

SawyerLatte

Agree with pete. I also cited this as a reason when I changed banks, although it wasn't the only one.

One of the major advantages of internet banking - especially now that more of us have tablets and smartphones - is the ability to access your account anywhere and everywhere. The practice of issuing card readers pretty much limits you to internet banking at home, unless you make a habit of carrying the reader around with you.

I'm sure there are better alternatives.

Torry_Quine

I'm really not bothered either way. As long as it's secure.

Lagoon

I'm with the (current) 40%.

I find it incredibly annoying, and there are some times when I've needed to make a payment but haven't had it with me. Very inconvenient, but not worth switching banks over, for me.

teeb

I switched to First Direct to avoid them.

Now that First Direct is trying to introduce them, I am sorely tempted to switch away - I did write them a letter.

They are horrible things - especially when you have to use them every time you log in. At least with some banks (like RBS) you only have to use them to send payments to new people, and not just to log in and check balances.

Herbalus

It's worth noting, for those who are wanting to send payments when they are out and about, that the mobile app doesn't allow you to make add new payees. Surely it can't be too hard to wait until you get home?

I have accounts with First Direct and Santander. Even though Santander have the OTP code sent to your mobile to make sure the transaction is authorised, they take their time processing new transactions, and query transactions (even blocking the account) to established payees. For this reason I divert all my online payments through First Direct, especially when it's a new payee, because I know that it will work. I just hope the new system, while more irritating than before, retains reliability and doesn't get hung up on security measures.

bagby

Hate my card reader. Used to go on banking site all the time, now the reader is upstairs or anywhere but near the computer. So rarely go on site now. Very inconvenient. Can't be bothered to change bank over it tho.

shammyjack

It would help if the damned things actually worked.

I am on my 3rd from Smile as in spite of being ultra careful to enter codes correctly the previous 2 have thrown up incorrect calculations and locked themselves and my account.

I hate the bloody things !

alanq

MSE_Debs wrote: »

Customer service champion First Direct is planning to introduce a card reader that you'll always need to get full internet banking facilities.

Get your facts straight MSE. First Direct is not about to introduce a card reader. It will be a SecureKey as currently issued by HSBC. Nor will this security device be a requirement as First Direct will be offering the option of using a smart phone app instead. Two errors in one sentence!!!!
http://www1.firstdirect.com/1/2/securekey

Even with identical card readers / security devices different banks require them for different purposes. Some require them to log in others only for making payments or for setting up new payees. Customers' reactions will very much depend on these policies.

kkgree1

I don't have any problems with card readers generally, though I have seen the older generation struggle using them, particularly my mother in law who has Parkinsons and has very little dexterity. The HSBC secure key is apparently designed to fit in your wallet but she has so many problems using it and apparently there is no alternative! Very tempted to move all her accounts from them but it would be too much for her. I wish the banks would consider this before making internet banking difficult for some of the population!