Contactless cards ?

countingstars

So much easier to pay with contactless cards - especially in London!

My HSBC debit card is contactless however my HSBC credit card isn't. When I was with Barclays, my debit card wasn't contactless however, my credit card was. Strange how they do it.

username

Lloyds have replaced my old one with a contactless, and a nicer design too.

If you're desperate for a non contactless c/c the my first direct one is distinctly non contactless. It seems the HSBC group don't offer a contactless option on their credit cards .. yet anyway.

Although i don't get why you wouldn't want contactless on your card.

reclusive46

Some places are starting to only accept contactless cards as well. Some of the parking meters where I live and London transport only take contactless.

manami_mnm

Contactless cards have their risks. A quick search on the internet will educate you about the issue. I use RFID blocking sleeves to make sure my cards will not be sniffed by hackers. There are RFID blocking wallets too.

shortcrust

Do RFID blocking sleeves come with a complementary tinfoil hat?

biblio1

MrSilk wrote: »

Nothing changed!, just banks and building societies entering the 21st century!.. As like when chip and pin came in, everyone was moaning that people behind in the queue could easily see your pin.. We got over that quickly enough, didn't we?

Goodness knows what happened to password update, anyway not so sure the system's got over people looking over your shoulder. Read somewhere that miniature cameras have been installed and false atm fronts are still around....

reclusive46

manami_mnm wrote: »

Contactless cards have their risks. A quick search on the internet will educate you about the issue. I use RFID blocking sleeves to make sure my cards will not be sniffed by hackers. There are RFID blocking wallets too.

This was only a problem with contactless cards that supported magstripe based contactless (So it would work with US contactless terminals). Pretty much all UK issuers have now turned this off and only support EMV (The same standard as Chip and PIN and Chip and Signature) based contactless. The only exception is American Express but their magstripe based contactless generates a random card number and expiration date on every transaction, so any stolen details would be useless.

biblio1

oldagetraveller wrote: »

Have you tried to contact Lloyds and ask for a "normal" card?
They sent me a contactless debit card when my previous one expired and did send me another card on request.
I was just asked why I did't want the contactless version.
That was back in April though.
I don't want one, end of.:)

Me neither so interesting and worth a try. What card do you have now as my old debit card is still good until Oct '16....!

biblio1

username wrote: »

Lloyds have replaced my old one with a contactless, and a nicer design too.

If you're desperate for a non contactless c/c the my first direct one is distinctly non contactless. It seems the HSBC group don't offer a contactless option on their credit cards .. yet anyway.

Although i don't get why you wouldn't want contactless on your card.

Better the devil you know than the one you don't....

marleyboy

OP, I too have been forced into a contactless card via a card renewal (unless I agreed to downgrade my account), I keep mine in a blocking wallet, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Blocking-IDTheft-Protection-Trifold-Contactless-Grey/dp/B00A5WRHSG

I have never activated my contactless feature, which AFAIK involves using the contactless method and activating it with your pin number.

Just treat it as you would your old card, protect it from being scanned and never activate the contactless feature and you should be fine.