Change debit card PIN abroad?

Mr_Pete

Hello all.

For the last 6 years I have had a Nationwide current account with a debit card and had the same PIN number. However, today I forgot the PIN number. I was using the card reader device and input the PIN incorrectly 3 times therefore PIN locked. This wouldn't usually be much of a problem but it is made difficult due to the fact that I now live in Thailand.

I Phoned up Nationwide and the lady I spoke to said a new PIN would be sent to my address in the UK, I would then need to go to an ATM and change the pin. I asked her if this was possible to do in Thailand and she said she is not sure, depends if the ATM machine I use has that facility. Has anyone tried to change their PIN number from a foreign ATM machine?

I have a Thai Bank acount and another UK bank account so it's not a huge problem, just an inconvenience. The lady on the phone also said that I would still be able to use the Nationwide card for online transactions as it's the PIN that is locked, not the card. In Thailand Chip and Pin is not used so I could still use the card for payments if neccessary.

What does worry me, is that if I attempt to change the PIN of my Nationwide card using a Thai ATM machine and my card is swallowed by the machine. Therefore, I would only have one UK bank card to use ( I always think it's better to have 2 just in case).

Anyone with any experience of this? Or thoughts?

Many thanks.

Pete.

anoncol

Well I don't know what to say.

Mr_Pete

anoncol wrote: »

Well I don't know what to say.

Haha I know, I know.6 years and now I forget. :shocked:

The frustrating thing is, I'm now 95% sure i know what it is...but it's too late to try.

dzug1

Does a Thai ATM offer a PIN change facility? I suspect not.

YorkshireBoy

Presumably you've also tried to google an answer like I just have? And seen most (all?) UK banks say "you can change your PIN at one of our branch ATMs or any other ATM displaying the Link logo"?


But what about putting your other card in a Thai ATM and seeing if you even have the option for PIN change (without going through with it if it concerns you)?

grumbler

Mr_Pete wrote: »

.... the lady I spoke to said a new PIN would be sent to my address in the UK, I would then need to go to an ATM and change the pin.

This doesn't make any sense to me.
Why do you need to change the new pin? Most likely you need it for unblocking the card in the first place.

DCFC79

Anyone in the uk have access to your address eg a relative, friend who could tell you what the pin is ?

Mr_Pete

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

Presumably you've also tried to google an answer like I just have? And seen most (all?) UK banks say "you can change your PIN at one of our branch ATMs or any other ATM displaying the Link logo"?


But what about putting your other card in a Thai ATM and seeing if you even have the option for PIN change (without going through with it if it concerns you)?

Yeah I did search through google mate and saw the same thing, but just wanted to know if anyone had any experiene of this. And yeah, your idea is a good one..will give that a go if I decide to try to change the PIN. Thanks mate.

Mr_Pete

grumbler wrote: »

This doesn't make any sense to me.
Why do you need to change the new pin? Most likely you need it for unblocking the card in the first place.

Very very good point mate. I spoke to my dad about this and we both thought this was neccessary only to activate a new bank card. Hopefully changing the pin is not neccessary... does seem ridiculous.

EDIT:

Have just had another look on the Nationwide website and it seems that to unlock a pin the atm machine has to have a PIN services option. I'm thinking my new PIN number would have to be unlocked as my current one has now been locked. It's whether or not this is available in Thailand. But hopefully just entering the new PIN would be enough.

grumbler

Mr_Pete wrote: »

...I'm thinking my new PIN number would have to be unlocked as my current one has now been locked.

Your card is locked, not your PIN.

...hopefully just entering the new PIN would be enough.

I don't think it would. Unlocking a card is a more complex procedure than just entering the correct PIN.

Mr_Pete

grumbler wrote: »

Your card is locked, not your PIN.
I don't think it would. Unlocking a card is a more complex procedure than just entering the correct PIN.

That's not what the lady from Nationwide on the phone said. She said I could still do online transactions as it is the PIN that is locked not the card. I entered the PIN incorrectly 3 times using a PIN Entry thing (to access online banking), not an ATM machine.