Change debit card PIN abroad?

grumbler

Not visible to CS (for security reasons) isn't the same as not visible to the issuer.
The latter can send a reminder and can let customers see their PIN online.

Re your statement that "if your card is issued from the UK and the PIN is locked, then the chip becomes locked also so not only do you require a PIN reminder, you also require a new card", it was incorrect as later you said that it was possible to unlock a locked chip in a UK ATM, i.e. a new card wasn't required.

Mr_Pete

YKG1979 wrote: »

I work for a card issuer (that predominantly issue VISA cards) and if your card is issued from the UK and the PIN is locked, then the chip becomes locked also so not only do you require a PIN reminder, you also require a new card.

If you were in the UK, a PIN reminder would be sufficient to unlock the chip as well as the PIN but, it's not possible to unlock 'cards' via an ATM outside of the UK (if the card is issued from the UK) due to the technology in foreign ATM's not supporting the PIN-related functionality required.

I work to issue thousands of VISA cards out of the UK with large corporate clients and before I even get to organising shipments of cards and PIN's, I make it absolutely clear that PIN's cannot be changed outside of the UK and PIN's/chip's cannot be unlocked outside of the UK.

P.S - Your PIN reminder will be just that - a reminder of your existing PIN. The only person who can change it is you... At a UK ATM! A PIN and a CVV number (the 3 digit security code on the signature strip) is not presented to the card issuers so no one should be able to tell you what is it.

Thank you for your message, very helpful. I take it when you say that I would require a new card, that this would only be if I wantd to use an ATM machine or something which uses Chip and PIN? The lady I spoke to on the phone said online transactions would be ok still.

With the info you have given me, which makes sense, I will not even try to unlock the PIN at an ATM in Thailand. If I can still use the card for online purchases/booking only then that is fine. I have a Thai bank account and another UK account, and can still makes transfers to my own accounts so it's not the end of the world. Will unlock the PIN next time I am in UK. Thanks again for your reply mate.

Mr_Pete

grumbler wrote: »

Not visible to CS (for security reasons) isn't the same as not visible to the issuer.
The latter can send a reminder and can let customers see their PIN online.

Re your statement that "if your card is issued from the UK and the PIN is locked, then the chip becomes locked also so not only do you require a PIN reminder, you also require a new card", it was incorrect as later you said that it was possible to unlock a locked chip in a UK ATM, i.e. a new card wasn't required.

I think what he means is that in my situation (living abroad), then it is not possible for me to unlock the PIN. So I would have to have a new card if I wantd to withdraw money from an ATM. The new card would be activated when it is first used. If I lived in the UK I would be able to unlock the PIN so a new card would not be required.