Contactless cards

HarryMonkee

Morning all. Are contactless cards any less secure than regular cards?

[Deleted User]

Depends who you talk to.

HarryMonkee

Deleted_User wrote: »

Depends who you talk to.

Haha yeah I've seen that. Seems if I wrap my house in tin foil and never leave home I'll be safe. :rotfl:

InvestInPoker

Of course they are less secure, but how much less and if it is significant or not is what is up for debate.

LoveLifeAgain

HarryMonkee wrote: »

Haha yeah I've seen that. Seems if I wrap my house in tin foil and never leave home I'll be safe. :rotfl:

No, No, you have been misinformed, it will take more than that.

20aday

I prefer contactless payments (where they are accepted) but it's not for everyone.

I've seen previous threads on here where people have drilled small holes into their cards to disable it (when the bank won't give them a non-contactless card) for example.

You can wrap the card(s) in foil or even buy a shielded wallet/purse.

In the unfortunate event your card(s) were stolen after so many transactions the card would require PIN entry and your bank(s) would be liable for any fraudulent purchases.

HarryMonkee

The paperwork that came with my card says the first time you use it you will need to enter pin. Does this mean it will remain inactivated even for somewhere like tfl if I never use it for contactless?
Is defacing a card legal?
tia

20aday

HarryMonkee wrote: »

The paperwork that came with my card says the first time you use it you will need to enter pin. Does this mean it will remain inactivated even for somewhere like tfl if I never use it for contactless?
Is defacing a card legal?
tia

If you didn't enter your PIN for the card's first transaction then if you presented the card at an NFC terminal it'd ask you to put it into the machine and key in the PIN.

There was a previous thread on here (quite recently) where the OP couldn't use contactless (just stopped working randomly) but they could use it on TfL.

I wouldn't know if it's legal (or not) to deface a card; I assume your bank won't offer you the option of a non-contactless card?

rolls99

HarryMonkee wrote: »

The paperwork that came with my card says the first time you use it you will need to enter pin. Does this mean it will remain inactivated even for somewhere like tfl if I never use it for contactless?
Is defacing a card legal?
tia

Good question. Recently had a card replaced and that said it would activate contactless after using it for a chip and pin transaction (i.e. the card had to be used for a non contactless payment). Although with another bank they just arrive and say "You can use your debit card immediately" so whether or not contactless in "on by default" I can't say but it does vary between banks.

HarryMonkee

Thank you. You've been helpful and no, no option. I guess if its going to happen its going to happen. Least we're covered.

20aday

HarryMonkee wrote: »

Thank you. You've been helpful and no, no option. I guess if its going to happen its going to happen. Least we're covered.

I guess one option (I don't know who you bank with) is to open a secondary basic bank account (i.e. no credit facilities).

These tend to offer "online authorisation only" debit cards. Whilst you wouldn't be able to use it for Pay at Pump transactions etc. they tend not to be contactless.