Problem with TSB contactless?

Deru

Even though TSB don't use card readers they are card reader enabled for some strange reason. So I put my card in my Nationwide card reader, use any function that requires the pin, and up to now it has worked each time without fail.

No idea if this is just a fluke but it works for me!

I think I'll give that a go and see if it makes a difference.

Anyone fill up at BP Garages? I've noticed, after many fuel purchases, not once has it asked for a PIN. Coincidence? Amounts vary from £10-£30 (not all at the same time, once a week or so). Various locations. I do use it at other places quite regularly as well, McD's, Subway, Tesco, etc.

Anyone had to enter a PIN there?

masonic

Deru wrote: »

I think I'll give that a go and see if it makes a difference.

I think you will be wasting your time because there is no way for the card reader to communicate the use of the PIN to the bank. The NFC device in the card does nothing other than broadcast the card number, cardholder name, expiry date and issue date to any reader that requests the data. It is up to the reader to then authorise the transaction with the bank, with the bank deciding whether or not to failover to PIN authorisation (or the reader failing the transaction if it does not receive an appropriate response from the bank).

Deru

If that's how it works then yeah, you're right, won't make a blind bit of difference.

Was thinking maybe it's a counter stored on the card itself or something. If I put the PIN in wrong on the card reader, it can still lock the card (or so it says) until I unlock it at an ATM. Was thinking it might be a similar mechanism but thinking about it, seems unlikely. Ah well!

badger09

Gilbo_Baggins wrote: »

I have 2 tsb accounts and in all the time the promotion has been running I've got a fiver each month on both cards and only ever needed to end the pin in once for each card at the start.

I thinks that's very unusual and you are fortunate:)

Although I also have 2 TSB accounts I only use one for contactless & cashback as I don't often spend small amounts. I've used it in various shops and have been asked for PIN on a seemingly random basis. CBA keeping a record of where/when:o

frivolous_fay

Sorry to resurrect! Just my experience:

I know two shops in which my contactless Does Not Work. Ever.
In one of these I have successfully used applepay instead.
M&S, Tesco, the PO... It works one day and not the next.
When it fails, it will work perfectly, same day, different shop. I reckon it works about 50% of the time.
Since I have started using applepay as a backup it has worked every time.
Not once since the card started failing on me have I entered the PIN - as I haven't bothered to memorise it. I managed to clock up £5 for the first time last month, despite all the flakiness.
This thread has inspired me to try the PIN next time, but the whole thing is pretty aggravating. It's my first contactless card but it's hardly hassle-free.

Jeems

Just to chime in, I also find that tsb contactless fails very frequently, requiring a C&P transaction before the contactless works again. I dont blame the card reader, as my Amex works fine.

older_wiser

I have to agree with others who have commented TSB contactless payments work sometimes at a shop other times at the same shop it requests a pin .

My theoroy would be that TSB has a contactless transaction limit for every customer and if you've reached that limit then it requests a pin.

The number of times i've used it in a certain shop and its failed i now say the line lets see if its working today to staff and they do tell me its been working all day.

I've only ever got the full 5 pound cashback once during december as my contactless transaction are infrequent and well below the 30 pound limit.

molerat

Mine seems to need a PIN every 6th use although the other day at 5 but that was in the same establishment as the 4th. I just go to a cashpoint and withdraw £5 / £10.

Dimitri60

We have 4 TSB cards between us, all accounts opened in the last 2 months. All cards have been problematic at different times, 1 replaced. Each card will work for a period, rarely used more than once a day, and then for no reason the machine asks for a PIN. I've other contactless cards and had no problem with any of them. A member of TSB told me that they had been having problems with the magnetic strip. Bit frustrating as we only use these cards for the 5% cashback!

colsten

Dimitri60 wrote: »

We have 4 TSB cards between us, all accounts opened in the last 2 months. All cards have been problematic at different times, 1 replaced. Each card will work for a period, rarely used more than once a day, and then for no reason the machine asks for a PIN. I've other contactless cards and had no problem with any of them. A member of TSB told me that they had been having problems with the magnetic strip. Bit frustrating as we only use these cards for the 5% cashback!

The magnetic strip has nothing to do with contactless payment. It's the NFC chip and an antenna that make your card contactless.

It is quite normal that you have to use your PIN in random intervals.