Help! Lost PIN for BA (Mastercard) compensation card

jimmybreeze

I was given £125 pre-paid card by BA as compensation for a flight change. It's issued by Mastercard.

I managed to damage the paper listing the PIN (don't ask how - I'm an idiot) and BA state that lost PINs will not be reissued. What they do say is that "the card may still be able to be used at some merchants who accept mag stripe cards".

But so far the mission has totally failed. I've tried restaurants, M&S and Selfridges (because they have a lot of foreign customers and might be familiar with mag stripe payments). No luck. The chip and pin machine simply won't let you override the demand for a PIN, so switching to signature verification is not possible.

I've also tried online retailers (Tesco, Amazon, Ebuyer) and all attempts have failed because an address is required (which a pre-paid card does not have).

Have I thrown £125 down the toilet? Do you know of any online or physical retailers who might not be affected by the above problems? I'd be really grateful to know - I'm kicking myself!

SLZ

Have you actually asked if they'll reissue the pin or are you going off the T&Cs? Have a crack with BA first and then go to tourist areas.

eddddy

You can investigate this...

If the self checkout at my local Tesco can't detect a chip on a card, it asks you to reinsert your card twice - then it gives up and asks you to swipe and sign instead.

So you could try inserting your card upside down 3 times, and see if it then asks you to swipe and sign.

agrinnall

Can you use it with BA to buy a flight?

ic

Use it to spend online instead. Amazon don't even ask for the numbers off the signature strip.

eskbanker

ic wrote: »

Use it to spend online instead. Amazon don't even ask for the numbers off the signature strip.

OP already covered that:

jimmybreeze wrote: »

I've also tried online retailers (Tesco, Amazon, Ebuyer) and all attempts have failed because an address is required (which a pre-paid card does not have)

reclusive46

You should be able to use it at Sainsburys self checkout. Insert the card backwards 3 times and it'll let you swipe the card.

jimmybreeze

Thanks for the ideas guys.

For anyone else who finds themselves in this situation, I managed to spend it on Mango via their online shop.

nicolamcbeth

I cannot use on Mango, or amazon, or anywhere,

i used last year to pay for a photobox order and that is the only place i have found i can use the card, and i have lost my pin and they will not reissue another.

i have also checked to see if i can transfer the cash on paypal or within my bank branch but this cannot be done either.

i am so frustrated as these people overbooked my honeymoon flights and caused me to miss a family event where we had to pay the hotel which was booked as it was too late to cancel.

i think these cards are utter garbage and totally unfair.

msallen

nicolamcbeth wrote: »

i am so frustrated as these people overbooked my honeymoon flights and caused me to miss a family event where we had to pay the hotel which was booked as it was too late to cancel.

What does this have to do with you forgetting your PIN?

planetf1

I presume annoyed at BA more generally... For a special occasion it can be frustrating to be bounced off a flight, though if you checkin online when asked to and.or worst case turn up at the airport early (3 hours min) should be ok... (no guarantee)|

As far as the cards go, it's kinda the deal, part of the T&Cs.. you agree to a contract and get an incentive back.. It's clear how it needs to be used so seems fair. If one doesn't like it go elsewhere... ??