TSB Contactless - question for you

Biggles

ThemeOne wrote: »

I've found the constant PIN checks on my TSB card very annoying, and probably will hardly use it after the 5% cashback offer ends. I don't think I've ever had a PIN check with my Smile card.

I bet a lot of people feel the same way. After the way it's worked for me, I'll certainly never use my TSB debit card again!

bxboards

Biggles wrote: »

I bet a lot of people feel the same way. After the way it's worked for me, I'll certainly never use my TSB debit card again!

I'm one of those people who won't bother - too be honest I only use it anyway for the 5% and when that stops I'll go back to AMEX at 1.25%, the AMEX has had a lot of use anyhow as a backup when they TSB goes into PIN request mode.

On a broader note I just do not see the point in contactless - it can't be time saving as I probably will spend more time typing this here than I will ever save from not having to type in a PIN. The concept just seems odd - you have a security system, chip and pin, which works well. But you deliberately switch it off for transactions under 30 pounds, so if you lose the card anyone in the street can just use it for potentially 2 to 5 gos.

Anything that can essentially enable fraud to my mind is a flawed concept, but I know I will be shot down and people will say, it doesn't matter, the banks will pay you back..but that rather misses the point..why make it easy for people to steal. Does typing 4 digits really save time in the broad scheme of things vs time spend shopping / queuing etc? Are people really becoming that lazy that typing 4 digits on a keypad is seen as time consuming?

schiff

It's the way the technical world is evolving, they are constantly finding 'new ways' to use things viz the trying to get everyone to do things on phones rather than computers (which I personally haven't indulged in much as I find it fiddly with the smaller screen!). It's progress, new!, exciting! (they say).

Wellard_Mann

schiff wrote: »

It's the way the technical world is evolving, they are constantly finding 'new ways' to use things viz the trying to get everyone to do things on phones rather than computers (which I personally haven't indulged in much as I find it fiddly with the smaller screen!). It's progress, new!, exciting! (they say).

I think that’s right; it probably all is about technology. As TSB have just enabled Android Pay, I’ll make their card my default card next month until I’ve spent £100. I’m hoping this will stop the frequent requests for a PIN – random or not, I agree with the general view that it is annoying and I get more PIN requests with TSB than with my other contactless cards.

JustAnotherSaver

Would that be on TSBs end (to reduce the amount of cash back they have to pay?)

I agree with the comment regards contactless though. I think it's a ridiculous idea.
I find it funny when I'm asked - do you want to use contactless. I'm thinking, in the time it took you to hesitate, ask me, have me answer & then do it I could've just gone chip & pin.

bxboards

bxboards wrote: »

I am one of those people who seem to get asked for a PIN every 2rd or 3rd transaction.

I only really use it in my local Post Office, and the owner herself has commented how often mine is rejected for contactless, as she is very used to me switching to my AMEX after the dreaded beep-beep insert card message. She said it only seems to happen with me, and we tend to joke about the failures now and guess whether they will go through or not, so regular are they.

My side if I get asked for a PIN every 2 to 3 transactions without fail over a 1 year period, it doesn't feel random. The only random-ness seems to be if I will get asked for my PIN on the 2 or 3 transaction after a prior PIN entry :rotfl:

Quoting myself, but i got the usual (and so regular it can't be random), PIN request shortly after PIN entry.

Used PIN to pay in Screwfix on Saturday
Used contacless sucessful in Morrisons on Saturday
Contactless FAILED on Monday for 28.20 at the Post Office and was got the very predictable beep beep enter PIN message.

Switched to Android Pay and managed to put the transaction for 28.20 via that method.

But my pattern of a PIN request every 2 or 3 transactions after a previous PIN entry continues...! I've documented this a few time here, and the pattern is very very regular.

schiff

Merchants can be embarrassed by complaints and moans on Twitter; it can be effective. Has anyone considered that route or does the proximity of 31/12 make it hardly worth it?

JustAnotherSaver

I had another fail at the weekend too.

Went to Wlko & did about £2.50 contactless but then tried £6.00 in CEX& it failed twice. Had to go the PIN route.


Should've packed the other TSB card really too.