Question about payment methods

BobQ

I recently ordered a product from a reputable company and paid by telephone. The process was novel in my experience, and so I wondered if others had encountered it or had any concerns about it.

Basically at the point it came to pay I as advised I would hear a few beeps on the line. I was then asked to enter my 16 digit card number and then the security number through my telephone keypad. This was then processed.

It seems that this system prevents the firm's employee having access to my card details. All they knew was that it was a Mastercard. On the face of it, this seems more secure.

agrinnall

It's not something I've experienced or heard of, but if the beeps indicate that your call is being transferred to a 3rd party payment system then they may be right that the company won't know the details of the payment method you used.

eskbanker

I believe it'll be related to PCI-DSS security in an environment where calls are routinely recorded - telephony software can be used to temporarily suspend recording while card numbers are entered, meaning that the call recordings contain everything except the card details taken during the calls, thereby improving security. The audible beeps signify the point at which the recording is stopped....