Is the FD secure key's battery user replaceable?

expansion

My fob's battery is dead. I don't want digital key with the app. I have a similar fob from M&S. Can the battery be transferred or do the device have some security measure to not allow this? I am trying to avoid calling FD for a replacement. They talk too much terms and conditions and talk down like I'm senile or thick.

[Deleted User]

FD site says just to ring them and they will send you one out if the battery is dead.

Ts & Cs are mandatory for banking codes, they can't skip them

Just take advantage of them thinking you are senile/thick and ask for a physical one, say you don't have a smart phone

I have a NatWest one and there are 4 screws in the back. If it was genuinely dead I'd take them out and see if I had a battery I could replace but otherwise I wouldn't try

Edit: I found a site that did an HSBC one, but looks messy

https://www.visionrouge.net/fixed-digipass-battery-replacement/

maisie_cat

When mine did that I did transfer over to the digital because there was a 15 day wait for the new fob. At the time the phone waiting times were pants. I must admit I now prefer the app.

jbrassy

I don't know what the FD fob looks like (I use the digital secure key on my phone), but is it one where you have to stick your debit card in? If so, I think they are all the same.

A few years ago I had accounts with Nationwide and Natwest and they both sent me those devices which you stick the card in and they generate a code for you to log in. I figured out if I stuck my Natwest card into the Nationwide device, it would still give me the correct code to log in to Natwest.

What I'm ultimately trying to say is, if you have another device with another bank, try giving that a go rather than replacing the batteries.

WillPS

jbrassy said:

I don't know what the FD fob looks like (I use the digital secure key on my phone), but is it one where you have to stick your debit card in? If so, I think they are all the same.

A few years ago I had accounts with Nationwide and Natwest and they both sent me those devices which you stick the card in and they generate a code for you to log in. I figured out if I stuck my Natwest card into the Nationwide device, it would still give me the correct code to log in to Natwest.

What I'm ultimately trying to say is, if you have another device with another bank, try giving that a go rather than replacing the batteries.

It's not one you put your card in.

lr1277

The FD fob does not need you to insert a card. It is standalone. 

A few months ago, my FD fob’s battery died. I rang to request a new fob but was persuaded to download the app and use that instead. I did this on the basis I could switch back to the fob if I didn’t like the app. The app is fine for checking balances/transactions as well as generating security codes to access the website. I haven’t tried any of the other features.
Additionally the customer service operative stayed on the line whilst I downloaded the app and then helped setup the security features.

colsten

jbrassy said:

I don't know what the FD fob looks like (I use the digital secure key on my phone), but is it one where you have to stick your debit card in? 

Not one of the interchangeable ones, no. It's a hideous little gadget, looks the same as the old HSBC one. I couldn't get rid of mine fast enough when they finally offered a digital version.

I don't know the answer to OP's Q but surely, swapping in a used HSBC battery (if that's possible) is just postponing the "pain" of a 2 minute call to FD to ask for a replacement.

pbartlett

The FD thingys are unique to each customer, so you can't use someone else's

To answer the OP's question - yes you can simply swap the battery if you are able and know how to. Otherwise you can call FD and they will send you a new one, but might try to persuade you to use the digital one.

hoc

You will need to put up with calling them. Put aside 30 minutes to do this while you're doing something else, their wait times are a good 10 minutes and going through all the verification and confirmation details will take another 10 minutes.

The battery can physically be replaced but the device would need a reactivation code for which you would need to call anyway and you will confuse customer service.

soolin

Both my OH and myself have had to request new secure key machines this month as our old ones died. We both independently got the hard sell for the app, both of us just kept saying no to it and had to listen to frankly patronising warnings about how everyone will be using phone aps and we will get left behind. We stuck to our insistent on a new key card and they even tried warning us it would take weeks and we couldn’t access our accounts while we waited. In the end mine arrived after a week and my husbands 8 days. 

Brie

soolin said:

Both my OH and myself have had to request new secure key machines this month as our old ones died. We both independently got the hard sell for the app, both of us just kept saying no to it and had to listen to frankly patronising warnings about how everyone will be using phone aps and we will get left behind. We stuck to our insistent on a new key card and they even tried warning us it would take weeks and we couldn’t access our accounts while we waited. In the end mine arrived after a week and my husbands 8 days. 

When this happens and if I'm cranky I ask what phone they will be providing for me.  Normally I get stunned silence and then they say that the app works on any phone.  At this point I ask if I can use my land line. They normally give up after that.

If I'm not cranky I just say no my phone isn't smart enough for apps and leave it at that.