Is the FD secure key's battery user replaceable?

pbartlett

i like the app secure key simply because, once set up on the app, you then never need to 'use' it - everything is done by fingerprint confirmation.

Your fingerprint effectively 'drives' the digital secure key

colsten

I am completely baffled by the claims that the physical secure key is more flexible than the digital one. I carry my phone for a variety of reasons everywhere, and can therefore use my banking app everywhere with an Internet connection. That’s flexibility in my books. I have no reason to carry any other physical gadget with me everywhere I go, and I don’t even need to dig it out when I want to do anything on my FD account when I’m at home.

As far as reliability is concerned: I have not experienced any app outage in years. Famous last words 🤣

Only criticism I have is that I can’t have it active concurrently on my phone and on my tablet (like I can with most other banking apps) but this is a minor inconvenience. 

The biometrics used in the app make it way easier, faster and more secure to use than with the physical secure key. I would never willingly go back to using the physical one, not at FD nor any other bank. But each to their own.

username

I think there is too much reliance on phones these days, and too much that can go wrong with them. Lose/break/have it stolen/software update goes wrong and you are in for a world of pain.

Whereas there is some redundancy and stability if you have a separate device like the HSBC/FD secure key. Its sole purpose is to let you into your banking and nothing more.

FD's implementation is just OTT needing a passcode each time to login, even just to view the account. I can understand a passcode if you want to do actions such as add payees or make transfers.

The secure keys are same across the group (and but branded differently); our bankers at work are HSBC and accounts have a red HSBCnet one which looks exactly like the FD and HSBC UK ones.

KxMx

The physical key definitely has drawbacks, I didn't get a low battery warning before mine died and I'd have had to wait for a new one in the post if I couldn't get to a branch.

Theft isn't likely as the secure key and tablet with my banking app on both stay at home. 

I don't need to check my account while I'm out. And even if I did an ATM of any brand can enable basic checks.

Shakin_Steve

I have a Barclays PIN sentry device, but I haven't used it for ages. Why do you need codes all of the time?

pbartlett

You typically need codes to add new payees for example.

Shakin_Steve

pbartlett said:

You typically need codes to add new payees for example.

On Barclays, after the usual 'are you being scammed' messages, it just asks for my card number and three digit security code.

someone

Shakin_Steve said:

I have a Barclays PIN sentry device, but I haven't used it for ages. Why do you need codes all of the time?

HSBC / First Direct / M&S require the code from the little keypad each login. The device is sealed and unlike Barclays does not use chip and pin. 

I prefer the mini chip and pin card reader used by Barclays / RBS / Nationwide / NatWest etc but I wish you could have a separate "online transaction pin" to your "card present pin".

Both devices have sadly a flaw. You are always told how to operate it by online banking, some of the steps are "magic incantations" that the user is asked to do. Very easy to manipulate a user to authorise a fraudulent request.

colsten said:

I am completely baffled by the claims that the physical secure key is more flexible than the digital one. I carry my phone for a variety of reasons everywhere, and can therefore use my banking app everywhere with an Internet connection. That’s flexibility in my books. I have no reason to carry any other physical gadget with me everywhere I go, and I don’t even need to dig it out when I want to do anything on my FD account when I’m at home.

As far as reliability is concerned: I have not experienced any app outage in years. Famous last words 🤣

Only criticism I have is that I can’t have it active concurrently on my phone and on my tablet (like I can with most other banking apps) but this is a minor inconvenience. 

The biometrics used in the app make it way easier, faster and more secure to use than with the physical secure key. I would never willingly go back to using the physical one, not at FD nor any other bank. But each to their own.

Keep in mind many do not want or need to be carrying around full access to their accounts especially on a device that can be snatched by someone on a moped.

[Deleted User]

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.

Have you tried phoning FD recently? It took me 55 minutes to get through last week to respond to a text to call them. When I finally got through to CS, the lady that I spoke to hadn’t got a clue who had sent the message. After a further 30 minutes being passed from one Department to another, it turned out to be a legitimate text. 

pafpcg

My partner & I have Digipass 302CV security devices for each of our HSBC, FirstDirect and M&S accounts.  These are similar in size to desktop calculators with decent keys and a large display.  They have audio feedback with prompts at each stage and speak each digit in the security code so it's easy to enter the code into the computer as it's spoken.  These large security devices are available for those with physical disabilities.

There's no obviously easy way to change the battery with no apparent screws, only a slot with what might be a latch to release the top and bottom plastic mouldings; the instructions they came with make no mention of battery replacement. On the positive side, they're so large that the battery should be substantial and now that our M&S accounts have been closed, I've got two devices that I can sacrifice to find a way to open them up...