Confused about NS&I login process using a mobile

Notepad_Phil

Hello all,

I'm aware that various posters have had issues with two-factor authorisation when logging into NS&I with their mobiles as the hash key doesn't seem to work for some people. Consequently to be on the safe side I've always just kept my BT landline details on there, which has always worked for me with my laptop browser.

However whilst looking through the NS&I help text I noticed that it says that if you use a mobile number then it sends a text message that you simply enter onto the screen, and you only get a call if you have a landline number.

So why are people needing to press the hash key on their mobile? Is this something that has recently changed, or is the help text wrong and people with mobiles do get a call which they need to respond to first by pressing the # key and then the text is sent?

Many thanks to anyone who can answer this and put me out of my confusion.

Vitor

Peeps are probably muddling up using the NS&I app on their phone with logging into a web-browser on their PC and getting a 2FA challenge on their mobi by SMS.

Because I've enabled Developer Mode on my Android phone the NS&I app won't run, annoying but it assumes the phone has been compromised.

NB Once NS&I web-site has 'authenticated' the browser on my PC, I'm not getting repeated 2FA challenges.

friolento

Vitor said:

Peeps are probably muddling up using the NS&I app on their phone with logging into a web-browser on their PC and getting a 2FA challenge on their mobi by SMS.

Because I've enabled Developer Mode on my Android phone the NS&I app won't run, annoying but it assumes the phone has been compromised.

NB Once NS&I web-site has 'authenticated' the browser on my PC, I'm not getting repeated 2FA challenges.

The NS&I app is really only good for checking your balances. For anything else, you need to use their online banking. You are not missing much if you can’t run the app

Notepad_Phil

Vitor said:

Peeps are probably muddling up using the NS&I app on their phone with logging into a web-browser on their PC and getting a 2FA 

challenge on their mobi by SMS.

...

It may be for some, but for most they seem to definitely be talking about entering a hash key on their mobile as part of a call. e.g. "The NS&I website recognises the hash key on my mobile about 50% of the time yet never recognises the hash key on any of my three landline handsets".

oddcueball52

Few minutes ago I was looking to update my security questions on my profile on NS&I and got prompt on screen that they will make a security call my mobile to enter the confirmation code on screen, the call stated to press the hash key to confirm and enter the code.

So look like if you try updating details or security stuff it prompts a security call to confirm it is really you before you can change it.

Notepad_Phil

oddcueball52 said:

Few minutes ago I was looking to update my security questions on my profile on NS&I and got prompt on screen that they will make a security call my mobile to enter the confirmation code on screen, the call stated to press the hash key to confirm and enter the code.

So look like if you try updating details or security stuff it prompts a security call to confirm it is really you before you can change it.

Many thanks for that info. So it seems that the NS&I website help text is wrong and with security checks it always does a call regardless of whether it's to a landline or a mobile. In that case I probably won't add my mobile as a secondary number as I don't want to run the risk of any issues with pressing the hash key on my old brick-like mobile, whereas if it just needed to receive a text then it's great for that.

Notepad_Phil

Notepad_Phil said:

oddcueball52 said:

Few minutes ago I was looking to update my security questions on my profile on NS&I and got prompt on screen that they will make a security call my mobile to enter the confirmation code on screen, the call stated to press the hash key to confirm and enter the code.

So look like if you try updating details or security stuff it prompts a security call to confirm it is really you before you can change it.

Many thanks for that info. So it seems that the NS&I website help text is wrong and with security checks it always does a call regardless of whether it's to a landline or a mobile. In that case I probably won't add my mobile as a secondary number as I don't want to run the risk of any issues with pressing the hash key on my old brick-like mobile, whereas if it just needed to receive a text then it's great for that.

Just a quick update. Decided to add my mobile after all and found that when requested the NS&I 2FA did send a security text which I could then  enter onto the login screen  So not sure why some people with mobiles are receiving calls during the logon process and need to use the hash key.

ih8stress

Just to confirm that I use a desktop pc to view my account online, so can't comment on App based logging in.

I always get a confirmation security text with a code and have NEVER been asked to use the hash key.

I believe my phone number is in my account for any contact issues but have never been called by them (and would ignore it and log in to my account to check anyway)