Security on New Cards

SteveL
SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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edited February 2016 in General Chat #1

Has anyone else noticed the security on new bank and credit cards seems to be getting a bit lax from certain banks. Those we have received recently from Barclays we have had to activate. However, the last two from Nat West, MasterCard and debit card have
come ready for action. As they both have contactless capability this seem rather lax. Perhaps you have to put your pin in before it will let you use it contactless, although it does not say this in the accompanying info. Either way I was happier when I had
to phone or go on line to activate. Just wondered if other providers were doing the same?

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Comments

  • Sootyvandriver
    Sootyvandriver Forum Participant Posts: 22
    edited February 2016 #2

    I received a new contactless card a couple of weeks ago. However the contactless function was only enabled after the card had been used in a cash dispenser.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #3

    We've just had new cards from NatWest, Steve. The blurb that came with it did say that you have to make a purchase or cash withdrawal using your PIN before contactless is activated. So it should be secure, can't say I really like the contactless bit, but
    that's just me personally.

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #4

    We've just had new ones and they needed a cash withdrawal first. I think that all cards have to do this but wouldn't be surprised if I'm wrong as usual.

  • Natasha2
    Natasha2 Forum Participant Posts: 306
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    edited February 2016 #5

    We've just had new cards from NatWest, Steve. The blurb that came with it did say that you have to make a purchase or cash withdrawal using your PIN before contactless is activated. So it should be secure, can't say I really like the contactless bit, but
    that's just me personally.

    I've just had a new RBS debit card but didn't read the blurb.....so now I know why the contactless bit didn't work the other day.  Thank you. 

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited February 2016 #6

    What the Banks are not telling you is that out in the world at large there are fraudsters who have mobile scanners that can read contactless cards. Rather worrying isn't it?

    I believe the next level of .security will be biometric either by way of iris scan or fingerprint or even arterial patterns in the finger etc. Only then will I rest easy. But even then I suppose that some scammer will find a 'go round' to bypass the security.

  • macwomble
    macwomble Forum Participant Posts: 54
    First Comment
    edited February 2016 #7

    Just like others......my recent new Nationwide contactless card required a purchase, or cash witdrawal, using my PIN first before the contactless bit became active.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #8

    Thanks all have found that now, I was looking at the bit about how to use it contactless and it mentions it in another section. I suppose that removes that fear but I think I still prefer it when you had to activate it. At least you new then, that if it went missing in the post, it was totally useless, even for purchasing things online, as the 3 digit code is different to the old card.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #9

    Thanks all have found that now, I was looking at the bit about how to use it contactless and it mentions it in another section. I suppose that removes that fear but I think I still prefer it when you had to activate it. At least you new then, that if it went missing in the post, it was totally useless, even for purchasing things online, as the 3 digit code is different to the old card.

    That's an interesting point you make there Steve. I don't know if you have to use it with your PIN before it can be used on line as well as contactless.

    Anyone know the answer to that one?

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2016 #10

    Nearly  got  caught  out  by  the  change  to  "Contactless"  Mastercard.  The  Direct  Debit  I  had  allocated  to  it  some  time  back  {  My  motor  insurance  actually }  would  have  failed  except  for  Devitts  E-mailing  me  urgently.

    Apparently,  when  the  facilities  on  the  card  are  changed,  then  the  whole  card  number  is  changed  as  well.

    So  I'm  waiting  on  here  for  a  few  more  "Failures"  to  be  notified  Yell

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #11

    Thanks all have found that now, I was looking at the bit about how to use it contactless and it mentions it in another section. I suppose that removes that fear but I think I still prefer it when you had to activate it. At least you new then, that if it
    went missing in the post, it was totally useless, even for purchasing things online, as the 3 digit code is different to the old card.

    That's an interesting point you make there Steve. I don't know if you have to use it with your PIN before it can be used on line as well as contactless.

    Anyone know the answer to that one?

    I can't see anything about this in the supplied info. Although it does tell you to update any sites where you have stored the details, as the card number is different.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #12

    Nearly  got  caught  out  by  the  change  to  "Contactless"  Mastercard.  The  Direct  Debit  I  had  allocated  to  it  some  time  back  {  My  motor  insurance  actually }  would  have  failed  except  for  Devitts  E-mailing  me  urgently.

    Apparently,  when  the  facilities  on  the  card  are  changed,  then  the  whole  card  number  is  changed  as  well.

    So  I'm  waiting  on  here  for  a  few  more  "Failures"  to  be  notified  Yell

     

    Odd that, because when I phoned up to change one a bit back, they told me that yes they wanted the new number, but the old one would have been honoured for a direct debit, as the bank linked them. Clearly if it was a totally new card, not just a replacement,
     this would not have been the case. I have no idea how long this link lasts.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited February 2016 #13

    Nothing  is  either  "Simple"  nor  even  "Constant"  in  the  functioning  of  our  beloved  Banks,  Steve and   "Logical "  ?? now   that  would  be  a  hell  of  a  shock  to  my  system  !!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #14

    Even the contactless card wont always work on every occasion, theyr'e usage is set up to sometimes ask for a pin input as an extra security measure.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited February 2016 #15

    I don't like or want the "Contactless" facility and as cards come up for renewal I am asking the bank for my new cards not to have the facility.  If I lost my card, (which I did once), and I didn't realize the finder could go round a few shops and within
    a very short space of time get a lot of my money or goods and I would have to prove it wasn't me.  So it's not for me. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #16

    I don't like or want the "Contactless" facility and as cards come up for renewal I am asking the bank for my new cards not to have the facility.  If I lost my card, (which I did once), and I didn't realize the finder could go round a few shops and within
    a very short space of time get a lot of my money or goods and I would have to prove it wasn't me.  So it's not for me. 

    It is, at the moment, limited to a maximum of £90 (3 X £30) per day. This  is per card account, two cards on the same account being limited to the £90 total. Still a fair bit though, if you did not notice for a few days.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited February 2016 #17

    I feel I might forget my PIN if I use contactless too often! Embarassed But it does make small things faster to do.  Thanks for the
    tip on the limit - losing a card is worrying enough. 

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited February 2016 #18

    My feelings are that it doesn't take many seconds to tap in my PIN, and it could make it harder if a person finding my card was not honest. Perhaps I am a bit of a dinosaur and reluctant to embrace this technology. I wasn't aware of the 3x30 limit

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #19

    I must admit I like it for the opposite reason, in that I don't have to tap my pin in a crowded location, such as a coffee shop.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited March 2016 #20

    A superfluous function, IMHO. 

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #21

    Another thing to get us going more quickly in this frenetic world of ours, oh for the casual way of life.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2016 #22
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • TheTakman
    TheTakman Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #23

    I don't like or want the "Contactless" facility and as cards come up for renewal I am asking the bank for my new cards not to have the facility.  If I lost my card, (which I did once), and I didn't realize the finder could go round a few shops and within
    a very short space of time get a lot of my money or goods and I would have to prove it wasn't me.  So it's not for me. 

    You don't have to prove it wasn't you they will refund you as soon as your dispute the transactions. So there is no chance whatsoever of loosing any money! .

  • TheTakman
    TheTakman Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #24

    Nearly  got  caught  out  by  the  change  to  "Contactless"  Mastercard.  The  Direct  Debit  I  had  allocated  to  it  some  time  back  {  My  motor  insurance  actually }  would  have  failed  except  for  Devitts  E-mailing  me  urgently.

    Apparently,  when  the  facilities  on  the  card  are  changed,  then  the  whole  card  number  is  changed  as  well.

    So  I'm  waiting  on  here  for  a  few  more  "Failures"  to  be  notified  Yell

     

    Direct Debits are linked to your bank account and completely separate to your card, so you can cancel or change your card and it doesn't affect Direct Debits.

    You must have had a continous payment authority setup on the card which are linked to specific cards. 

  • TheTakman
    TheTakman Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #25

    One thing that people seem to not consider is that contactless may not seem very secure but it is when compared to cash. If your wallet gets stolen then all your cash is gone forever and untraceable. But if the thief uses contactless you will get a refund
    of any money spent by the bank and they can only buy things in shops which means they may be caught on CCTV! 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #26

    Would you get a refund if you just lost it, I am not sure about that one for contactless purchases. I would think you would be covered if it was stolen, or the details copied with one of those scanners. Although how you would prove it was not you, unless
    you could get access to the CCTV, I am unsure. I think it unlikely you would get the police interested if it was a simple theft.

  • TheTakman
    TheTakman Forum Participant Posts: 24
    edited March 2016 #27

    Would you get a refund if you just lost it, I am not sure about that one for contactless purchases. I would think you would be covered if it was stolen, or the details copied with one of those scanners. Although how you would prove it was not you, unless
    you could get access to the CCTV, I am unsure. I think it unlikely you would get the police interested if it was a simple theft.

    Because the banks want to promote contactless they say that as long as you report the card missing as soon as you resonably can then your covered for any losses. This includes any lost/stolen cards. 

    The mobile scanner story is just a scare story. All mobile terminals are registered and linked to a bank account so if someone went round stealing in this way they would soon be caught after the transactions are reported!.

    I get 5% cashback on any contactless purchases so the banks really want to promote it's use because it's a good earner for them. So that's why they are willing to refund any losses so it doesn't get a bad reputation.

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited March 2016 #28

     

    It is, at the moment, limited to a maximum of £90 (3 X £30) per day. This  is per card account, two cards on the same account being limited to the £90 total. Still a fair bit though, if you did not notice for a few days.

    Write your comments here...SteveL, I have just been in my branch of Nat West, as you say the limit per transaction is £30 but they told me there is no daily limit for the number of transactions. Perhaps your bank is different.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #29

    The contactless on my Nat West credit card definitely said 3 times when I was sent it, although they have since put up the limit to £30 and perhaps they have changed it. I have just looked again at the info that came with the debit card yesterday and, you
    are right, it does not mention a limit on transactions. Thanks for bringing that to my attention, I can't say I am happy about it. The info does say it may ask you to put your pin in when you try and use it contactless, hopefully this is after 3 uses. I will
    ask next time I am in the bank.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #30

    Just been checking on the Internet. Apparently now cards require you to enter a pin after a number of contactless transactions. The number varying bank to bank. If the pin is entered incorrectly the card is blocked. It does not say if you get more than one
    chance.

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited March 2016 #31

    It almost seems as though the Banks don't know what is happening and are treating us a guinea pigs whilst they are desperately trying to gain experience and keep one step ahead of the fraudsters. When I asked a young lady some questions she seemed to be
    slightly lacking in knowledge and none of her immediate colleagues were able to elucidate either. I am guessing that it is 'suck it and see' technology and the end results will therefore be variable. I am avoiding that technology f t b.