Re: Banks new requirement....

[Jethro_uk]

I was under the impression that had always been the case. With purchases over £30 requiring a PIN resetting the count ?

[Scott]

I always thought there was a periodic check, but I did not appreciate that using a PIN would reset the count.

It could be worth using the PIN voluntarily from time to time to save valuable time when buying a coffee to take on the train!

[Bob Eager]

As I understand it, the change is to make the check more random and potentially more frequent.

[Jethro_uk]

When contactless was introduced I saw a lot of the blurb at work, and it struck me as far too sensible :)

Main consumer concern (understandably) was over losing money through theft. It was assumed the use of the PIN confirmed the card was still with the rightful owner.

Indeed, some consumers deliberately did that, in the (mistaken) belief that you had 3 contactless transactions allowed before needing a PIN.

Ultimately, I suspect fraud/theft due to contactless is much lower than the public initially feared. Most terminals are by their nature slap bang in CCTV central, so a casual thief chancing their arm with a "found" card (bearing in mind the limited window of opportunity before it's cancelled) has to expose themselves to a "smile !" moment.

Contactless is an example of a world-ending innovation which totally failed to deliver on it's apocalyptic promise.

[jon lopgel]

That last is bullshit with apple pay and google pay.

[polygonum_on_google]

If random, their algorithm needs looking at!

Partner, who used hardly ever to have to verify with a PIN, found that for several weeks, it happened almost every time she used her card. Despite almost every transaction fitting within her usage profile regarding location, shop, amount, frequency of use, and pretty much anything else you could dream up.

Though I do use my card less often, I have hardly ever had to, even over the same period. (Same bank.)

[nightjar]

That is why some people occasionally get checked when using contactless, while others don't. I find that refilling the car and the odd shopping spend of over £30 ensure that the card gets used with a PIN often enough to avoid checks on my contactless use.

[Scott]

It sounds like it's not random then. They appear to have identified - accurately or otherwise - high and low risk customers.

[polygonum_on_google]

I agree! Have to say, I think it grossly inaccurate but that is based on a tiny sample. They are right about me, but wrong about her. I think we are both pretty low risk - being card with the physical cards, account checkers, and with fairly obvoous usage patterns.

[alan_m]

There has been that requirement from day one. When I first got a contactless card the bank indicated that occasionally they would refuse the contactless payment and the machine would ask for the card to be inserted and pin entered.

[Max Demian]

The first time you use a card you always have to enter the PIN, in case the card has gone astray in the post. Both my MBNA cards needed a PIN after 30 contactless transactions. It's always been a published requirement, but they may be making the requirement more frequent and random. Must be based on the amount of theft and fraud.

[Brian Gaff (Sofa 2]

That will be a problem for those of us with chip and signature cards then. The big issue with pins on some of the counter top devices is they have no feelable keys and are just touch screens. This is illegal under the equality act, access to goods and services and the people who use them have to make a reasonable adjustment to allow blind people to be able to access whatever service it is. Brian

[Steve Walker]

I would presume that with a chip and signature card, the number of contactless payments would be set to unlimited - there is little point in getting you to insert the card and then sign, as that would prove nothing to the system.

SteveW

[Bob Eager]

I get annoyed when I get my credit card blocked for so-called 'possible fraudulent activity'. For a moderate amount, spent with someone like CPC or RS, who I use regularly.

[Steve Walker]

I got very annoyed when NatWest accepted a car-park pre-payment for a UK airport car park; accepted payment for WHSmiths in the airport; accepted payment for a meal in a German airport; accepted payment for a Dutch hotel the following morning; and then refused payment and blocked my card when refilling the hire car at a garage 1/2 a mile from the German airport on the way home. Luckily I had a second card, as my card was only unblocked after a call and a 2 hour wait - and obviously I had a plane to catch.

They also blocked my card for unusual activity when paying a large bill for flowers. Obviously no-one actually checks these things, as it might have been a bit of a giveaway that I'd already paid for a two week holiday to the Maldives, Wedding suit hire, wedding cars, etc.!

SteveW

[jon lopgel]

I've only had that happen the once in something like 50 years now and its just a minor nuisance given that I always have more than one card I can use. And it was a fraudulent use that got the card blocked, for a cent or two.

[polygonum_on_google]

Curious. I don't think my card has ever been blocked. (Gee! Have I really written that? Will make sure I have at least two cards and cash for the next few weeks...)

[Andy Burns]

I "never" have to put in PIN for low-value transactions, presumably I make sufficiently frequent larger transactions with PIN (such as paying for petrol) that it's not needed?

[Chris Bartram]

It has always been that you may get asked to insert the card and use your PIN once in a while, after so many purchases, but making a payment over £30, using the PIN resets the counter for that to happen. I have only ever been asked once, the first time I used the card.

[Bob Eager]

It doesn't happen much now. Seems to be more prevalent with the Visa card.