Not to want a debit card with contactless technology?

[Molehillmountain]

Had my bag taken earlier in the week and have just had replacement card with contactless technology. I don't feel all that comfortable tbh. Within twenty minutes of being stolen, my previous card had been used (although the payment was refused). Aibu to think this would just make it easier and more attractive to steal cards? Or am I just jittery after the events earlier in the week?

I was a bit at first but now I like it. I work in central London and places like M&S, WHSmith, Waitrose etc all have contactless. You do have to physically place the card by the reader so you can't accidently buy something. In the places I've shopped the reader is built into the chip and pin reader so you still have to physically plonk your card on the chip and pin reader but you put it on top and its much quicker.

No, because people wouldnt know my pin.

My purse was stolen last year and luckily nothing was taken, if my card had been contactless I wouldnt have been so lcuky.

The current incarnation of technology is Mifare, this has been around for about 10 years and is still secure, TFL use it although they are moving to Desfire (3DES). Contactless is going to be everywhere, I carry six cards or forms of Mifare daily, even if you could clone it there's no indication of what you've got. Is it a credit card or a key or an Oyster card?

I don't like contactless payment either.

What annoyed me was I wasn't given a choice. Barclays bank cards automatically renewed with contactless technology.

When I queried this with Barclays they assured me that card could only be used up to 3 times up to amount of £20 each time. After this time the pin is requested.

However this means up to £60 could be used from my card without my realising.

I believe you have to report the loss of your card within 24 hours.

Well I use my card quite infrequently and therefore it is possible that I wouldn't notice it's loss within 24 hours. Therefore it would be up to me to argue my case with Barclays. Would they compensate me my £60 in this circumstance? I don't know.

And I have read that there is radio frequency technology on the street that can get hold of your details by reading your card through your bag. Apparently the contactless technology being pushed on us has made this possible. The article I read encouraged readers to get RFID wallets to prevent this happening. Well if this is the case why isn't Barclays giving these out to their customers?

I am also not very good at regularly checking my bank statements. It is possible I wouldn't notice random £20 withdrawals and I imagine this is what the scammers rely on.

I personally don't want contactless technology. I would prefer to keep using my pin and don't want anyone else to be able to use my card without a pin either thank you very much.

"you are less likely to have lots of money taken from your account as they probably won't have your pin number."

What, whereas they would have your pin number if they stole your ordinary card?

You see, this is what I don't like. Why the need to make untrue claims to support the case for the new cards? Like the one above that ordinary cards can't be deactivated in seconds once they've been reported (iiuc most cards aren't active in the first place, it's the link to the account that's deactivated. Same thing to user.)

I can't help feel that people who are excited by technology because it's new and shiny - particularly when they've had the fun of building it - tend to see it as Better. Just in all ways Better. And that obscures their ability to make a neutral assessment of the cost-benefit.

Like I say, some people may decide the new tech is for them, and also understand the new risks and how to manage them. Others are just getting it foisted on them and won't be up to date in the latest ways to be robbed.

WillNeverGetALicence "And I have read that there is radio frequency technology on the street that can get hold of your details by reading your card through your bag. Apparently the contactless technology being pushed on us has made this possible. The article I read encouraged readers to get RFID wallets to prevent this happening. Well if this is the case why isn't Barclays giving these out to their customers?"

13.56Mhz cards (contactless) can't be read like this, this only applies to the old 125Khz cards which are not used for anything other than access control in to buildings.

I understand people don't like change, but I dont think you can expect the bank to offer two options.

MIL has had a Barclays account for ages. She doesnt want to use a debit card, instead gets her pension paid into a building soceity account then withdraws it cash (with a book) crosses road and pays it into bank account cash to cover direct debits and to build up for other expenses. She will withdaw any extra cash from the bank for plane tickets etc with her passport as ID.

Barclays eventually forced her to have a debit card sent to her, she has never activated it or used it, it sits in an envelope in her house!

While I appreciate your concern re your card being stolen, I think you have to take the same responsibility for a card as you do for cash. Whatever risks there are with cards, there is no denying that a stolen handbag with cash is a bigger risk than with a card. But I guard my card the way I wild cash or any other valuables when I am in. Doesn't mean it won't get lost or stolen, but I certainly won't be blaming the bank if it does and mg card is used.

As I understand the technology, even if they could invent portable scanning machines to rub up against you, it would still be very difficult as the card itself cannot work unless it's very close to the reader. And personally, I would not keep a bank card just in my pocket, technology risk or not as that's just careless. Keep it in a bag , or at worst in an I side pocket where if would be very difficult for someone to feel you up

SerialKipper IME having worked in fraud for card services amongst other things most card thefts happen AFTER a card has been used and the thief has your pin number allowing them to empty your account pretty damn quickly. Most fraud involving cards where the card has not been stolen involves using them in a location where the card is taken cloned whilst you are there.
Not all, but most.

I like that you can read my mind and know why I've come to the conclusions I have - that must be a really useful skill.

FFSTiggaxx

Toombs - is it true that contactless car keys can be read that way?

www.channel4.com/news/fraud-fears-grow-over-contactless-bank-card-technology

Toombs this is not the article I read but seems to be saying the same thing.

Worrying.

DH got sent one by the bank, he called to complain - he hates the idea - and got sent a normal one.

I love the idea - not too worried about the security, if your purse gets stolen now people can use the cards to buy stuff on the internet, I don't see it any different to that. But mine never seem to work!

PropositionJoe Yes, car keys use a very simple system and can easily be copied. Google "Smart card deluxe", this is the same box that clones 125Khz cards.

WillNeverGetALicence This does not abuse contactless, it's no different to me looking at your chequebook, I'll get the same details. In fact you hand them out to everyone you give a cheque to.

"You are no more likely to have your card stolen because you have a contactless card than you are if you have a normal card and you are less likely to have lots of money taken from your account as they probably won't have your pin number."

dawntigga I'm challenging your apparent assertion that the thief/cloner is less likely to have your PIN if you have a contactless card, than if you have an ordinary card.

Was that just a confuddled sentence and you actually meant something else?

As I understand it ... your contactless card is like having £20 in your bag/wallet/ purse.
How many people get worked up when carrying £20 or even £40 quid around with them.
If you get mugged and you lose that £20 or £40 then its gone for good .. if you get mugged and you lose your card then you can stop the card then you dont lose the money

Toombs didnt realise it was only credit cards thatsa bummer I presumed it was debit cards too ...

I would prefer to keep using my pin and don't want anyone else to be able to use my card without a pin either thank you very much

I've just had my Debit Card replaced after my card was cloned and £750 taken from my account. The bastards did 2 small transactions, then bought something for £700 from Tesco!

I didn't notice for 3 days and only picked up on it because I'd downloaded the Barclays PingIt App. If I hadn't I doubt I would have picked up on it for another few days at least.

Barclays Fraud department were fab and refunded my money before I'd even filled out the fraud/loss paperwork. They took my word over the phone that the tranactions weren't me.

That was a normal card, with a PIN. We were able to pinpoint where it happened (a co-op cash machine in an area with no CCTV).

My view is that no card is "safe" when you have got scumbags that want your money. But if contactless is limited to £20 that's got to be better than £700!

My new card is contactless, I've used it once and had to physically put it against the card reader. I don't think its any less safe than the one I had before.

Have decided not to maintain knickers in a knot! I don't really see a pin as much of an inconvenience but hey-technology moves on. I suppose that since my first bank account was in the days when you couldn't actually get cash outside banking hours (no cash machines-I am very old!) I just don't see putting a pin into a machine as too much of an inconvenience. Pins, I get that-so much safer than a signature. Moving on now! Plus the nice lady at the bank says I don't have a contactless option anyway.

Hmm, that's pretty much what it said in the Telegraph. A bit worrying. Thanks very much.

They asked me to touch my card on the machine in M&S. I walked out not really realising what the hell was going on as I was sure I hadn't put my pin in or signed anything. I don't like it. I think if you get your bag stolen someone can take loads of little payments out before you get chance to get home and cancel it.

I already have a contact less debit card with Barclays that i've never used the contact less on due to lack of shops where i live having it.

I sometimes have days where i use my debit card nearly 10 times all for amounts less than £20 ( i go to the big town near us occasionally and buy everything in one go).

Would i still be able to do this with contact less or woud my card be stopped half way through the morning?

Article here on NFC and contactless payments,

www.nfcworld.com/2012/09/05/317593/uk-carriers-get-green-light-to-launch-nfc-in-the-uk/