What do you do when they can't remember pin numbers?

[MonsteraCheeseplant]

My dad has dementia and i'm anticipating this will happen in the near future. He is otherwise pretty well functioning. Still driving and gets around. Who knows for how much longer. Anyways, it used to be signatures which is way more forgiving than paying and withdrawing cash these days. We have POA etc already, not that we need it right now.

We got a finger print opening mobile for my dad and put his pins in the secure folder.

Dementia is horrible.

My mum had pins for debit & credit cards written down with her cards. We went into the banks and arranged for chip and signature cards.
Instead of entering a pin, the card machine prompts for the customer to sign. She has not had any issues anywhere using the new cards.

Ah chip and signature, thank you. Good to know these things.

You can also arrange third party authorisation with the bank which would let you access on his behalf.

Have a look at your PoA - it is possible to opt for it to be able to take effect while the person still has capacity, which allows you to share management of money.

Don't make any assumptions - my father can still remember his PIN, because it has been in his memory for 20 years or more, but is rapidly losing his fine motor skills and is no longer able to produce a recognisable signature. Good to make plans, but also be aware that things can change in ways you don't expect.

Good point, I guess I'm just trying to be prepared

I work in a shop and the number of elderly people who have the PIN written down, give it to me and ask me to enter it for them is shocking.

I have seen signature cards but they aren't common. I think the banks should be better at offering these to people.

My dad can't remember his PIN, so gets money out over the counter at the building society where they let him sign for it, and then uses contactless for most things. Larger things like clothes, appliances I do for him online - he's embraced online shopping but only in the context of phoning your daughter and asking her to look on Amazon for things

DF has PINS which form an easy pattern - eg 3690, 2580, 1470. These operate his “cash” account which we limit to £1000. He can only take out a maximum of £300 per day or £500 a week. That way if he loses his card and PIN or someone steals it his potential losses are capped. This has got easier lately as he now needs to be accompanied to the cash point/bank.

All his pensions, allowances, standing orders, direct debits etc go into and out of a separate account. He has a vulnerable customer marker at the bank and they would (we hope) contact those on his P o A if he attempted to make made any unusual withdrawals.

My mil used to have it written large on her forearm so she could read it without her glasses!
My mum changes her pin so it is one of the 4 sets of numbers on the card.