credit card from halfway ethical bank?

[fridayschild]

I have a credit card from the Co-op but they insist I learn a 4 digit armchair banking security code, and use it if ever I want to speak to them, and I just cannot do this. I am perfectly happy to answer questions about my first pet's name and my place of birth and anything else but the 4 digits are just beyond me . Besides I only need to phone them every 6 months or so and I just can't remember.

Maybe I should also say I can't actually remember my PIN for the cashpoint, I just know the pattern, IYSWIM, so I can't use that for the Co-op.

Now today is the day I have had enough of being treated like a muppet by the Co-op and I am resolved to terminate my card agreement with them and get a card from someone else. Is there anyone ethical in the banking line, apart from the co-op? It is entirely possible IABU about this but I think the customer is always right!

I cant suggest another ethical bank but would there really be another bank that doesn't require some kind of security code? Both DH and I's banks do. Could you write the code down and disguise it in some way e.g. in a telephone number in your address book or something?

Count yourself lucky- ING required me to make up a 6 digit security code for my new account

Can you convert the first few letters of your something like first pet's name into a 4 digit code?? Then you can work it out before you phone.

You'd rather sell landmines and privatise water supplies than remember a 4-digit number?

What an interesting approach to ethical living.

cant you change it to 1111 or 9999?
I think most cards ask you to remember a number of some sort...

Triodos Bank is probably one of the most ethical.

www.triodos.co.uk/

triodos Bank is the financial arm of the steiner Waldorf world.

Go and check the education threads to get the lowdown on them, yes they claim to be ethical but Steneir Waldorf education is based on Racism, Sexism and a completly nuts view of evoloution and creation.

You would do better with The Co-op.

How do you know that JamSamBam? I'm genuinely interested as I was about to bank with Triodos.

Why not bank with a Building Society? Most of their money is used as loans for house purchases.

I kow all about Triodos as im a former camphill house parent ( unpaid volunteer who lives in with learning disabled residents and family, i had my costs of living covered ( just) but didnt get paid). Triodod also finance Wileda, various businesses importing stienr based toys, art materials and household items for camphill communities. They also fund the start up costs of most Steiner schools and are the sole banking partner of the Camphill Communities Wales and UK. They are by far one of the richest compnaies in europe but they do not deal with any business outside of the waldorf circle.

They may be ethical in environmental ways but i dont feel that they are ethical in who they work with/for.

That is just my opinion though !!!

I agree with jamsambam, Triodos are pretty ethical environmentally, but they have a purpose in the steiner wardolf world.

No bank will ever be completely ethical, it's a bit of an oxymoron really, they are businesses after all, making money.

To the op, you're unlikely to find a bank where you don't need some sort of number security code. Surely you know your birthday/dp's birthday/DC's birthdays? Just use one of them, open a word document and save it all in there and then have a password to open the document, that way you can go and check it before calling them/needing it.

My current account is with Lloyds TSB and they manage phone banking without a number security code. But "ethical" is not their middle name, and I was hoping to move away from them.

And the birth dates of my family? One of the first things anyone would guess - if I have a security number I do actually think it should be secure.

But thanks anyway, I will look into some of the building societies.

I have a huge amount of sympathy - I also struggle with remembering numbers.
How about switching the number to your first 4 mobile digits (or, if like me, you can't remember your mobile no!) your parents phone number?
I personally wouldn't use your/dcs birthdates - too easily found imho.

OR make yourself a little touchpad to keep by the phone so you can tap it out

Or the date you got married (I have that written inside my ring so I can always check it

I agree with jamssam- tridios are part of the cult of anthroposophy, which is a pseudo religious spiritual belief system started by Rudolf Steiner.

Their beliefs are as weird as scientology- that human life began as spirit beings on the moon and saturn ( I think)[hmn] and evolved as humans on the legendary island of Atlantis from five root races, the most superior of which is the blond aryan one.

Their central beliefs revolve around reincarnation to higher spiritual planes. There are very dubious ideas about dark skin, occult worlds etc.

Steer clear!

smile is the internet branch of the co-op. They're WONDERFUL, best customer service i've ever had, and pretty darn good on te ethical front. But you need a number as far as i can remember.