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Original poster

Same PIN numbers - good idea or not?

16 replies

tracyk · 19/10/2007 11:10

I've got 4 or 5 credit/debit cards - should I change all my pin numbers to the same - or is it risky?

OP posts:

RuthChan · 19/10/2007 15:03

Best not to.
It's a hassle to remember lots of pins, but it's safer that way.
If you lose your purse and they all have the same number it's not too secure.

mrsmerton · 19/10/2007 15:04

All mine are the same! 4563.

Only kidding.

littleducks · 19/10/2007 15:07

mine are the same

but its not written anywhere

crazylife · 19/10/2007 15:07

Its not a good idea, however my memory is so poor that all mine are the same pin number.

TheQueenOfQuotes · 19/10/2007 15:07

2 of my 3 cards are the same - but they're one I use reguarly and one that generally has nothing in it at all.

my "main" card is a different number (but just a variation of the other number as I'm terrible with numbers and have had several cards blocked as I've put the PIN in wrong too many times )

mishymoo · 19/10/2007 15:11

All mine are the same - terrible with remembering numbers!

Sunshinecursedmummy · 19/10/2007 15:11

I have two. One I've had for ages so remember. And one for all my other cards. I changed them all to one of the random pins I was sent so it was nothing relevant to me but didn't have loads to remember.

RubberDuck · 19/10/2007 15:21

can you not use the same numbers but in different orders? That way it's still not too hard to remember but a bit more secure.

hana · 19/10/2007 15:43

mine are the same but I only ever have one card with me - usually my debit card. was mugged a few years ago and now just have one card on me -

NannyL · 19/10/2007 19:35

mine are all the same

or else id nevere remeber them

I have nver ever told anyone the pin so i dont see how anyone would guess it

also its worth remembering that any fraudulant transactions you arnt liable for anyway

RubberDuck · 19/10/2007 19:49

Problem is, if the fraudster appears to know your pin, it's harder to prove that the transaction was fraudulent. Was one of the main complaints with the chip n pin system when it came in - it protects the banks, not us.

hana · 19/10/2007 20:12

you don't need a pin for online transactions tho - dh's card was recently cloned and they racked up about £2k worth of goods in an hour....

NannyL · 19/10/2007 22:03

exactly.... if someone stole my purse they would still only have a 3/10000 chance of guessing the pin for my card (before card was swallowed by cash point or 'locked') (same as anyone)

No purse theif would know that the pins for my cards were the same

assuming they guessed they might be (which in 2007 i think would NOT be the assumption to make as its not recommeded) then they effectively have 4 chances,(i carry 4 cards with a pin) so a max of 12/10000 chance of being lucky at guessing my pin.

I think this is still very unlikely and i risk im prepared to take

as i have not not been negligent IF they did luckily guess the pin (which is very unlikey) i know i would still not be liable!

RubberDuck · 19/10/2007 22:43

Hmm, or they could just look over your shoulder.

RubberDuck · 19/10/2007 22:45

This is worth a read, particularly:

"Are we right to trust them? In 2003, Anderson and Bond acted as expert witnesses in a court case between a Mr Singh and Diner's Club. In attempting to work out how Singh could have withdrawn £55,000 over a single weekend in London, while he was in South Africa, Bond discovered that instead of the minimum 10,000 or so combinations we all fondly believe would have to be tried, pin numbers can be algorithmic functions of your account number, making it possible to crack a pin in about 15 attempts. Although ATMs only allow three, that theoretically means a corrupt insider could access 12,000 accounts in 20 minutes. Citibank promptly requested a gagging order."

Also, google phantom withdrawals and visit the twilight zone where the bank refuses liability but the customer can't prove it wasn't them that withdrew the money.

Not a nice position to be in.

RubberDuck · 19/10/2007 22:50

Or for a closer to home situation, this mumsnetter who found that the Abbey were less than helpful when her business account was cleared out.

I'm not saying all these situations are due to keeping the same pin on all your cards, but chip and pin does make it a lot easier for the bank to refuse responsibility. What "reasonable care" of your pin number constitutes is very vague and not something that will break the ombudsmen's rules if they decide to interpret it in a slightly less flexible way than you would assume.

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