Disabling tap-to-pay on bank cards - why FNB doesn't let you

[Jan]

All but one of South Africa's major banks let customers disable tap-to-pay

FNB is the only major bank in South Africa that doesn't let customers disable tap-to-pay on their payment cards.

Although "Tap and Go" payment technology for bank cards was beneficial during the Covid-19 pandemic, many people still have security concerns.

 

[bwana]

Not sure why someone would want to disable it but FNB could just issue a non tap-to-pay card.

 

[Neo_X]

Contradiction nope?

All but one

vs

Tyme Bank told MyBroadband it doesn’t allow customers to disable tap-to-pay — like FNB.

 

[The Darkness]

FNB is also the ONLY bank that doesnt have an app/online function to notify the bank when traveling abroad. So one STILL has to phone the bank, go through security questions, and waste their time giving itinerary information. Truly, FNB are so far behind in what customers want and need. Tap to pay should be optional - period. I dont like the idea of someone stealing my wallet and then just being able to make transactions.

 

[SauRoNZA]

FNB is also the ONLY bank that doesnt have an app/online function to notify the bank when traveling abroad. So one STILL has to phone the bank, go through security questions, and waste their time giving itinerary information. Truly, FNB are so far behind in what customers want and need. Tap to pay should be optional - period. I dont like the idea of someone stealing my wallet and then just being able to make transactions.

You just message them on the app.

Takes all of two minutes.

And even when you don’t pretty much nothing happens anyway.

 

[supersunbird]

Contradiction nope?


vs

Tyme is not a major bank.

 

[Tman*]

FNB is also the ONLY bank that doesnt have an app/online function to notify the bank when traveling abroad. So one STILL has to phone the bank, go through security questions, and waste their time giving itinerary information. Truly, FNB are so far behind in what customers want and need. Tap to pay should be optional - period. I dont like the idea of someone stealing my wallet and then just being able to make transactions.

I think Capitec will be better for your needs

 

[supersunbird]

FNB is also the ONLY bank that doesnt have an app/online function to notify the bank when traveling abroad. So one STILL has to phone the bank, go through security questions, and waste their time giving itinerary information. Truly, FNB are so far behind in what customers want and need. Tap to pay should be optional - period. I dont like the idea of someone stealing my wallet and then just being able to make transactions.

One can disable the card on app?

 

[backstreetboy]

“All FNB cards are contactless-enabled, and the function can’t be disabled as it is a core feature of the product,” he said.

Lol yet Capitec allows you to do it. You're a lying liar who lies.

 

[Insint]

Lol yet Capitec allows you to do it. You're a lying liar who lies.

I think he is referring to their business model and not to the technology.
They do not see a need to disable it.

I also do not see a problem and as they stated payments above R500 will require a pin.
Don't like it then move to another bank.
It's a very easy solution and the reason why competition exists.

 

[Mystic Twilight]

Not sure why someone would want to disable it but FNB could just issue a non tap-to-pay card.

[ir]rational fear of someone stealing low amounts from their card by tapping their wallet while walking past, since you don't need a pin for amounts up to whatever limit you set.

 

[Nuro]

Tap to pay should be optional - period. I dont like the idea of someone stealing my wallet and then just being able to make transactions.

If your wallet is stolen they can still transact online with your card. It's actually worse, because they can spend quite a bit of cash in big transactions, where with tap and pay you get asked for a pin over a certain amount.
This happened to a friend of mine - the transactions were done on non-local sites with fake info, so the investigation didn't get anywhere. International sites don't have the 2 factor approval process for online transactions that local sites have.
Some criminals are quite sophisticated

 

[Gravedigger]

Way to disable the tap to pay? Works for every bank card:
Make a cut on the bottom of the card, 3cm incision, so that you cut the wireless coil going around the card. Tap to pay disabled...

Do not try this at home, unless you know what you are doing.

 

[Gravedigger]

[ir]rational fear of someone stealing low amounts from their card by tapping their wallet while walking past, since you don't need a pin for amounts up to whatever limit you set.

Also, get a RFID blocking sleeve, if you are really concerned...

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Also, get a RFID blocking sleeve, if you are really concerned...

aka Tin Foil, like the one over your head, so the Aliens cant read your Brainwaves.

 

[OhYeah84]

Not sure why someone would want to disable it but FNB could just issue a non tap-to-pay card.

Card gets stolen...useless thief realises your card has tap-and-go enabled and he knows of a store that doesn't also require the use of a pin (like Checkers does with a Standard Bank card for instance).

The rest of your money, as they say in the movies, is history...

 

[supersunbird]

Card gets stolen...useless thief realises your card has tap-and-go enabled and he knows of a store that doesn't also require the use of a pin (like Checkers does with a Standard Bank card for instance).

The rest of your money, as they say in the movies, is history...

You do realise it's not you that carries the money risk, it's the merchant or bank? You'll just have to report card stolen, log log a dispute and you get your money back

 

[cyb3rt]

lol my girlfriend and I were actually talking about exactly this over the past weekend as she wanted to disable the feature (on FNB) and I also wanted to know why.

So her argument was that everyone knows about the R500 pin-less limit, so under the right circumstances unknowingly losing your card and for some odd reason also not having your phone handy for an extended period to see SMS's, a criminal could just swipe sub 500 amounts till some daily limit is reached

 

[RudderVator]

FNB is also the ONLY bank that doesnt have an app/online function to notify the bank when traveling abroad. So one STILL has to phone the bank, go through security questions, and waste their time giving itinerary information. Truly, FNB are so far behind in what customers want and need. Tap to pay should be optional - period. I dont like the idea of someone stealing my wallet and then just being able to make transactions.

That is a fact.

With Nedbank/Absa simply put your dates of travel in and wont have any issues with fraud alerts and your card being blocked while abroad.

Can even select to block specific transactions on a card. Eg. No online purchases

 

[LCBXX]

Not sure why someone would want to disable it but FNB could just issue a non tap-to-pay card.

In 2019, it was all the rage to disable tap-to-pay because of some Aussie video showing how easy it is "steal" people's money using a PED & the tap-to-pay capability.

Don't tell me you forgot?