New FNB "tap" cards

[Radioboy]

Hey All,

Fnb (and im sure the other major banks) started rolling out the new cards that you dont have to swipe or insert into the POS machines. You just tap the machine with your card and off you go.

What erks me about these new cards, is that your PIN is no longer required. I didn't have to enter my PIN at various outlets including Edgars, McDonalds, Woolies and so forth.

Am I being paranoid that My accounts are no longer "secured" being my PIN?

What are your thoughts ?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Hey All,

Fnb (and im sure the other major banks) started rolling out the new cards that you dont have to swipe or insert into the POS machines. You just tap the machine with your card and off you go.

What erks me about these new cards, is that your PIN is no longer required. I didn't have to enter my PIN at various outlets including Edgars, McDonalds, Woolies and so forth.

Am I being paranoid that My accounts are no longer "secured" being my PIN?

What are your thoughts ?

Firstly it's far from new.

Secondly that is the entire point.

Thirdly it's limited to a set lowish amount. I think it was R100 by default but you can increase it.

Also it's "irks" .

 

[mister]

The floor limit for taps is something pathetic like R200, so you won't be asked for a pin unless it's above that. Personally I have not found a single terminal with tap actually working in Durban.

 

[Sinbad]

200 bucks.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Yip, this isn't new ... only started being pretty wide spread from last year though.

You have two options: 1) You can go into your bank and request that they give you a 'non contactless' card, and apparently some banks will provide you with this. 2) You can keep your card wrapped in tin foil or a special metal-lined wallet (seriously there are some of these already).

 

[msquared]

Firstly it's far from new.

Secondly that is the entire point.

Thirdly it's limited to a set lowish amount. I think it was R100 by default but you can increase it.

Also it's "irks" .

^ This

Tbh, I prefer this. It limits the chances of my card being skimmed. And my card has been skimmed numerous times in the past and what a ballache to have the card cancelled, fraud forms filled in and a new card issued.

Hong Kong's rail system (underground and overland) is called the MTR and they use a prepaid card called the Octopus (Oyster card for you London goers). You can load cash in the Octopus at any 7-11, at the subway stations or online. It's widely accepted at many convenience stores like 7-11 and even supermarkets. It's quick and painless. I wish we had a system here too.

 

[Radioboy]

^ This

Tbh, I prefer this. It limits the chances of my card being skimmed. And my card has been skimmed numerous times in the past and what a ballache to have the card cancelled, fraud forms filled in and a new card issued.

Hong Kong's rail system (underground and overland) is called the MTR and they use a prepaid card called the Octopus (Oyster card for you London goers). You can load cash in the Octopus at any 7-11, at the subway stations or online. It's widely accepted at many convenience stores like 7-11 and even supermarkets. It's quick and painless. I wish we had a system here too.

I see your point. My main concern is situations when your card is dropped/lost/stolen.

 

[stricken]

I see your point. My main concern is situations when your card is dropped/lost/stolen.

Well if you are with FNB, you can cancel / lock the card in like 4 taps on the App. And if you have and NFC phone, you can tap that and don't need a card.

 

[DrJohnZoidberg]

Been using tap a lot here on my Poland trip - all the places I've been support it unlike in SA.

 

[SYNERGY]

The floor limit for taps is something pathetic like R200, so you won't be asked for a pin unless it's above that. Personally I have not found a single terminal with tap actually working in Durban.

Wonder Dates in Durban so far. And Montrose garage. That I'm aware off.

 

[msquared]

If I recall correctly, it not necessarily the establishment that needs to support it. The establishment needs to have a speedpoint that is paywave supported.

 

[CyraxHB]

The card should go online and ask for a pin after about 3 taps (or if the transaction is above R200 or so). That limits the potential loss from fraud and, as far as I know, the bank should take the loss on tap&go transactions if there is fraud.

 

[AchmatK]

Also get yourself one of these to avoid anyone from reading the card.

Got my one from a colleague as a gift. He bought it in the Netherlands. I haven't seen it locally but they available on eBay.

 

[msquared]

Also get yourself one of these to avoid anyone from reading the card.

Got my one from a colleague as a gift. He bought it in the Netherlands. I haven't seen it locally but they available on eBay.

^ This

There are a lot of Kickstarter projects at the moment selling wallets that block RFID, NFC etc. Very useful to have if you are worried about protecting your information.

A while back, a friend of mine said he saw a Kickstarter project that sold a card that was programmable. It had e-ink on one or both sides with a mag stripe and chip. You could "copy" all of your cards information onto this card. There would then be a menu on the card where you would select the card that you want to use and it would "load" that information. It is a brilliant idea as I hate carrying so many cards. One card that does everything. Yes, there are security concerns. No, I don't know all the information. I wish I could find the link...

 

[Dave]

A while back, a friend of mine said he saw a Kickstarter project that sold a card that was programmable. It had e-ink on one or both sides with a mag stripe and chip. You could "copy" all of your cards information onto this card. There would then be a menu on the card where you would select the card that you want to use and it would "load" that information. It is a brilliant idea as I hate carrying so many cards. One card that does everything. Yes, there are security concerns. No, I don't know all the information. I wish I could find the link...

You've just described ApplePay/AndroidPay

I can load my cards to my phone, and use it anywhere that accepts contactless payments (tap and pay).

I've only loaded 3 of my cards so far (my most used ones).



Oh, and I've got 7 cards with the contactless chip, virtually every retailer (even the corner shops) accepts contactless payments here and I've never had an issue with a misread of any of my cards.

 

[Johnatan56]

^ This

Tbh, I prefer this. It limits the chances of my card being skimmed. And my card has been skimmed numerous times in the past and what a ballache to have the card cancelled, fraud forms filled in and a new card issued.

Hong Kong's rail system (underground and overland) is called the MTR and they use a prepaid card called the Octopus (Oyster card for you London goers). You can load cash in the Octopus at any 7-11, at the subway stations or online. It's widely accepted at many convenience stores like 7-11 and even supermarkets. It's quick and painless. I wish we had a system here too.

That's actually how the MyCiti system works as well, lol.
Load cash on the card at main stations or retailers, e.g. Spar, tap the card on the display to enter the station or be allowed to get on the feeder bus, tap again to get out. I think they also added a new method where you can directly transfer money onto the card like an EFT, or it was still in trial, can't remember.

 

[ChocolateBadger]

I love the feature. Start visiting shops where I can use it more often. Used it In London and it was amazing. Works for the tube and busses too. Tbh it's your responsibility to keep your card safe. If you don't like the tap feature, bank with capatec

 

[HavocXphere]

Love it. But also a little wary of carrying multiple cards for this reason. You can push a fair bit of cash through before it bombs.

The floor limit for taps is something pathetic like R200, so you won't be asked for a pin unless it's above that.

It also randomly asks for pin. Not often though...like 1 out of 100 I'd say.

Personally I have not found a single terminal with tap actually working in Durban.

No man that can't be right...it's sporadic sure but I recall it working in 2014 (KFC comes to mind for some reason).

It is more fussy though. e.g. Some terminals will accept amex cards via pinchip but not contactless.

 

[Dave]

It is more fussy though. e.g. Some terminals will accept amex cards via pinchip but not contactless.

Amex just seems to have a problem with contactless pay in general, plenty of complaints on MacRumors of Amex issues with ApplePay as well, it often seems to refuse to verify and error to insert card/pin entry from what people have posted there.

 

[Swa]

Yip, this isn't new ... only started being pretty wide spread from last year though.

You have two options: 1) You can go into your bank and request that they give you a 'non contactless' card, and apparently some banks will provide you with this. 2) You can keep your card wrapped in tin foil or a special metal-lined wallet (seriously there are some of these already).

3) Use a punch.

^ This

Tbh, I prefer this. It limits the chances of my card being skimmed. And my card has been skimmed numerous times in the past and what a ballache to have the card cancelled, fraud forms filled in and a new card issued.

Hong Kong's rail system (underground and overland) is called the MTR and they use a prepaid card called the Octopus (Oyster card for you London goers). You can load cash in the Octopus at any 7-11, at the subway stations or online. It's widely accepted at many convenience stores like 7-11 and even supermarkets. It's quick and painless. I wish we had a system here too.

Wait till you hear of cards being skimmed by this.