Banking security: Card reader rant

[sigur]

I bank with Smile and have been a relatively happy customer for quite a few years. However Im now finding myself considering banking elsewhere as Smile customers are now required to use a card reader when carrying out the majority of transactions.
A small pocket calculator type device that requires you to dip the card in order to receive a code which is then entered online and allows your transaction to go through.



Has anyone else here getting to the stage where they are tempted to launch the pocket calculator out of the window but cant as they will end up living like some of those folks on MSE?


Total piece of **** that will invariably be lost or as its brightly coloured, chewed up by kids.




I did consider posting this in the finance forum but as it's not asking for advice I thought this would be a better location.

[B0zza]

Had one for Barclays banking for at least a couple of years now and it became a contributing factor in me moving most of my banking elsewhere, although I did keep the Barclays account open 'just in case'. (In case of what, I'm not sure)

[drush9999]

I got one for my Natwest account, but only ever need it for changing/cancelling direct debits. Though last time I cancelled a DD it didn't need it :shrug:

[babe-storm]

I'm with smile and it is doing my head in. whats the point of internet banking when I need to have this damn thing with me to do anything? If I remember at work that i've not paid a bill all i can do is make a note and try to remember later.

[splobber]

moving

[Kryten]

With NatWest you only need it for setting up new payments (DD/SO/One Off etc) that I have found. This I am ok with. I have friends with Barclays and they need it just to login or pay a pre-configured person. That would **** me off something rotten

[sigur]

moving

Is there any chance it could be left in the General forum ?

[Wooglie]

I have friends with Barclays and they need it just to login or pay a pre-configured person. That would **** me off something rotten
I'm with Barclays and you need it to login, but once you're logged in you can do whatever you want except setup a new payee. It's a bit of a hassle, but I don't mind it. If you do forget the reader there's an option to login without it.

[neilalford]

If you do forget the reader there's an option to login without it.

Doesn't that make the whole thing completely pointless?

[andog]

Doesn't that make the whole thing completely pointless?
if you login without it, all you can do is view balances and statements :(

if they could extend it so you could still make payments to accounts you've already setup, it wouldn't bother me one bit - but as things stand, its a pain in the rear! :(

[cubes]

Really? I'm with smile and this is the first I've heard about it.

[KennyVader]

Certainly considering binning my Bank of Scotland business account because it needs a code number from the securid device for every login. Fine to make any actual transactions need reconfirmation with such a device but the majority of my logins are just to check the balance to see if I have been paid yet, and it's a pain to have to have the securid device with me all the time just to check the balance. It should be like my Nat West personal account where the physical device is only needed for certain transaction types.

The trouble is how do I know that whoever I move my business to doesn't also have a similarly impractical security setup, or if they're OK now, won't muck things up in six months time by introducing them.

[MrSpoons]

I've got the barclays one and just realised the other day that the 8 digit code you need to sign in appears to be constant so if you can remember that then you can get in.
You still need the calculator thing to set up new payments though :(

[eklipze]

I've got one for my Barclays account. Need it to log in but then, only to set up a transfer to someone new. Any existing transfers then it's not required.

Also got one ffor Natwest account and only need this to set up new transfers also.

I'm not bothered by them at all and am happy with the extra security. The pads live in my work laptop case so they are always to hand if required.