Is It Safe To Pay Using Your Bank Card?

[gemz4the1]

Today I read a story about a certain restaurant overcharging a customer for their meal - instead of it being about £60.00 they were charged something in the region of £6000.00.

I have read numerous stories in the news the last few weeks inparticular whereby people have been overcharged for services - sometimes it is a small amount such as £120.00 instead of £100.00 but sometimes there is a couple of thousand pounds difference in the price.

On one story that I read, the person spent a small amount in a card shop, however he was charged over £1,000 and it was just before Christmas and that person contacted his bank and the Head Office of the card shop and he had to wait until after Christmas to get the money back.

Instances like these are becoming more common and it wouldn't be crazy to assume that it is a new way for somebody to commit fraud, similar to the way that fraudsters cloned cards.

Do you blame the people offering the service or do you blame the person using their card?  I admit myself I tend not to check the keypad before entering my pin if it is a small amount.  Does anybody else do that? 

Do you think that more security is needed for when people pay using their bank card?

Many banks have now introduced contactless payment - maybe this will help or maybe this will make things worse......

[Anonymous]

You should always check the amount on the screen of the chip and pin machine before entering your pin.  Also always check that you get your own card back - there have been scams where the card is swapped in the blink of an eye, even if it hasn't been taken out of your sight.

[Beenherebefore]

"Is It Safe To Pay Using Your Bank Card?"

Yes

[Anonymous]

Hi @gemz4the1 

I thought very carefully as to whether I should respond and if so how.  If I say "yes - it is safe" you can expect at least 15 other replies saying "No - it is not safe".  If I say "No -it is isn't safe"  you'll get bombarded with "Yes of course it is" replies.

So - all I can offer is to say that in all the many years since I have had a Bank Card, whether I have used it in shops, garages or online, I have never encountered any problems whatever.   I was once contacted by the Bank's Security Division to ask me if I was abroad as they had noticed a number of unsuccessful attempts to use my card.  That call resulted in my card being cancelled and a new card promptly issued for my own protection, so I cannot complain. 

I do not understand how these erroneous payments are made as evidence of the transaction showing the amount being charged should always be available to the payer before payment is authorised.

Anyway - I would say relax Gemma.  When you consider how many million transactions go through in a day you would be very unlucky indeed for one to be wrong especially if all concerned are following the protocols (oh - sorry protocols, rules, regulations are dirty words in this Community.  Maybe they will get bleeped!!  )

[Anonymous]

As a rule it is normally ok, check amounts etc and when online always ensure you have secure connection by looking for a https or a padlock.

[Anonymous]

My worst card experiences have been, (once again), when abroad in Brasil.

UK issued VISA Debit cards often come up on older systems as CREDIT cards, if and only if you use the chip.

The way to get around it, (because many shops charge you extra for using credit over debit), is to first try the chip, then when the machine says, "invalid mode", swipe the magnetic strip.

But you need to make sure that the checkout operator doesn't cancel the transaction after the "invalid mode" error.  If they notice they usually do, and either swipe the mag strip first, without inserting the chip, or insist in trying the chip again and again.

I am fluent in portuguese, so they understand when I tell them not to, but just won't believe that it will work.  By that time you have a line of 20 people behind you, becoming irritated at the only foreigner in the town, who "doesn't know" how the machine works .

The solution of course is to engage the checkout operator in conversation, (I.E. flirt :smileyhappy:), whilst you quickly do the whole process of chip in and out then swipe, before she's had chance to abort it, or even see the error message .

[Anonymous]

Hi @gemz4the1

Recently a guy bought some wrapping paper , didn't Check the chip and pin readout and paid over £59,000 instead of £5.90 for the items. 😞

I always check before entering my pin.

As for online I only use Paypal.

[Anonymous]

I saw the story about the man who was overcharged for wrapping paper (excellent sad face for the Daily Mail!) and to be honest I have limited sympathy for him as he should have checked the amount before entering his PIN.

To be honest if that had been me the last thing I would have done is gone running to the press!

[Anonymous]

Hi @Anonymous

Seems his Bank was not helping so he contacted the media who then interviened

Link : http://www.itv.com/news/central/2014-12-30/shop-blunder-sees-father-charged-59-000-for-wrapping-paper/

[Anonymous]

Ah right. He still should have checked though!