Forget pin number.....then what?

[ianess]

Once your tank is full of petrol, or after your shopping has gone through the checkout, you panic and can't remember your PIN......what happens next come Tuesday?
Just how far are managers prepared to push the issue if the customer is still willing to sign for the goods?
Chaos ???

[Hgrove]

I have written mine down as part of an imaginary telephone number.

[dzug]

Well shop staff CAN still accept a signature. The problem for them is that it's the shop's risk (not the CC company's) if it turns out to be a fraudulent transaction, so most will have been given the instruction DON'T.

With petrol it's difficult - you've already got the goods. With shopping you can just be sent on your way without them.

[lady_p_gold]

Well I have about four cards, I have written the pin in code along the signature bar, I am the only one who could decipher it ...

[STAH]

Surely, the logical thing to do is to change you PIN to a number sequence that you can remember easily?

I have got the same PIN for my credit, debit and charge cards. I have avoided date of births, anniversaries etc for obvious reasons. NO ONE would be able to guess my PIN. Change your PIN asap, your card provider will be able to provide advice to you on how to do this.

In the meantime, retailers are able to accept a signature. dzug is spot on with what he has posted.

Everyone is different, but I would strongly advise against writing down you PIN like lady_p_gold. I take no chances with things like this!

[Coobeastie]

Why not use the same pin for all of your cards.

[jennifer_cro]

I think pins are a great idea however it doesn't stop fraud completely. I found out yesterday that someone has racked up �800 on my credit card on the internet (I'm still in posession of the card). I'm getting it back through my credit card company but it's still really annoying!!!

[WendyS]

Just imagine the chaos that would happen if every customer at every supermarket on February 14th put their goods through the till and then "forgot" their pin number just as they were asked to pay for it. Then the supermarkets would have to accept a signature and those that are enforcing rules against the spirit of the procedure would learn that consumers still have a few rights left.

[les saisies]

Please remember that it is the BANKS and not the retailers who are introducing PINS.

Also I believe that it is classed as theft/fraud if a customer fills a car with petrol without the means of paying. If you fill your car you are agreeing that you have the means of paying for the fuel. Most pumps carry a warning notice to this effect.

Forgetting a PIN, accidently or deliberately, could cause serious problems. I believe I also saw a notice to this effect the other day in a filling station.

Also few garages accept cheques these days.

[goldfish1]

I put fuel in my car once and then realised I didn't have any money or cards. I was asked to come back and pay for it in 7 days. There was no hassle - they've got your registration number on camera anyway.

[WoWo]

"Why not use the same pin for all of your cards."

I'd say that's risky, next time you're in a shop try and look at other peoples PIN numbers. What you will find is that it is very easy for people to see them and therefore also easy to see yours. Buy having the same pin for all cards all a person has to do is see one PIN and they have access to all your accounts, before you even notice that your purse/wallet has gone they could have draw the maximum allowed for each card.

I think a better system is to have a 3 number PIN, and the last (first, second or third) digit is the same as the last number of the card number.

[spaced]

in a pickle, no garage would have the means or right to impound your car. The only thing they can do is take your reg and call the police if you decide to drive off. Most garages take you reg anyway, by camera, but cant see some little old lady holding you by the arm trying to get hold of your keys!

[spaced]

...in the past where I have forgotten my wallet, the garage have taken my reg and allowed me to drive off and asked me to get payment to them before the end of the day or they will have to call the police. Some garages may be leniant like this one, but I doubt it. My guess is, if you dont have the pin or the dosh to pay. they will not allow you to leave without paying, which of course will be difficult for them to do, so ultimately they will call the old bill.

[madein1978]

Best thing to do, is to write down your PIN in code that only you can understand, the more complex the better and do it that way, or remember it by word association.

[sammyrobo]

Hiya, i currently work for Wilkinsons and we have been told that if people do not know their pin number then they have to find an alternate method of payment. However, if people have an older card that is still valid and does not have a chip on it we can accept a signature. Also, we can still accept signatures from disabled people who are unable to enter their PIN. Apart from that - if you dont know your pin number - your stuck!!!

[stevie21]

Honest to gawd, guys, listen to yourselves.

Is it really THAT difficult to remember a 4 digit number? In fact, if we're to believe WendyS then we all have a right not to remember a 4 digit number.

Sometimes I despair, I honestly, seriously do.

I'd also strongly advise against writing down the PIN, especially on the card itself (lady_p_gold!!), if someone figures out your code and discovers your PIN then you're liable for ALL losses from fraud.

[Hgrove]

if you buy petrol and then you can't remember your pin, you are liberty to leave and come back later with cash. They have no right to stop you leaving or impounding your car and even if they called the police, even if the police could be bothered to attend, if you tell the police that you fully intend to come back later and pay, nothing will happen to you. So long as you really come back and pay later. In fact someone I know who is a barrister once told me he filled up his car and then there was a problem with his credit card. He drove off in a huff and went back the next day to pay. He had done nothing wrong because for it to be theft you need an intention not to pay and he always meant to pay (it would not be theft but obtaining goods by deception by the way).

[twiglet321]

I couldn't agree more with stevie21. How many of you use a cashpoint? How can you possibly attempt to buy something, knowing that you are going to pay by card, and then not know the number?? If it's really that difficult try carrying that old thing we used to use.....I think they called it CASH. And have this as a thought. Forecourts will soon have retractable spikes that can be operated by the staff if people drive off. You may think this would cause outrage to other motorists and the garages won't do it. I have this to say, fuel companies lose millions every year when people drive off so do you think they care if they upset a few people? And how much quicker do you think the police will attend if they think there's going to be civil disturbance?

[birdie1971]

Hgrove - you're spot on. In law, theft is defined as "The intention to permanently deprive".