Alternative to cahoot webcard

What problem are you experiencing ??? - I managed to use it last night.

Thanks Daniel

ww.entropay.com

peter

"Adrian Godwin" wrote

No it's not - I used it less than three weeks ago, and everything still seems OK.

"Adrian Godwin" wrote

"When it ain't broke, don't fix it!!"

"Adrian Godwin" wrote

I don't know of any other.

Thanks - that looks interesting. More flexible than the cahoot scheme, yet it still looks possible to avoid charges in normal use.

-adrian

The big problem is the loss of their remote access scheme, which was disabled months ago. Since I relied on that system, I've barely been able to use the card since. Last night I tried to use the PC scheme despite it's insecurity but it just gave me repeated login screens. However, I think it was probably objecting to my firewalling scheme - I have since been able to get it to work elsewhere.

I don't really understand why they withdrew the remote login - the web pages still imply it's available. The main account login page changed at the same time to avoid entering the password via the keyboard, yet the PC webcard still requires the full password. So why do they think users can safely use the webcard app but not the password login page ?

In the meantime, users of machines that don't (yet) suffer from spyware like Macs and Linux machines are denied the use of the remote app and forced to use an insecure PC !

The whole webcard application is strange - wouldn't it have been simpler and more secure to provide the facility as a simple form inside the account pages ? No need for all that flash stuff, and only one lot of security to look after.

-adrian

From the EntroPay Schedule of Charges:

So how does one "avoid charges in normal use"?

On the first reading, I thought that a Single Merchant card could be used without charges but has the limitation that you need to set one up for each merchant (which is what I do with Cahoot anyway). But looking more carefully, it appears that the Single Merchant card only works with 'participating merchants' - i.e. it's not got the same wide acceptance as a Visa card.

So that's not so good ..

-adrian

I agree that the new Webcard software is absolutely dreadful, but it does seem to work for me just, and the numbers it generates do work.

One problem I found is its possible for the image of the card to become partially invisible after you drag and drop details from it to a web page. The card seems to 'slide' off the window and it quite difficult to get it back in place again. I'd much prefer being able to generate a card number on the normal Cahoot web site.

Chris

For me the Webcard software doesnt work very well either. I have resorted to taking a screenshot of Webcard and pasting into Wordpad before it auto-vanishes and loses all the details. Extremely annoying and also less secure - but I can live with it because if theres dodgy software running which monitors the clipboard then by the time they use it the credit card number is useless. Anyhow, I didnt have this problem with the version of webcard that was out roughly 12 to 24 months ago but I've since lost that version so had to download it again when installing to my new PC.

As a result I resorted to the plain web version which I thought was fantastic, plus I could view it in Firefox instead of using the Webcard software which is based on IE. But since they withdrew that facility I've had to switch back to the software again, and still have the auto-hide problem. The Webcard software disappears after about 20 secs the first time it's used. The second time it's used it doesnt do that, but I dont like the idea of doing it twice every time I want to use it.

I signed up to Cahoot because of Wap and Webcard. They since withdrew Wap, and Webcard is not as nice to use these days. Not a nice trend. Pity.

Ant

PS: I just purchased a train ticket, and have to collect it from a ticket machine at the train station. You have to present the credit card when collecting the train ticket. So I hope it's clever enough to recognise my Cahoot card given that the credit card number is different to that issued by Webcard. We'll see...

(I'm replying here because Google Groups isn't letting me reply to the original article)

I'm a Cahoot credit card holder, and I haven't applied for the Webcard because it seemed like extra effort to apply for with no extra benefit. Am I simply fooling myself that I'm not at risk of being ripped off when using my regular Cahoot credit card online (or indeed anywhere)? I assumed that although I may be subject to fraud or whatever just like anyone else is, I'll not lose out as the bank will sort it out.

Not a chance I would think, how else is it going to check you're giving it the right card except by the number?

I'm with you, life's too short to take every possible precaution all of the time. I've bought tons of stuff over the internet over the past few years (like tens of thousands of pounds worth I would guess) and in general the process has been totally problem free. It's certainly been, overall, more hassle free than other methods of buying.

I've got a feeling it won't be.

Another problem I've found with Cahoot's webcard is it only works if the retailer asks for an authorisation just once. Some online companies seem to initially request authorisation for a small amount in order to verify the validity of the card, and then request the full values of your order later. Because the webcard can only be used once, this fails the second authorisation, and the transaction cannot be processed.

Chris

It may get sorted out eventually, but who wants to go through all the hassle of reporting the problem, signing forms, writing letters and waiting for a refund if you can avoid the situation occurring in the first place?

Chris

Interestingly, I put my cahoot credit card into the ticket machine, punched in the order code from the confirmation email, and out came my train tickets!

So it did work after all. Don't ask me how but it did.

It said on the screen that the credit card will not be charged and it's just to confirm identify. So they clearly dont use the credit card number itself for this.

Ant

Apart from the querky Webcard software, I've had good experience with Webcard for online transactions (never tried Webcard for offline transactions). I've never had a payment not work.

The only issue I did have was when Expansys UK tried to charge me more than was agreed on the website - they later realised the P&P should of been more and tried to charge me the extra without asking me first - of course the transaction was refused and Expansys were on the phone to me sharpish. Even had the cheek to suggest it was my fault for not paying enough P&P even though it's not technically possible for me to do that on their site (Just a case of leaving it on the default P&P for UK delivery). They upped the P&P on their site for the item the following day, which says it all. Anyhow, had I not used Webcard, Expansys would of got away with that and I wouldn't of been any the wiser until I next checked my statement online, at which point all hell would of broke loose because of the principle of it.

Ant