Just received two new NatWest Mastercards (chip & pin) in the post - mine and my wife's in one envelope. They were delivered in the normal post, just dropped through the letterbox. There is no activation procedure, just sign and use. Surely this is not a secure method of delivery.
Any views?
They were intercepted, copied and then forwarded to you by the theif so you would be unaware they were missing? ;-)
Now I'm paranoid!
FWIW, Nationwide do the same.
Did they send the PIN *with* the cards? If so, that would be a serious security issue.
Otherwise, they are just replacement cards for your existing cards are they not?
The fact that credit cards don't have photos as a standard feature indicates that the issuers are not interested so much in security.
Cheers
Robin
No the PINs came some time ago, so the fact that these are Chip&Pin cards means that they more secure. But some replacement old type cards came the same way last year.
Peter.
So no difference from last year, or did last year's cards require activation?
A chip -- and therefore a PIN -- plus a photo makes it quite a bit harder to engage in fraud.
Issuers constantly balance user (in)convenience against security/fraud prevention.
Robin
Did they come as "disguised" mail? That is, in an envelope that doesn't look like it is from a bank, or like it contains a credit card? I have received cards from Natwest like that before.
A
Just a normal white window envelope, where you can feel that there are obviously two cards inside. I think the problem is that there appears to be no attempt at secure delivery. When I received some Egg cards last year, I had to go online to activate them before they could be used. My son collects his HSBC cards at the branch and has to take identity with him. How do others receive their cards?
Peter.
HSBC, EGG, M.Stanley all sent normal post.
I just got my replacement Barclaycard through this morning (following a wallet in washing-machine incident) and my pin (the same one) arrived at the same time in a seperate (inconspicious) envelope - however, before I can use the card, I have to phone up and validate it by answering a series of security questions. Seems fairly secure IMO.
I've now got about 10 cards (acquired as a result of the various 0% offers), and in almost every case they're delivered in plain looking envelopes by normal mail. HSBC is the exception, which sends it to the nearest local branch, even overseas branches when I'm not in the UK.
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