I was horrified to discover that a blank cheque was appended to my most recent Barclaycard statement. Since I do everything by internet these days, I seldom look at the paper statement. How long have they being doing this? Do other cards do likewise? Is it a secure thing to do?
Personally, I think it is insanity; madness. Any views?
Agree about the possible security implications and like you I don't tend to pay much attention to the paper statements. This blank cheque has been shredded though (I don't wish to take advantage of the balance transfer offer) and as far as I am aware it's the first time such a cheque has been attached to any statement or correspondence from them since I first got my Barclaycard in August 1997. Usually if you want to take advantage of suche balance transfer option you have to call Barclaycard CS yourself.
Regards, Farhan
I guess it is no less insecure than your bank sending a new cheque book - with the difference that you know what a chequebook looks like, and what to do with it.
I have had blank cheques from cc cos before, both as a cheque book with about 6 cheques in it, and attached to junk mail trying to persuade me to transfer non-existent balances from other cards. I haven't had one attached to a statement yet.
The problem, as I see it, is that it is enclosed in an envelope which contains documents with details of my credit card, which is also a cheque guarantee card (I think - I don't bank with Barclays). Furthermore, the arrival of a new chequebook is something expected, which occurs infrequently, and you can easily recognise that it IS a chequebook, and contains no other details apart from your name and address, and you may be surprised if it does not arrive, leaving you with no cheques. This cheque even has my name typed on it - all someone has to do is to write a sum of money on it, sign it, and present it with a counterfeit card whose number they now know. Is that last step difficult? Do CCs get 'swiped' when used as cheque guarantee cards (I've not used one in that way recently)?
I believe you are right on the Barclaycard being a 50 cheque guarantee card when used with Credit Card cheques - I remember something in the T&Cs about not keeping the Barclaycard with any cheques that confirms this as well as the Shakespeare 50 cheque guarantee logo on the back of my card. As I understand it, the card is not swiped when used as a cheque guarantee card but the card number and expiration date would be taken down and written on the back of the cheque. This also has potential consequences as well - someone could potentially use these details to make a fraudulent card transaction. Switch based cheque guarantee cards tend to have a separate card number to the actual Switch card number that is supposed to be noted down when a cheque is being guaranteed.
Regards, Far
In message , gordon writes
NO its is NOT a cheque guarantee card.
Dont worry. The cheque isnt a cheque in the way you are regarding it. You are not the drawer, the CC company is. The CC company, despite being a subsidiary of a bank, is not a drawee in the same way as clearing bank is.
The whole thing is just a marketing ploy to get you to use their balance transfer/cash advance (etc.,,, ) services. If anybody else gets the cheque, what can they do with it? Not much unless its got your sig on it.
DONT PANIC.
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