Hola

My bank (Deutsche) is going to issue contactless cards from now on. After a chat with the local bank manager, there are no options except take it or leave it.

Does anyone know of a bank that will give you the option not to have contactless cards? I am well aware of special card holders that are supposed to protect you from having your card read anonymously - but have also read that they are not infallible.

Davexf

Those readers the scammers use will read ANY card, not just contactless ones, so there is no reason to avoid the contactless.

Hola

Sorry but that is not correct - it is possible to read a contactless card without the card leaving your pocket. If you have a non-contactless card in your wallet, no one can read it unless you get it out and put it into a machine

Davexf

Hi Dave,
I would first point out that in the Which tests that highlighted this weakness the cards had to be placed next to the scanner which would be difficult if it was in your wallet or pocket. That said this guy has decided to disable his;

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-...?amp_page=true

The link takes you to page 5 of 5, click back to page 1 for the details but also note some of the comments at the bottom of page 5 that give some help.

I use them all the time, have not used cash for the last couple of weeks. Your more likely to be mugged than 'scanned'

I agree Bob I use them in both the UK and Spain with no problems but at least there is a workaround for anyone who wants to disable it.

Never used them in Spain but do on a regular basis in uk. From my experience the card has to be correctly passed in front of the scanner and nearly touching it for the thing to work. So I can't see how easy that would be if someone's card was in a wallet or purse in a bag and then in a pocket? Also from what I have read the shop/company with the scanner must be registered to receive money from the bank. So how would the scammer get around that? I can see if card was lost or stolen they could use it prior to being reported and blocked.

What does it matter? I too was a little upset by this but was assured by my bank that "You get refunded for any fraudulent use".

And to answer your question all card issuers will implement this technology, it's part of a world wide drive to eliminate cash and cheques, and end money laundering and the black economy.

You will need a contactless card if you ever want to use buses in London. Not sure if other cities are going down the cashless route. It's safer for all concerned, no cash to be stolen.

Contactless cards are not RFID.. but NFC cards.

RFID is what is used in stores to combat shoplifting (in clothing for example).

Most good banks will (even though they issue these cards automatically because it's a growing technology) allow you to enable/disable the function either by filling in a form at your local branch or via your online banking account.

I quote from Wikipedia
A contactless smart card is a contactless 13.56-MHz credential whose dimensions are credit-card size. Its embedded integrated circuits can store and sometimes process data and communicate with a terminal via radio waves. There are two broad categories of contactless smart cards. Memory cards contain non-volatile memory storage components, and perhaps some specific security logic. Contactless smart cards do contain read-only RFID called CSN (Card Serial Number) or UID, and a re-writeable smart card microchip that can be transcribed via radio waves.

Depending on standard - these cards can be read from 18 inches away with normal readers - high powered readers further

Davexf

RFID has a greater range than NFC. NFC is used in devices like phones (Apple Pay) which have to be used within a very short distance of the receiving device, typically tapped onto the terminal.

RFID is used in contactless cards which can operate at a greater distance from the terminal. The two technologies are similar but used differently. RFID can be used in supermarkets to process a whole trolley load of goods passing through the checkout. NFC is much more limited in range.

I suppose the problems that might occur are the reasons that they are limited to less than £30 in the UK

and only so many transactions per day

Hola

From "Which"
Tests by consumer group ‘stole’ a £3,000 TV in an online purchase using data lifted from contactless card
https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...asy-says-which
unquote
The RFID has the full card number; read it and you can buy on-line

Davexf