Today's mail came with a nasty surprise.
A "new improved" debit card! With a shiny little "Microchip"

I called their 1-800 number, the poor girl on the other end kept blabbering about how it was more secure ("If your card gets compromised, you can just change the pin" Excuse me, isn't that how we deal with it NOW?)

I asked her what kind of chip it was.
"It's a microchip"
Yes but what is it CALLED
"Well, it's just....it's just called a microchip"

She put me on hold to figure out what KIND of chip it was.
Not a single person knew, according to her. It wasn't information that they give to emloyees, or even managers.

That's why I found blogs about it being an RFID chip, right? Because it's some secret information?

The letter told me my old card will be invalid after 60 days. So basically, I either never use my bank account ever again, or I carry this thing around. My plan is to ignore it. Not use debit again I guess. I have to activate this one before my old one dies, but I don't use my card much anyways I suppose.

Opinions? Suggestions on what I can scream into the phone to make them let me use my old card? I'm pretty sure I already got put onto the crazies list today.


(sorry if this is in the wrong forum, I couldn't figure out which one seemed more appropriate)

RESIST...If everyone stops using them then they will stop making them.
Change Banks or Use cash

actually that does sound crazy that they put a chip on your debit card....ive got one on my military ID card but thats mormal for us lol but yea you should def check that out

That one is not an RFID chip (or at least it shouldn't be)... Basically it's an alternative to the magnetic strip - that strip was very easy to clone, you could buy card readers off the net, skim a victims card and make your own copy, then you raid the account for all it's worth before anyone realises - literally 13 year old kids can do it!

The chip is just the technology updated - it's still not %100, but it is an improvement, harder to clone, I think the data is actually encrypted now as well, which it was not on the magnetic strip.

RFID would be a VERY bad idea for a debit card, you wouldn't even have to get your grubby mits on the actual card... Just be in range with the proper scanning tech.

Originally posted by Wideawake08
RESIST...If everyone stops using them then they will stop making them.
Change Banks or Use cash

a)most banks in Canada have this now apparently
b)it is the only place I can bank for free.
I just told her I wouldn't use it, but to be honest, to get cash I would have to go to the ATM and - guess what? - Use this card. I do try to use cash whenever possible, but I just got a job where I get cheques. I will have to drag my butt and my card to the bank to deposit it, then withdraw. I wonder if they'll let me deposit cheques just knowing the account number? I have done some int'l transactions online so I have all the routing #s and everything.

Originally posted by Now_Then
That one is not an RFID chip (or at least it shouldn't be)... Basically it's an alternative to the magnetic strip - that strip was very easy to clone, you could buy card readers off the net, skim a victims card and make your own copy, then you raid the account for all it's worth before anyone realises - literally 13 year old kids can do it!

The chip is just the technology updated - it's still not %100, but it is an improvement, harder to clone, I think the data is actually encrypted now as well, which it was not on the magnetic strip.

RFID would be a VERY bad idea for a debit card, you wouldn't even have to get your grubby mits on the actual card... Just be in range with the proper scanning tech.

These are RFID chips as far as I can tell. There are plenty of sites about it.
The reader problem is one of dozens of reasons I'm angry about this. The lady on the phone wouldn't say a thing about how RFID chips can be read from afar without anyone noticing. There have ALREADY been people using those readers and using the info on it.

Simple. RFID works on Radio Frequency, hence the acronym. Play around with it at a walmart or a door scanner or some place that has an RFID reader. Try wrapping the card in differant materials like aluminium foil or copper mesh (usually available from a hobby store). Once you find something that works, make an envelope for your card and keep it in there.

I would do the same thing myself if I ended up with a card like that. The reason is not because of NWO or whatever... I just don't want an electronic pick pocket to sneak up behind me with a scanner and read my card info without even touching me.

Well actually TD gave me a bank card with a chip in it too. Me being nosy, I asked what the chip was for. The lady told me that it is safer then the magnet strip. Apparently the magnet strip is easier to duplicate then the chip. It would take some time for the guys, if ever, to figure out how to duplicate it.

I wouldn't really be worried about it.

Considering the new ones can be used on special machines that do not require you to swipe. You just press the card against the reader..it's an RFID chip or some variation. Several other canadian banks have them also and the local walmart has a swipe and a press spot on the interact machine now.

I have had one in mine for about a year now and nothing nefarious with it other than I swear I get 10 times more advertising and automated telephone calls to try and get me to buy crap. That I hate and find to invasive. It helps if your card is ever stolen in tracking the culprits down easier.

Its not an RFID chip - those arnt visible - they are embeded in the card - the UK tube uses them in Oyster cards and I think many of the US states have similar systems now. You wouldnt even know if you had one - for instance Gillette tried them in the packaging for the Mach 3 Razor. What you have is the alternate to the old mag stripe so things like "chip and pin" work.

Having had a card cloned on the old system Im a lot happier with the mew ones - and given one of my clients makes them and they pay their bills I hope a lot more people get them!

FWIW you can embed an RFID chip in a note and you wouldnt even know - same for a coin - think about that

(added some info in the edit)


[edit on 10-7-2009 by Silk]