JOIN USPIN at your own risk...
The next time you shop and make a payment through your debit card, you have to punch your Personal Identification Number (PIN).
This rule, introduced by the Reserve Bank of India to keep a tab on ATM card frauds, came into effect on December 1. Metrolife speaks to a section of the society, who feels that though this rule is a boon, it comes with its own limitations.
According to Tashrif Ahmed, Senior QA Engineer, Wells Fargo, it’s a very good move.
“The biggest problem earlier was that if you lost your ATM card, anyone could have picked it up and swiped it in stores. But now in such a case, you don’t have to panic and call the customer care,” he notes. “In fact, they should introduce the same system for credit cards as well. It’s always better to spend a few extra seconds and feel safer,” he adds.
Most people have received a message from their respective banks. EV Jayakaran, Proprietor, Glenand Pet Store, Church Street, is one of them. Jayakaran comes across a number of people using their cards to make a purchase at his store. “Though it’s a good rule, it’s not totally fool-proof,” he feels. “Some of my customers actually send their cards, along with the PINs, with their servants,” he exclaims. Ask him if it’s safe to use the PIN in a crowded store and he replies, “It’s difficult to notice it. Most people hide the keyboard and press the number.”
Sidharth Chittur, Associate Manager-Content Programming at Myplex, has always given his PIN every time he has made a purchase. “This rule has not made much of a difference to me. It used to be slightly inconvenient at first but that didn’t deter me,” he notes. However, he feels additional security can never be bad. “Some restaurants respect your privacy and bring the machine to you. But most machines in India are not portable.
Hence, many a time, the waiters take your card and go away. So I give my PIN to the waiter at places I trust,” he says.
But in crowded places, this rule has its limitations. “If you are standing in a long queue at places like Shoppers Stop, it can get risky. So one has to be extremely careful while giving the PIN out in public. You never know who could be watching. In the end, additional security shouldn’t get you into trouble,” he feels.
Bankers feel it’s an excellent rule. Nagaraj Vaidya, assistant manager in the marketing department, Central Bank of India, says, “The main part about the rule is the security.
Before it came in place, our bank used to receive a lot of complaints about ATM card frauds. So it’s good this rule has been made mandatory as all Points Of Sale (POS).
However, many people don’t remember their PIN and write it down on the card. That’s the most dangerous.” But how safe is it to type your PIN out in a crowded place? “With this rule, banks are doing their best to avoid crime. However, one cannot predict criminal minds,” he sums up.