consumer advice: change your ATM PIN

[substitute]

No, really. Change it. A lot of debit cards have been compromised in a big ripoff due to crap software at large retailers that retained the PIN instead of throwing it away, apparently.

http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/the-russian-connection/atm-fraud-update-walmart-officemax-sams-club-office-depot-suspected-159725.php

Comments

[yoscott.livejournal.com]

who actually uses their PIN# at a retailer? There's a reason ATM cards come affixed w/ Visa/MC logo.

[brianenigma.livejournal.com]

I tend to do so, but that's only because I know that it's cheaper for the retailer to process it as an ATM transaction than a credit transaction. The overhead that Verisign (or equivalent) charges is higher for the credit cards because it's easy for people to dispute the charges or use a stolen card.

I have noticed, though, that when they ask whether or not to run it as a credit or debit, if I say "I don't care," most of the time (like 90% or greater), they run it as credit. It's faster and there's less chance for user error (like an incorrect pin.)

[trinnit.livejournal.com]

Well I do because it's easier, tho recently Ive given up on signing my name on CC receipts and just using random squiggles.

[yoscott.livejournal.com]

thats what im talkin' about. I think with my low-rent card, or maybe it was an older one from years ago, but, i had the choice to either pay $1 for using it as a checking card or let the retailer pay whatever they charge for being a VISA retailer. That's a no-brainer.

Same thing with people at the grocery store still using checks. WTF? its 2006, not 1976.