In the name of Security

My bank sent me a letter last week stating that there was a suspicion of some fradulent activity on my debit card and that they were taking the precaution of replacing it.

Now the card was not cancelled. I could keep using it until such a time as I could make my way into my home branch to collect my new card, at which point the old one would be cancelled and destroyed.

I found it strange that my card would continue working under the suspicion of fraud, but the facts weren't clear. There certainly had not been any suspicious or unaccounted transactions on my account. So far so strange!

Anyway, a couple of days later another letter arrived informing me of my new PIN. In the name of security it arrived on a purpose built form, where you tear a small portion of adhesive paper placed behind the new PIN away, supposedly revealing the new PIN, amongst a scrawly pattern of black "squiggles which is only visible when you hold it up to the light or against a white background.

Fail!

I could make out the first digit with no troubles. The remaining three were either 000 or 003 - or so I thought.

I took this "security" form into the bank when I went to collect my form. I explained the problem of having no way to read my PIN....blank face. At this point I made my questionable decision in all this - I decided to show the teller what I meant. Now she did acknowledge that she shouldn't, which I respect and asked her to do it anyway. So she did, quite decreetly and acknowledged she couldn't read it either.

We decided I should try what we thought it was, once, so as not to lose the card in the ATM. I did so, and of course, it didn't work.

I went back into the bank at which point a not so discreet teller came over, took the letter and annouced to basically the entire bank what she thought the number was. A little disgusted, I pointed out that in an over zealous attempt at securing my information, Bendigo Bank had just made it infinitely less secure because about 12 poeple now new what my PIN is - or at least what it may be. Turns out she was wrong too, so I left it.

The more helpful teller has requested a new PIN, which is on the way. Meanwhile, I can't use the card at an ATM or EFTPOS. Thanfully the card also has a credit facility which I can sign for so I shouldn't be stranded. I can also reset myPIN at any ATM once I receive it - I just hope I can read the next one!