No PIN Required

I stopped for a coffee this morning at Pret-a-Manger in Cheshire Oaks with my wife.

She paid for the coffee and cakes by credit card. Interestingly, she didn't have to enter her PIN - apparently transactions under £15 do not require a PIN to be entered at Pret-a-Manger, your card is just plonked into the terminal and the transaction is completed. First time we've had a transaction that didn't require a PIN.

Coffee and cakes were great by the way. Service was fine too. Nearly went to Starbucks but changed our minds after passing a busy Pret.

I've previously talked about the introduction of wave-and-pay cards and whilst todays transaction wasn't exactly that, it does highlight than non-pin card payments are now here!

Killer Sandcastles More Dangerous Than Sharks

I love unusual statistics and a recent story in The Telegraph caught my eye.

The personal insurance industry is awash with statistics and they are used as a main element in the equation to determine the cost of a policy premium. The insurance companies know for example statistically how many people receive novelty slippers as a Christmas present and not too surprisingly manage to fall down the stairs in them that very day. I doubt however that the following statistic is factored into the calculation for personal accident and life cover.

Research by a leading doctor (published here) shows that Americans are more likely to die from sandcastle holes in the beach than being killed in a shark attack. Dr Bradley Maron (Harvard Medical School) has undertaken research that shows that since 1990 in the US 16 people have died as a result of falling into holes dug in the sand but only 12 people have died from a shark attack. Dr Maron says

Typically, victims became completely submerged in the sand when the walls of the hole unexpectedly collapsed, leaving virtually no evidence of the hole of the location of the victim.

Not a nice way to go!

Welcome Nationwide

We're pleased to announce our latest partnership over at cardtart - we now partner with Nationwide.co.uk and we can now keep you up-to-date with their current mortgage products offers. Nationwide are the biggest building society in the world and within the UK they are currently the largest online mortgage lender.

We'll keep you posted as and when we partner with other mortgage providers.

NatWest Credit Cards

NatWest are one of the latest credit card providers to offer a 13 month period for balance transfers at 0% (2% transfer fee applies). There is a 3 month period for 0% purchases. You can find out more here.

Tourism Card Fraud

Insure and Go, a travel insurance company recently published the details of a survey it undertook relating to overseas credit card fraud.

It appears that the number of British tourists falling victim to credit and debit card fraud overseas is on the rise. About 1.3 million UK overseas tourists have been card fraud victims over the past five years, a third of those being defrauded within the past 12 months.

Although we tend to be more relaxed when on holiday, do not forget to follow the same precautions as you would at home when using your cards.

Barclaycard Breathe Credit Card

We've received notice from our partner networks that Barclays are to replace their charity credit card with a new card entitled the Breathe Card. The Barclaycard newsroom describes this new product as such:

Barclaycard has announced plans to launch the first UK credit card that donates 50 per cent of its profits to give people across the country a greener card option. The Barclaycard Breathe credit card will see Barclaycard:

- Donate 50 per cent of Barclaycard Breathe profits to environmental projects dedicated to reducing carbon emissions around the world.

- Offer cardholders discounts and lower rate borrowing on green products and services.

- Take a greener approach to account management including online statements and recycling of card plastics.

Barclaycard Breathe states that it is donate a minimum of £1 million to environmental projects in its first year. The company will then donate 50 per cent of profits from the card in following years.

Barclaycard Breathe aims to help consumers make greener choices by offering discounts and lower rates on green products, for example energy saving products and greener transport options.

The card itself offers a greener customer experience with no paper statements - though note that the egg card has operated this way for several years. Marketing will be directed online and the cards themselves are made from PETg - a more environmentally friendly alternative to current PVC cards. A recycling scheme for old cards will be available when new cards are issued.

We're expecting to offer the card soon. When it's available you'll find it on our dedicated breathe card page.