Banking

[Hotrodder]

We had problems with La Poste banque and when the certicodes came into being we cancelled our accounts and that in itself caused no end of communications. I am with CA locally they have been perfectly OK and very helpful for the last 15 years so I think it depends on the dept/region (yes if you make an appointment they will try to sell you something or other but that's their job and it's easy to refuse). They send a code to my PC but will send a code to my old non smart phone. However, due to a problem with DHL who for delivery and reasons of security asked me to tap the screen of the email they'd sent me with a code that came separately and which caused even more problems cos I couldn't tap the screen of my non smart phone. We realised that at some point we would have to get a smart phone which we did purely for security codes and now for the QR thingy. It stays in the house, doesn't get used much and is on a Leclerc payg contract of 3 euros a month. I have to admit it did/does take some getting used to but it takes very good photos! So maybe it would be worth you getting a cheap smart phone?

Happy to hear you've managed to solve the problem. As you say- satisfaction with CA very much depends on the staff at your local registered branch. Mine was seriously lacking in efficiency and going into any other branch in or out of the region with the same name over the door was like going into a different privately owned franchise with extremely limited connections to the whole.
There is no mobile network coverage here at the house so owning a mobile has never been a priority for us. The novelty of walking up the lane in the rain searching for a signal soon wore off. Even more tiresome when the transaction times out before I can make it back to the house to enter it on the PC. There is now a system that allows a mobile sms code to get into the house (as Dominic suggested) but requires the purchase of another specific type of phone that has the facility. Plus your LeClerc option effectively adds another €36 to my banking fees. If only they would relent and send me a code by email that I can receive without leaving my seat in front of the PC.

[Hotrodder]

That certicode thing is (or should be) in place for all banks now. There is no way round it, it has to be done!

I am with La Banque Postale, and also use a free online only bank (Hello, part of BNP) and that also has a similar version, so I doubt it can be circumvented.

If this is the case then the banks should supply the phone and pay the monthly bill. I have no need of one, let alone two of the damned things. With a phone here at home I have never used one for an outgoing call.

[L Austin France]

That certicode thing is (or should be) in place for all banks now. There is no way round it, it has to be done!

I am with La Banque Postale, and also use a free online only bank (Hello, part of BNP) and that also has a similar version, so I doubt it can be circumvented.

If this is the case then the banks should supply the phone and pay the monthly bill. I have no need of one, let alone two of the damned things. With a phone here at home I have never used one for an outgoing call.

You could always try the Free 2€/month deal like we have for our two phones.
There you go! That's 12€/ year saved

[Hotrodder]

You're on the right track matey!
We have both been battling with this since breakfast. Wife is unable to get her security code from a UK bank. For some reason voice calls are OK but no texts. Makes me reluctant to waste €100+ (plus network charge) for another piece of electronic crap.
Interesting to think some people spend a fortune on these things and spend all their waking hours playing with them. Now the banks insist we have them (to make their lives easier?).

[DominicBest]

I do my online banking on my iPad which uses my wifi. When an SMS is sent with a code I can read it on my iPad even if my phone isn’t around. There is no need for a mobile signal.

You are fortunate. I now have a third option. I can buy an Ipad. More money down the drain.

Why the sarcasm? I have pointed out two ways to overcome the need for a good mobile signal. As my codes are sent by SMS I could receive them on the 15 year old Samsung phone I use from time to time. There is no need for a smartphone.

[suein56]

For OH and I our UK Banks are quite happy to send the necessary code(s) to our French mobiles or to our fixed phone .

[exile]

I think you are forgetting the "no signal" problem.

[Headers]

For OH and I our UK Banks are quite happy to send the necessary code(s) to our French mobiles or to our fixed phone .

this past week we have had a problem receiving ‘one time’ access codes from our U.K. bank to log in to our account. I had to resort to using the little card reader thingy to get access to our account. I will tweet them on Tuesday to find out what’s going wrong.

[Hotrodder]

For OH and I our UK Banks are quite happy to send the necessary code(s) to our French mobiles or to our fixed phone .

this past week we have had a problem receiving ‘one time’ access codes from our U.K. bank to log in to our account. I had to resort to using the little card reader thingy to get access to our account. I will tweet them on Tuesday to find out what’s going wrong.

That wouldn't be RBS by any chance. Their codes are not making it through to the wife's phone at the moment.

[Hotrodder]

I do my online banking on my iPad which uses my wifi. When an SMS is sent with a code I can read it on my iPad even if my phone isn’t around. There is no need for a mobile signal.

You are fortunate. I now have a third option. I can buy an Ipad. More money down the drain.

Why the sarcasm? I have pointed out two ways to overcome the need for a good mobile signal. As my codes are sent by SMS I could receive them on the 15 year old Samsung phone I use from time to time. There is no need for a smartphone.

No sarcasm intended. Just frustration at the situation I'm finding myself. Your option clearly works but I'm not in the position to buy more and more expensive kit that I don't want or need just to suit the banks that use my money and get paid as well. An ordinary mobile phone is of no use where I live. There is no signal and the only workaround it to spend big bucks on a specific type of smartphone that works though a wifi router.
No personal offense intended. If I needed to it would be more obvious.