NPCI Circular @ UPI Members __ Introduction of 3 New features for Credit Accounts

 

**Empowering Users: Unveiling 3 New Features in UPI for Credit Accounts**

 

In a dynamic financial landscape where convenience and flexibility are paramount, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) continues to spearhead innovations that reshape the digital payments landscape.

With a recent circular dated March 29th, 2024, NPCI has highlighted three groundbreaking features tailored specifically for Credit Accounts within the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ecosystem.

These features not only streamline transactions but also empower users with greater control over their finances.

 

At the heart of these advancements lies the integration of RuPay Credit Cards or pre-sanctioned credit lines with UPI Virtual Payment Addresses (VPAs).

This foundational linkage serves as the gateway to a plethora of possibilities, ranging from flexible payment options to enhanced financial management tools.

However, the realization of this potential hinges upon the collaborative efforts of UPI App Teams and Credit Institutions, underscoring the importance of synergy in driving innovation.

 

In line with NPCI's commitment to fostering digital financial inclusion and innovation, I am pleased to spotlight three innovative features highlighted in the recent circular dated March 29th, 2024.

These features are specifically tailored for Credit Accounts within the UPI ecosystem, aiming to enhance user experiences and provide greater flexibility in managing financial transactions.

The 3 new features are: -

01)                 EMI Facility

02)                Credit Account Bill Payment/Instalment Payment

03)                Limit Management

 

**1. EMI Facility: **

 

The EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) facility revolutionizes the way users manage their credit accounts through the UPI app. With this feature, users can conveniently apply for an EMI facility directly within the UPI app interface. Upon selecting the desired credit account, users authorize the EMI application process by entering their UPI PIN, thus providing explicit consent as per relevant terms and conditions.

 

i. **Converting Past Purchases into EMI: ** Users gain the flexibility to convert past purchases made using their credit accounts into EMIs seamlessly. By accessing their transaction history within the linked UPI app, users can select specific transactions and convert them into manageable EMIs, spreading payments over a pre-defined period.

 

ii. **Instant EMI at the Point of Transaction: ** Furthermore, users have the option to opt for EMI at the time of making a new transaction. Whether it's purchasing electronics, booking travel tickets, or shopping for essentials, users can choose to convert their transaction into EMI directly within the UPI app interface, ensuring financial flexibility and convenience.

 

Additionally, the UPI app provides a dedicated section to display existing EMIs, offering users visibility and transparency into their repayment obligations. It's important to note that since EMIs are essentially loans, users are restricted from modifying or deleting EMIs, except for foreclosure, in adherence to the terms specified by the issuing entity.

 

**2. Credit Account Bill Payment/Instalment Payment: **

 

This feature streamlines the process of settling outstanding credit card bills or credit line installments through the UPI app, offering users enhanced convenience and flexibility in managing their finances.

 

i. **Creation of UPI ID for Bill/Instalment Payment: ** To initiate the payment process, the Payer PSP (Payment Service Provider) generates a unique UPI ID specifically designated for receiving credit account bill or instalment payments. This UPI ID serves as a secure channel for transferring funds from the user's linked bank account to the designated recipient.

 

ii. **Detailed Overview of Outstanding Bills/Instalments: ** Within the UPI app interface, users gain access to comprehensive details regarding their linked credit card's outstanding bill or credit line installment, including minimum amount due, total amount due, bill due date, and other relevant information. This transparency empowers users to make informed financial decisions and manage their repayment obligations effectively.

 

iii. **Real-time Clearance of Dues: ** Upon receiving payments through the UPI app, the issuing bank processes the transactions in real-time, ensuring prompt clearance of dues. Consequently, users benefit from an enhanced balance available for utilization, further enhancing their purchasing power and financial flexibility.

 

**3. Limit Management: **

 

This feature empowers users to exercise greater control over their credit limits, catering to diverse financial needs and preferences.

 

By enabling users to accept or apply for credit limit enhancements directly through the UPI app, this feature facilitates seamless access to additional credit resources. Whether it's for making large purchases, addressing emergencies, or covering ad hoc expenses such as festivals or family events, users can adjust their credit limits dynamically to suit their specific requirements.

 

Moreover, this functionality enables issuing banks to start with smaller credit limits, providing users with a tailored approach to credit management. Based on the user's spending behavior and repayment history, the bank may subsequently increase the credit limit, fostering a mutually beneficial relationship between users and financial institutions.

 

With the objective of enhancing user convenience and providing better control over their finances, users can initiate changes to their credit limits through the UPI app interface. Whether it's a generic adjustment or a temporary modification for a specific time period, users provide explicit consent by entering their UPI PIN, ensuring a secure and streamlined process.

 

These expanded features signify NPCI's commitment to driving digital financial inclusion and innovation, empowering users to navigate the evolving landscape of digital payments with confidence and convenience.

 

As we continue to evolve the UPI ecosystem to meet the changing needs of users, we encourage all stakeholders to explore and leverage these features to their fullest potential.

By embracing innovation and collaboration, we can collectively shape a future where digital financial inclusion knows no bounds.

Looking forward for the new features to roll out soon, very soon.

 

Disclaimer: These are my personal thoughts only. The bottom line is Spreading the Joy of Safe ePayments.

 

Safe and Stylish: Unveiling World SafeePay and Blouse Day Delights

 

The need for observing World SafeePay Day and World Blouse Day arises from the absence of dedicated global celebrations for these concepts.

World SafeePay Day aims to celebrate the joy of safe electronic payments in all financial transactions, representing an abstract celebration that highlights the significance of secure and efficient digital financial interactions.

As the world increasingly relies on electronic payment systems, having a designated day for SafeePay emphasizes the importance of secure and reliable digital financial transactions.

 

On the other hand, World Blouse Day seeks to celebrate the joys of wearing blouses in a more lively and visually impactful manner.

The concept involves a powerful display of togetherness, with millions of people stepping out wearing blouses based on a chosen theme.

This display celebration not only promotes a sense of unity but also serves as a unique and creative expression of shared identity through clothing.

 

The introduction of these days aligns with the United Nations' approach to designating specific days to raise awareness, promote action, and celebrate achievements related to various global issues.

While international days often focus on serious matters, World SafeePay Day and World Blouse Day offer a mix of abstract and lively celebrations, catering to the diverse interests and aspects of modern life.

In a world where electronic transactions and cultural expressions are integral parts of daily living, these designated days would contribute to fostering awareness and appreciation for safe ePayments and the joy of wearing blouses.

 

 

SafeePay's joy, transactions secure,

World Blouse Day, colors allure.

Digits dance, a digital delight,

Blouse themes bloom, in unity's light.

 

 

 

 

ING Vysya Bank to launch a new Credit Card

                      Please do not be surprised, ING Vysya Banks’ Credit Cards till very recently were being managed by CitiBank.

            ING Vysya Bank has decided to discontinue the White labeling of Citi’s Credit Cards and opt for its own Credit Card program.

            As on date, ING Vysya Banks customers do not have an option to subscribe to its Credit Card. The new Credit Card will be launched in the near future.

            As per information available on  the Bank’s internet banking login page, the facility to make payments online through net banking to erstwhile ING Credit Cards has been withdrawn. Customers have been requested to contact Citibank call centre for any further queries. ING will soon be launching its own Credit Card program which will be well integrated to ING Net Banking.

            So, IVBL customers please wait for the new Credit Card Program. In the meanwhile, CitiBank has approached all the existing Credit Card holders under IVBL credit program, offering attractive terms to migrate to Citi’s own credit cards. 

Pay your Credit Card dues with Cash or Cheque and incur a penalty

            As a Safe ePayments Motivator I am very uncomfortable with the Circular issued by Finance Ministry dt.25/10/2012, advising Public Sector Banks to issue notices to its credit card holders that payment of their credit card dues via Cash/Cheque will attract service charges.

            

            Receipt of Credit cards by electronic modes is still not stablised in our country; this is not only for public sector banks but also private sector banks.  

            

          The TAT is not instant and it varies from 2days to 4days. Of course, you get a value-added date credit in your credit card statement. No, you do not get additional reward points, when you make an electronic payment to your credit card.

           

             In fact, Banks should introduce additional reward points for payment of Credit Cards dues through the eMode.

           

             When Banks are levying service charges on payment through cash/cheques, part of the savings occurring to banks via electronic receipts should also be passed on to the customers.

            It would have been great, if the Finance Ministry also advised Banks to be a little customer-friendly. Customers will respond if they are convinced that guidelines are transparent and in their favour. Otherwise, a silent resentment will start to build up, which is not conducive in the long run.

Feedback welcome.

RuPay Debit Card - India’s Own Card launched.

On 26/03/2012, India's own Card. 'Rupay', was launched.

The top 5 features of the launch are : -

1. Rupay payment network was inaugurated by Shri G. Padmanabhan, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India.
2. Rupay Debit Card launched
3. Rupay Prepaid Card launched
4. Rupay Credit Card to be launched soon.
5. Rupay Debit Card to be accepted at 91,000+ ATM's and 6,00,000+ POS terminals all Pan-India.
6. Bank of India and Union Bank of India, are the first Banks' to offer Rupay Debit Cards to their account holders.
7. POS terminals of Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Corporation Bank and State Bank of India, will accept Rupay Debit \ Pre-paid Cards in the initial phase.
8. No initial participation fee and quarterly minimum processing fees. This would encourage Regional Rural Banks, Co-operative Banks and smaller commercial banks to offer ePayments to their account holders.

At present 26.80 crs debit cards have been issued by Indian Banks and in the near future, this number will go up, with more account holders opting for ePayments.

Now, with 'Rupay' in the field, the transaction costs for Banks are expected to go down substantially, Banks will be able to encourage ePayments.  

Evolving Customer friendly Payment Systems in India – a continuing agenda

Today's Post is on the Inaugural address by Shri G.Padmanabhan, Executive Director, Reserve Bank of India on the occasion of the launch of Mobile Banking services by Tamilnad Mercantile Bank Ltd on 9 January, 2012 at Chennai.

The complete Speech can be accessed at http://rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_SpeechesView.aspx?Id=652

Many new ideas in the Indian Payments Arena have been outlined in the speech.

On a quick reading, the ZERO LIABILITY/Limited Liability feature adopted by major credit card issuers in USA seems to be the highlight of the speech.

What is Zero Liability/Limited Liability feature in Credit Cards ?

In simple terms, Zero Liability can said to be a valuable benefit for consumers, virtually guaranteeing protection against card fraud.

Of course like all good things in life, Zero Liability has its own terms and conditions. The terms and conditions can said to be

1. of the Card Issuing Company I.e Visa or Master or American Express or Diners
2. of the Card Issuing Bank

There is a view that Indian credit cards holders should be offered the benefits of 'Zero Liability' feature. This has started and HDFC Bank Platinum Plus Credit Card holders and HSBC Gold Credit Card holders can enjoy this feature. It is to be noted that the 'zero liability', starts only the card holder informs his/her Bank the loss of the credit card has been reported to the Bank in writing or to the VISA / MasterCard Global Emergency Assistance Helplines.

A similar facility is offered by all Credit Cards Issuing Banks to their high-end credit cards.

To increase the confidence of the credit cards holders in credit card transactions, the speech suggests that the 'zero liability', feature be extended to all credit card holders as long as the customer has adhered to all the risk measures prescribed by the bank, but yet unauthorized transactions have taken place in his/her credit card account.

Hm, which bank will be the first one, to offer this facility.

Security Issues and Risk mitigation measures related to Card Present (CP) transactions – Indian

In continuation of report of WORKING GROUP ON SECURING CARD PRESENT TRANSACTIONS, submitted to RBI on 31/05/2011, RBI, DPSS has started to roll out security measures for ‘Card Present Transactions’.

RBI, DPSS has issued a notification on 22/09/2011, and laid down 3 tasks , for adoption by the various players, in the Cards Industry.

The Press Release can be accessed @ RBI 22 Sept

Broadly the points are :

1. Introduce additional security features for CP (Card Present) transactions. It has been observed, that the reported frauds for CP (Card Present) transactions too are on the rise. This is especially for Credit Cards, which are not yet protected by PIN (Personal Identification Number)
2. One of the options, before RBI  was to adopt e  Aadhaar-based biometric authentication as a second factor of authentication for card present transactions. This option would be reviewed towards the end of December, 2012, to assess the need for a complete switch over to EMV Chip and PIN Technology for card based transactions.
3. (Unique Key per terminal- UKPT or Derived Unique Key per transaction- DUKPT/ Terminal line encryption- TLE) to be live by September 30, 2013. UKPT is a data encryption tool, adapted world-wide in the Cards industry.

                                                              i.      UKPT is a method of generating new keys for use in the DES algorithm from an initial key called a generating or derivation key. This method uses a unique key for every encryption operation and is identified for the decryptor by a serial number combined with an encryption cycle counter, enabling the decryptor to calculate the current key.

4. Enablement of all POS terminals to accept debit card transactions with PIN by June 30, 2013
5. Issuers to be  ready from technical perspective to issue EMV Cards by June 30,2013
6. For international transactions, EMV Chip Card and PIN to be issued to customers who have evidenced at least one purchase using their debit/credit card in a foreign location.

EMV stands for Europay, MasterCard and VISA card standard. It is a global standard based on joint effort by Europay, Mastercard and Visa. Hence, the name EMV.

Europay has been absorbed by Mastercard, in 2002.

EMV cards can be contact based or contactless based.

The main advantages of EMV Contact or EMV Contactless Cards are :

01)  EMV Cards are more secure, than normal cards that rely on data encoded in a magnetic stripe on the back of the card.

02)  The EMV card features a micro-processing chip that stores cardholder data securely, helping reduce the number of fraudulent transactions resulting from counterfeit, lost and stolen cards

03)  A transaction-unique digital seal or signature in the chip proves its authenticity in an offline environment and prevents criminals from using fraudulent payment cards. It is almost impossible to replicate an EMV based card.

04)  Can be used to secure online payment transactions and protect cardholders, merchants and issuers against fraud through a transaction-unique online cryptogram. This is an important security feature, as the numbers of online transactions are increasing day by day

05)  Stores considerably more information than magnetic stripe cards

  The latest trend in EMV cards are dual based i.e the same card can be utilized for ‘Contact’ as well as ‘Contactless’ transactions.

RBI - Report on Securing Card Present Transaction - Public Comments

RBI - Report on Securing Card Present Transaction - Public Comments

Reserve Bank of India, DPSS has turned its attention to ‘secure transactions’, of ‘cards present’.

Here cards might be Credit Cards/Debit Cards/ATM Cards/ ATM cum Debit Cards

To increase the security levels for ‘card present transactions’, RBI had constituted a working group in March 2011, to look into all the related issues implementing the security of card transactions in India and suggesting a road map for migration.

The Working Group had members drawn from Banks and Card Companies and also NPCI representatives.

The Working Group in a short span of 8 weeks, submitted its report today i.e 02/06/2011

The Working Group members have to be praised for their perseverance to submit the report within a short period of 8 weeks.

RBI has invited comments to be emailed or forwarded to them, by 30^th June 2, 2011

The Working Group Report can be accessed @ http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationReportDetails.aspx?UrlPage=&ID=634

As the electronic money market grows rapidly, it is important that the fraudulent transactions are kept to the minimum, to ensure that the participant’s profitability is not hurt.

It can be noted that the electronic money usage is not only spreading in the urban area, but also spreading in the rural area. The advantages of electronic money are plenty for the rural folks to be attracted towards them.

Over the next month, the report will be discussed thread-bare not only on the internet but also in the print media. 

The more it is discussed, the more comments RBI will receive. The more comments RBI receives, the more robust solution can be found.

By now, articles on the report should have appeared on the Internet.

CIBIL - ePayments friendly

CIBIL – ePayments friendly.

Since last year, CIBIL is providing individual Credit Information Reports.

The fees is Rs142/- and Address Proof/Identity Proof documents are required.

Please refer to my earlier post on CIBIL, wherein I had mentioned that CIBIL is not ePayments friendly

http://prashantnepayments.blogspot.com/search/label/CIBIL

Well, I take back my words now.

Currently, CIBIL supports ePayments viz Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card.

The process is simple, and fast. I have tried it out, and as promised by CIBIL, it is customer-friendly.

So, all those, who want to access their Credit Information, can do so, from the comfort of their homes

THANKS CIBIL.

http://www.cibil.com/accesscredit.htm 

Product Launch- Citi Tap and Pay

Product Launch- Citi Tap and Pay.

Four months ago, CitiBank in India, launched the next-generartion Mobile Payments in our own Bengaluru, India

 

The Product’s  name is Citi Tap and Pay.

In simple terms, Your Citi Credit Card is transferred to your Mobile Phone(Nokia 6212), and than you can pay your shopping bill by just tapping the phone at the Payment Counter, of Participating Outlets.

More Detials can be accessed at

http://www.online.citibank.co.in/products-services/online-services/tap-and-pay.htm?eOfferCode=OLDURLRED

To encourage Citi Customers, to try out this new facility, Citi has offered to subsidize the cost of Nokia 6612 phone. On top of the subsidy, the users will also be eligible for a Cash-back offer, on making a specified number of transactions.

As this technology is new, Citi is offering this innovative product initially for 6 months only.

Based on the learning’s, Citi might fine-tune the product, before rolling it out nationally.

Nokia will support the service with its NFC-enabled Nokia 6212 phone, which is embedded with an NFC chip. MasterCard will offer its MasterCard PayPass contactless payment and security infrastructure. ViVOtech is providing the underlying technology, including the NFC wallet, the Over-the-Air (OTA) card provisioning software.

 The technology beyond this product is near-field communications (NFC). Near Field Communication (NFC) is a new, short-range wireless connectivity technology that evolved from a combination of existing contactless identification and interconnection technologies

Communication between two NFC-compatible devices occurs when they are brought within four centimeters of one another: a simple wave or touch can establish an NFC connection, which is then compatible with other known wireless technologies such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Because the transmission range is so short, NFC-enabled transactions are inherently secure. Also, physical proximity of the device to the reader gives users the reassurance of being in control of the process.

The success of this new product depends on the POS Terminal with the Merchant Establishments. The POS Terminal has to be equipped to recognize NFC Phones. Hence, this product is acceptable in only 500 outlets in Bangalore.

 For this product to be a success, I feel, Banks and Credit Card Companies might need to work together, otherwise it will be a niche product.

Tit-Bit- - Income Tax-Electronic Mails

Income Tax-Electronic Mails

The fraudsters have a found out a new way, to gain access to credit card numbers along with the CVV number.

They have targeted mass mails to folks, as if the originator is the IT Deparment  

As per the contents of the Mails, the IT Department has requested for Credit Card Details, to process the Income Tax Refunds!!

Luckily, the media has widely published articles warning people not to fall prey to the fake mails.

Income Tax Department, too has released advertisements in leading newspapers, warning people of the bogus mails.

The Press Release of Income Tax Department can be accessed at 

http://www.incometaxindia.gov.in/archive/CBDT_PressRelease_09102009.pdf

As the ePayments gains popularity in our country, the scam-esters too resort to new thoughts, to expand their business!!

Hence, the users should be more careful, while parting with their data.

Credit Card and Date of Birth

Credit Card and Date of Birth

Major misuse of credit cards take place when they are lost/stolen/only Magnetic Data Stolen.

Two Additional features for Card-Not-Present Transactions(CNP), is the Date of Birth and the additional layer of password now required for Credit Card Payments in India.

If the credit card user, forget’s  the ‘additional layer - password’, a fresh password can be generated based on the 01) Card number 02) CVV number  03) Card Expiry Date  04) Date of Birth.

The first 3 are present on the Credit Card and the 4^th is expected to be kept secret by the credit card user.

Recently, I have come across advertisements in Papers/Magazines for A) Donations B) Subscriptions wherein a mode of payment is through Credit Card.

The requested details for payments through credit card is the

01) Card Number       02) Date of Expiry      03) Date of Birth.

Yes, you have read it right DATE OF BIRTH.

Folks, never ever mention your date of birth in such transactions. Once, the date of birth is mentioned, you are opening a Pandora’s box, for misuse of your credit card !!!!!!!!!

A more safer ePayments option, for such transactions is the NEFT mode. Of course, Indian organizations have yet to understand the benefits of NEFT.

Of course, the more relevant question is whether the Date of Birth is a safe security process to generate the ‘Additional Layer-Password’. Maybe, this might continue, till better options are presented.

Protect Yourself

Revolutionary Security Features-Credit and Debit Cards

 

 

 

Reserve Bank of India, vide a single page letter dt.18/02/2009, addressed to the top honchos of Indian Banks, has radically enhanced the Security Levels in Indian EPayment Scenario.

 Unlike face-to-face transactions, all credit card/debit card  payments that take place online are virtually invisible, labeled in the industry as “Card Not Present” (CNP) transactions. Reserve Bank of  India, has taken steps to make such transactions safe. 

          The implications of this Notification will be far-fetched and will usher in revolutionary Security Levels in Indian EPayment’s. Security Levels, which will lead to a spurt, in the EPayment Transactions in our country.

 

          RBI prior to issuance of this Notifiction, has had extensive consultations with Banks/Credit Card companies to increase the security level for  'card not present', transactions. It must have also factored into

01) The various technologies available for this

02)                        The Cost factor to the Banks/Credit Card companies vs customer acceptance.

03)                       The time factor required for adopting this enhanced security levels to existing Debit/Credit Cards.

 

In my opinion, this will be implications of the Reserve Bank of India Notification dt.18/02/2009:-

01) Banks/Credit Card Cos, will issue separate ATM and Debit Cards.

02)                       The Annual Fee for Credit/Debit Cards will go up substantially.

03)                       There will be no  more free Credit/Debit Cards

04)                        IT Industry will be benefited due to the increase expenditure by   Banks/Credit Card Cos.

05)                       Once the system stabilizes, there will be a spike in EPayment transactions. EPayment in India, is yet to pick up momentum, due to the low security levels.

    

 

  

QUOTE

RBI/2008-2009/387

RBI / DPSS No. 1501 / 02.14.003 / 2008-2009                             February 18, 2009

 

The Chairman and Managing Director / Chief Executive Officers

All Scheduled Commercial Banks including RRBs /

Urban Co-operative Banks / State Co-operative Banks /.

District Central Co-operative Banks

 

Madam / Dear Sir

 

Credit/Debit Card transactions-

Security Issues and Risk mitigation measures

 

The use of Credit/Debit Cards has been increasing in the country.  We have been reviewing various options to enhance the security of online card transactions. After extensive consultations with banks/card companies, it has been decided as under:

 

2. It would be mandatory to put in place with effect from August 01, 2009:

 

i)  A system of providing for additional authentication/validation based on information not visible on the cards for all on-line card not present transactions except IVR transactions (for which separate instructions will follow).

 

ii)  A system of "Online Alerts" to the cardholder for all 'card not present' transactions of the value of Rs. 5,000/ and above.

 

3. Banks are advised to strictly adhere to the instructions and time discipline indicated in this circular. Non-adherence to the directives shall attract penalties prescribed under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007 (Act 51 of 2007).

 

4. This directive is issued under section 18 of Payment and Settlement Systems Act 2007, (Act 51 of 2007).

 

5. Please acknowledge receipt.

 

Yours faithfully

 

(G. Padmanabhan)

 

Chief General Manager

UNQUOTE

 

            I would like Reserve Bank of India, to adopt similar rules for Financial Transactions, executed through Bank’s Net Banking Sites. 

Credit Card-Some Safety Tips

One of the important components of EPayments world-wide is Credit Card. The word credit comes from Latin, meaning "trust"
Credit is a method of selling goods or services without the buyer having cash in hand. A credit card is only an automatic way of offering credit to a consumer. Today, every credit card carries an identifying number that speeds shopping transactions. Imagine what a credit purchase would be like without it, the sales person would have to record your identity, billing address, and terms of repayment.
Concept of credit card:
Progress in civilisation in its turn has brought out radical changes in the manner of trading. The need for something intrinsically useful and easily applicable in everyday dealing is clearly felt. Cash in the form of currency notes and coins makes up just one form of the payment system. Development in banking while also giving inputs to the further development of cash brought about a second phase in payment namely paper instructions such as cheques and credit transfers. The requirement for greater flexibility and convenience has led to electronic payments, and this is where plastic cards have proved their worth. It allows the card issuers to limit the sum of money the card-holders wish to spend. The spending of card-holders who have defaulted on payments or who are over their credit limit can be restricted until the balances are cleared.
The credit card market in India, which started out in 1981, is on the verge of an unprecedented boom. Credit Card usage is a recently new phenomena in India, and it is only in the last decade, that the Industry has seen a explosive growth. This can be attributed mainly to the growth of India as a IT Superpower.
Credit cards are one of the great conveniences of modern life. They eliminate the need to carry around large amounts of cash for large purchases or emergencies. All of this power creates new risks to your finances. Fortunately, it’s easy to protect yourself with just a few simple steps.
The risks from Credit Cards can be divided into two parts
01) Online Usage at various Internet Portals
02) Offline usage at shops/petrol stations/hotels etc.
Apart from the above, the major risk is through lost /misplaced cards.
It can therefore be said that the biggest risk for credit card frauds online is not from online security problems but from the possibility of the credit card data being offline in a hotel or a shop where the user parts with the card for sometime.
Today I am highlighting few basic tips to keep your Credit Card safe and to prevent its misuse, when the information/credits card falls into wrong hands.
Ultimately keeping you credit card safe is you responsibility. Indeed, in a worst case scenario, if it can be proven you may have been negligent in keeping your credit card safe, you may find yourself liable for the cost of all transactions made fraudulent on your account should you lose the card. To help you avoid this, here basic credit card safety tips:

01) The three Important things necessary to execute a valid Credit Card Transaction on the Internet, are 01) Card Number 02) Expiry Date and 03) CVV Number. On receiving your new Credit Card, affix your signature; Photocopy it, both the sides on a single page. Delete the CVV number. This prevents misuse, when the credit cards are lost, and the thief will not be able to use on Internet Portals, as the CVV number is not there.

02) It is better to have two different cards, one for Internet Transactions and the other for Physical transactions. The CVV Number on the Physical Transaction Card can be deleted, as while physical shopping, the CVV Number, will not be essential It is prudent to keep the two cards separate, as it will be a rare occasion, when both the cards will be required simultaneously.

03) Never have more cards than you need. While it is always advisable that you have more than 1 credit card, in case it gets lost, you should never have more credit cards than you actually need to use. The principal reason why this is the case is because it becomes harder to keep a track of which cards you have and where you have kept them with the more cards you have.

04) Always keep a photocopy of your cards. How many times have you been asked what you card number is only to find yourself looking for your card to get the number? Now, what happens if you have a card stolen and no credit card statement to-hand? You have a problem! For this reason, it is always best practice to take photocopies of you credit cards to so that always know where to find the number should anything unfortunate happen to your card. Keep a copy of your credit card number and the issuer’s phone number somewhere safe – i.e. not in your wallet. This is in case your credit card is lost or stolen you can report it quickly. This is especially important when you go on vacation as you won’t have easy access to a copy of your billing statement. Also, make sure that strangers will not have access to this information – i.e. keep it locked up.

05) Always keep your receipts separate. Among the most important of the basic credit card safety tips you’ll receive is never to keep your credit cards and credit card purchase receipts in the same place – because likely as not if you have lost your card, or if it is stolen, then you’ll have lost or stolen the receipts as well. Now there is no way for you to vouch which transactions were yours and which where not – or, there is no way to tell which was the last genuine transaction you made.
Moreover, never keep a record of your PIN with your card, this is only asking for trouble!

06) Never give your account number to someone you don’t know. If you are ever asked to give your credit card details to someone you don’t know, or who as initiated a discussion with you (rather than the other way round) over the phone or via email, you should always refuse. Worst come to the worst, phone the card issuer and ask them if it is okay for you to divulge the information or phone the enquirer back. If the enquirer seems reluctant to accept this, you have to ask yourself why!

07) Never leave your account details open to public viewing. It may sound rather basic to say you should never let ‘aam janta’ see your credit card account details, but ask yourself this question: “How often have you received a publication subscription form in postcard format?” Now, suppose you complete this with your credit card details filled in. Suddenly half the world has access your credit card number, expiry date and signature!

08) When you use your card in public try to keep the number hidden. Thieves will try to get your credit card number any way they can. That includes looking over your shoulder and memorizing it while you are in line at the store. An easy way to keep the number hidden is to keep your finger over the numbers on one side and keep the other side close to your body. A better way is to keep the card in your wallet as long as possible and put it right back in your wallet as soon as you can.

09) If your credit card is lost or stolen, report it to the issuer immediately. Yes, your credit card agreement probably says you are only liable for Rs.1,000/- of any charges the thief makes, but this is usually contingent upon you reporting the loss in a timely manner. Besides, you cannot use your credit card in physical stores unless you have the actual card and your card issuer will not send you a new one unless you report the loss.

10) Monitor your statement closely. Look for any charges that you did not make. If you are sure you did not make them, report them to your credit card issuer. This is similar to the recommendation to monitor your credit report once or twice per year, but you can and should check your credit card statement every month. Shred your statements and receipts when you dispose of them.
It may sound like a lot of work, but it boils down to keeping your credit card number out of the hands of people who have no legitimate need to have it. Of course not. Treat your credit card number the same sort of protection. With these few simple steps, you can protect yourself and your credit from thieves.

Although the above may sound like 10 basic credit card safety tips you already know, you would be surprised to see how many people fail to follow one or all of them!