#205 – PIN Pads

Have you ever noticed that most of the PIN pads at the grocery stores are mounted up higher? To make matters worse, many of the PIN pads that I see at the major grocery stores here in the Lower Mainland allow for a clear and unobstructed view of your fingers as you type in your PIN.

In an effort to keep my PIN safe, I practically fall all over the thing, feeling like someone dropping over an electronic grenade. Then, I feel badly that I am being so protective of my PIN, as I'm unconsciously saying that I don't trust the people who are in line behind me. Ridiculous, I know.

If you're in a wheelchair, the ability for a security breach is exacerbated. First, the PIN pad is often mounted up high and out of reach for someone sitting in a wheelchair. Secondly, even if someone could stretch and reach it, how would he/she protect that precious PIN?

Perhaps it's time that all the major credit card companies, banks and retail outlets did more to help consumers stay safe.

What do you think?

2 Replies to “#205 – PIN Pads”

  1. I’ve been on a tear about this for a while. One of my local grocery stores worked with me to make two of their aisles accessible, incl. lower pinpads (wrote about it on my blog – making it public is a wonderful incentive so thanks for putting it out there!). I’m plotting a larger campaign about this, but am coming up against not having enough time/energy. Maybe we could work together on this in the future?

    1. Thanks for commenting, Lene.

      Things have come a long way, but there is still a lot of room for improvement.

      I’m so glad to hear that you made headway with your local grocery store. You had the time and the energy to advocate for yourself at that time. Not everyone does.

      A lot of the required changes aren’t even that expensive, if some forethought went into it.

      Yes, a strategy meeting sounds like a good plan.

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