Martin's Memory Tricks A Final Warning
No, you should be able to change it at the credit card provider's parent bank (e.g, NatWest credit cards at NatWest, Cahoot at Abbey), but soon you'll be able to change the pin at any bank.
Are there any exceptions?
A couple. Signature validation will still be possible after 14 February if you've a card from overseas or an old style non-chip'n'pin card. Likewise if you have a disability, such as Alzheimer's, which means you could have trouble with chip'n'pin you will be able to sign; call your bank and to set this up.
Martin's Memory Tricks
I'm terrible at remembering numbers – what can I do? I've a few of memory suggestions that may help.
- Keypad pressing
Rather than remembering the number, remember the pattern in which you press the keys – this is often easier than the number itself. - JohnJane Cards
Choose a pin that means something to you, but no one else. My suggestion is the years that two people you know were born e.g. your father, John, was born in 1932 and your daughter, Jane, in 1994 - so use the number 3294. Then think of that card in your head as your JohnJane card. As it's preferable not to have the same pin for each card, you could have some JohnJane cards and some JaneJohn cards for ease.
As a note, I suggest using ‘years' rather than day and date numbers because these are limited, as the day only goes from 1 to 31 and the month 1 to 12. - Pin Safe Memory Aid
If you're really struggling, you could use a cheap little system from Pin-Safe which is a way of encoding your pin so you can write it down. It's quick and only a couple of quid. (more details)
