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Fin24 users give thumbs down for fingerprint payments

Fin24 users have questioned the soon-to-be local adoption of biometric fingerprint authentication for SA bank cards.

READ: Fingerprint authentication coming to SA bank cards

Earlier this week, Fin24 reported that new standards to facilitate card payments using fingerprint authentication have been introduced by the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA).

PASA has partnered with Visa and Mastercard in the standard and it hopes to make transactions more secure and convenient for consumers via the biometric technology.

But Fin24 users have questioned the practicality of the move, with many saying that fingerprint technology won’t work for them.

Fin24 user Steven said he would not use the new standard.

“My fingers are not good on biometric devices. I struggle to get these devices to read my fingerprint,” wrote Corrie.

Fin24 user Johann said that both he and his wife “don’t have fingerprints” anymore.

“On both our drivers licences and our ID cards there are NO fingerprints. How is this going to work for us?”

Fin24 user Andre has expressed the concern of diseases spreading via fingerprint readers and the threat of criminals chopping of fingers to steal money.

“Hands are known to be the vector for many communicable diseases and therefore by implication the screen of fingerprint readers. Should 'liveness' be included it may take some time for criminals to become aware of the implication, which may result in cut off fingers. For artisans that regularly may have 'damaged' fingers/fingerprints, there will be great nuisance value.”

Fin24 user Alex is also against fingerprint authentication.

“No. I once worked at a company who used it for clocking in. I had a problem not being able to clock in nearly every day.  IT on a regular basis redid my finger prints but the problem persisted until my last day with that company.  Fear I will have the same problem when trying to make payments.”

Fin24 user Themba, though, said he welcomes fingerprint authentication.

“I'm in favour of the fingerprints to be taken by the banks as this will protect us from fraudsters and corrupt officials.”

And Fin24 user Cliff Cousins has also welcomed the move:

“I would agree that fingerprinting is an excellent step forward”

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