18 August 2004

Chip and PIN, the UK operation to introduce chip and PIN technology to the nation, has unveiled a campaign to help people memorise their PINs as the new, more secure technology rolls out across the UK.

The latest chip and PIN consumer research shows that most people feel they should have little problem remembering their PINs. But to help those who do struggle with their four-digit PINs, a guide featuring hints, tips and memory tricks is now available from the chip and PIN Web site.

The research, conducted with 1,814 people across the UK, shows that men think they have better memories than their female counterparts. 5.6 per cent of men think they have 'brilliant' memories as against 4.3 per cent of woman, and surprisingly high numbers of both sexes – 17.1 per cent of men and 14.7 per cent of women – say they never forget anything important. Just 4.2 per cent of respondents think they have 'appalling' memories, which all bodes well for the introduction of chip and PIN.

With chip and PIN, credit and debit card holders will need to remember their four-digit PIN – the same number they would use to withdraw money at a cash machine – to verify purchases at the point-of-sale. The new technology offers increased security as the chip on the card stores data more securely than the magnetic stripe, and the PIN is much harder to copy than a signature. When a similar system was introduced in France, card fraud fell by 80 per cent.

There is also encouraging news for those people with appalling memories, as psychologist Donna Dawson reveals that everyone can improve their memories by following tried and tested memory tips. She said: "On the surface, numbers appear to relate only to the logical parts of our brains. To make numbers more memorable, they must appeal to the creative side of our brains as well. By using methods of association – like visualising numbers as objects relating to their shapes, by linking them to important dates, or by rhyming them with other words - the vast majority of people will be able to remember four-digit PINs simply and quickly."

The research also reveals that people find remembering people and important days more difficult than remembering PINs, with 43.8 per cent struggling with names, 36.7 per cent with birthdays and anniversaries and 28.7 per cent with PINs and code numbers. More than one in three respondents (37 per cent) rely on the memories of friends, family and workmates – asking them to remind them about important things. However, more than a quarter of respondents (26.4 per cent) rely solely on their own memories to avoid slip-ups.

Sandra Quinn, spokesperson for chip and PIN says: "We all have problems with our memory from time to time, but the research shows that very few of us feel we have real difficulties. Remembering our PINs at the checkout will get easier and easier as chip and PIN rolls out. With more outlets upgrading to the new technology we will use our PINs instead of signing at increasing numbers of shops, restaurants, bars and hotels, and the more often we use them, the less likely we are to forget them."

More than two in five UK cardholders (41 per cent) had been issued with a chip and PIN card by the end of May 2004. Major retailers including Dixons, Wilkinsons, Asda and Tesco are currently making the upgrade in stores across the country.

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