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Due to sending the number via whatsapp?I have had my card hacked twice when in Spain. Just my experience.
Thanks for that. In this particular case I don't think there's any concern about the business. This is an albergue that's listed on sites like Gronze, and has many good reviews from pilgrims, including on this site. So I think everything is legit as far as the business is concerned, it's just a question about the security of sending the number via whatsapp, versus an online payment form.Here is what I do as a general rule when I am uncertain about giving out my main credit card number to a site or business that I have not used before.
I use a service called Wise (used to be Wise Transfer) which allows me to create virtual credit cards, that is a credit card with a valid number but no physical card. I then put $5/ €5 in the account and give that credit card number to that site.
This way if they check the CC number it is confirmed correct as mostly people check by charging $/€1 against the card.
If the site is a scammer then the most I lose is $/€5.
Simple for me but it depends how used you are to technology and the Internet.
WhatsApp is as secure as any online payment form.Thanks for that. In this particular case I don't think there's any concern about the business. This is an albergue that's listed on sites like Gronze, and has many good reviews from pilgrims, including on this site. So I think everything is legit as far as the business is concerned, it's just a question about the security of sending the number via whatsapp, versus an online payment form.
Do you use it instead of a Travel Card or Debit card for daily use on a Camino or anywhere?I use a service called Wise (used to be Wise Transfer)
:I emailed Albergue Rio Arga in Zubiri to book a bed, and they replied that they need a credit card number to secure the booking. They don't have a booking form on their website, and when asked they said I should send my credit card number to them via Whatsapp, and they provided their whatsapp number.
I know that technically it's not safe/recommended to send via whatsapp, but the messages do get encrypted, so really the only danger would be if I lost my phone and someone else got access to my sent messages and pulled the credit card number from there.
So I don't want to worry about it if sending credit card info is common practice along the camino, and I'll go ahead and do so.
What say you all? Do you ever send credit card info to accommodation providers via whatsapp? Part of my hesitation probably stems from the fact that whatsapp isn't widely used in Canada, so I'm not very familiar with it. But I do know how it works, and have used it before.
Not sure how it happened. I did not put it out on WhatsApp, but it has made me Uber cautious when traveling.Due to sending the number via whatsapp?
Yes, mine notifies me which is how I knew last year, but they still cancelled my card while I was in the middle of no where and said it would be a week to get a replacement to me. Asked where I would be in a week and of course I did not know...just had them send it home and waited a month till I got home.:: I've paid all of my group reservations ahead using credit card.
Most credit card companies have notifications in place and report any suspicious activity.
Most protect your account if you report purchases you did not make.
I can even set mine to tell me each and every time a charge is made on it.
I admit it concerned me in the beginning, but not so much anymore.
I use a real credit card from Wise when I travel. I do this for a number of reasons with the primary reason being that they give me the best conversion rates but also because they allow me to manage my account very easily, transfering money in as I need it and that keeps my overall risk down if I lose my card.Do you use it instead of a Travel Card or Debit card for daily use on a Camino or anywhere?
Obviously you trust it.
Yup. It's good to have Plan 2Yes, mine notifies me which is how I knew last year, but they still cancelled my card while I was in the middle of no where and said it would be a week to get a replacement to me. Asked where I would be in a week and of course I did not know...just had them send it home and waited a month till I got home.
You will also need the country codeHere I am demonstrating my ignorance of whatsapp again, as well as Spanish mobile numbers, but here is the number the albergue gave me - 680104471.
Is it missing a digit? Or are Spanish numbers 9 digits?
Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll check it out.If you want you consider another place in Zubiri try El Palo de Avellano. I was able to easily book with them on their website. I've stayed there before, and it's a good albergue with an optional communal dinner.
No, no, no! IMHOThanks all. Calling them is a bit problematic, due to my inability to speak Spanish. I'll give some thought to whether or not I feel comfortable sending my cc info via whatsapp.
I have a booking with them for June and all they asked for is a phone number. The booking was made by email. I have given my Australian number, and said I would send the number for the Spanish Sim card that I will get on arrival in Spain.I emailed Albergue Rio Arga in Zubiri to book a bed, and they replied that they need a credit card number to secure the booking. They don't have a booking form on their website, and when asked they said I should send my credit card number to them via Whatsapp, and they provided their whatsapp number.
I know that technically it's not safe/recommended to send via whatsapp, but the messages do get encrypted, so really the only danger would be if I lost my phone and someone else got access to my sent messages and pulled the credit card number from there.
So I don't want to worry about it if sending credit card info is common practice along the camino, and I'll go ahead and do so.
What say you all? Do you ever send credit card info to accommodation providers via whatsapp? Part of my hesitation probably stems from the fact that whatsapp isn't widely used in Canada, so I'm not very familiar with it. But I do know how it works, and have used it before.
ThisHaven't read all the replies but my first reaction is NO! I live in Europe and use WhatsApp daily but I would never send either credit card or bank info to someone unless family and even then request immediate deletion. Before you know it, your details are saved somewhere in someone's cloud.
Nope.WhatsApp is as secure as any online payment form.
Once you send it unencrypted, there is nothing to stop if from spreading.If you are concerned about your credit card number hanging around in a WhatsApp message on your phone then just delete the message a couple of days later.
But not for payments.As I said earlier, WhatsApp is widely used and trusted in Spain and Europe.
There is a big difference between encrypting messages, and encrypting credit card information.
In NA, passport info is considered private, and not to be shared. Not so in Europe. Your passport will be photo'd or scanned everywhere you go. It's the law, they have to obtain a copy and keep it in their records. You even need to enter your passport number to buy bus and train tickets. I have a photo of mine stored on my phone, and supply it via Whatsapp to innkeepers all the time. This is routine business in Spain, get used to it. Whatsapp is as secure a means of moving pictures as anything, much better than SMS text or email. You'll be fine.I just tried to reserve a room at a guesthouse using What'sApp and they asked for cc info as well as passport information. I understand that they need to see my passport at check in but this is the first time I've been asked in advance. It doesn't seem like a good idea to me.
Good to know. Thanks!In NA, passport info is considered private, and not to be shared. Not so in Europe. Your passport will be photo'd or scanned everywhere you go. It's the law, they have to obtain a copy and keep it in their records. You even need to enter your passport number to buy bus and train tickets. I have a photo of mine stored on my phone, and supply it via Whatsapp to innkeepers all the time. This is routine business in Spain, get used to it. Whatsapp is as secure a means of moving pictures as anything, much better than SMS text or email. You'll be fine.
email is the LEAST secure way I can imagine to send a credit card number.....don't do it. A phone call is quite secure. So is Whatsapp. You can also call them via whatsapp to avoid long distance charges.If you don’t want to send the requested info via WhatsApp - try calling them when you book or send email and give detail via that medium.
More bad advice I’m afraid. CC details should always be end to end encrypted and the end user should never have access to it directly. It doesn’t matter what technology you use to send it, if it gets written down in a notebook at the reception you are at risk.email is the LEAST secure way I can imagine to send a credit card number.....don't do it. A phone call is quite secure. So is Whatsapp. You can also call them via whatsapp to avoid long distance charges.
I think our poster is a bit weirded out by an unfamiliar technology. Giving anyone your credit card details means you are trusting them not to misuse it. Whatsapp may look like way for scoundrels and bots to rob people, and I'm sure it does happen. Facebook, (they run whatsapp) however, has gone to great lengths to make sure that any whatsapp account is tied to a real phone number that matches the person requesting the account. All whatsapp data transfers are fully encrypted - unlike email or SMS test messages. Doesn't mean the person on the other end isn't a scoundrel, but it's not likely to be the case for an albergue you might find on Gronze or some other guide book.
Bottom line is that as long as you believe the Whatsapp number you are corresponding with is the business you are trying to transact with, Whatsapp is a preferred way to provide confidential information of all kinds.
I used to work retail many years ago when credit card use required a machine that would create a physical record of the transaction, with a copy to be handed to the customer and a copy to be kept by the merchant. Every employee at every place you used your credit card had all of your credit card info. There were customers who would carefully want to tear up the intervening carbon to protect themselves but we had our copy and I could easily have noted down anything I wanted. It seemed to me like worrying that the windows were locked when the door was wide open.This might be a bit naïve. Bear with me. I've been thinking about the issue of sending credit card info through Whatsapp. How is that any different than calling and giving my info to someone, or providing it at the time of check-in, for that matter? That info is then accessible to a number of people who may or may not be trustworthy.
Back when a physical record of the transaction was made, the card was physically present and merely having the number wasn’t nearly as handy as it is today.I used to work retail many years ago when credit card use required a machine that would create a physical record of the transaction, with a copy to be handed to the customer and a copy to be kept by the merchant. Every employee at every place you used your credit card had all of your credit card info. There were customers who would carefully want to tear up the intervening carbon to protect themselves but we had our copy and I could easily have noted down anything I wanted. It seemed to me like worrying that the windows were locked when the door was wide open.
I agree, except for the bank wire, which is difficult and can be costly for those of us in N America (possibly other countries outside Europe too)If an albergue wants such payments to confirm bookings - perfectly reasonable - it should set up a simple online way of doing it (widespread practice throughout EU using credit cards, PayPal & bank wire).
To pay a Spanish health clinic bill Bank of America would have charged us $40 for either a transfer or a check.I couldn't do this [bank transfer] from my US bank without paying fees higher than the 12 Euros and jumping through a lot of hoops.
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