foolforfrance

I have surfed the archives for insight on whether we need sleeves for our 3 chip credit cards and chip passport. Most posts were not current. I got the impression they were not necessary.

So what is the Fodorite party line n this one?

jane1144

Do you use them at home? If not, I would say no. Also it is way easier to get an RDIF wallet. The sleeves are a royal pain.

foolforfrance

Don't use at home. Thanks for the feedback Will look at the wallets at REI today.

annhig

I have surfed the archives for insight on whether we need sleeves for our 3 chip credit cards and chip passport>>

what is a sleeve in this context? I've never heard of one.

MmePerdu

For a wallet, also look on travel supply websites like Magellans.com & travelsmith.com.

StCirq

What the heck is a sleeve? We have chip and pin credit cards and European credit cards and have never heard of such a thing. Don't even know what an RDIF wallet is. We live in Europe and don't use anything fancy to carry stuff about in.

annhig

Here you are, St C - a solution to a problem you didn't even know existed.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-ar...hould-you-buy/

How have we managed without one?

jane1144

StCirq the sleeve is like a little "paper" envelope for each card that prevents it from being scanned. There is also a passport sized one. The problem is that it is very hard to get the cards or passports out of them when you need to. Someone gave them to me when I was going to travel. I tried them out and found it was easier to put the sleeve in my wallet on top of my card. Basically, I don't bother with them.

StCirq

Gosh, annhig, thank you. I don't how we've survived.

Jean

Link below to info on RFID sleeves.

For the price, I say 'why not?' But, I admit, the only RFID sleeve I use at home is on my toll road transponder so that I can be sure it doesn't get read when I don't want it to be.

https://www.amazon.com/Credit-Passpo...SXPD1606H4RY5C

To avoid shipping, they're also available cheap at places like Office Depot, Staples, REI.

Jean

FWIW, I find the credit card ones easy to use. I got mine at REI.

TDudette

AAA has a travel purse with said protection. Lots of places for 'stuff'!

hetismij2

If you have a credit card or other bank pass which allows contactless payment it has an RFID chip in it. If you don't it doesn't. The RFID chi is not the chip which is visible on the card, but one embedded within the plastic under the contactless payment symbol (a bit like the WiFi symbol on your phone).

I have an RFID bankcard, and it came with little sleeve. I don't use the sleeve as the card won't fit in my card holder in it. I tried paying for something without removing the card and failed. Doesn't mean someone couldn't skim it if they tried hard enough I guess.
My OV Chipkaart, needed for public transport in the Netherlands also has an RFID (as do Oyster cards in London).
DH has a credit card with an RFID. Mine doesn't have one, just the normal chip.

If you are really worried about it and are sure you have an RFID chip then use a sleeve (or some aluminium foil), but I wouldn't fret too much about it.

annhig

there is a limit of £30 on contactless cards in the UK, and the banks will refund any losses due to fraud.

So far I've managed to carry several of them and use them around without incident. Ditto my electronic passport.

I do admire the marketing though.

pariswat

Tom Cruise in 'Mission Impossible 37' will scan any card from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
However in the normal life I have never heard of somebody being scanned that way.
But for those who believe in plot theories, this is the thing to buy.

justineparis

Never had such nonsense and think its all a marketing ploy.. buy this.. buy that.. buy this over priced "travel wallet" or " travel purse".. dozens and dozens of trips to Europe and never used either.

Kathie

When I got my global entry card, it came with a little sleeve. I have a stack of sleeves for credit cards - I carry one of my cards in a sleeve (mostly because it distinguishes it from the other credit cards in my wallet and I only use that card for particular things). I agree that the sleeves are a bit of a pain. I suppose if it was was a real danger, I'd start putting all of my credit cards into sleeves. But so far, it seems more theoretical than real.

Christina

RFID is not "nonsense" nor hypothetical. I use a sleeve for some passes when I may carry them with other things, to protect them (a ski pass, for example) from being accidentally scanned when I don't want them, like someone mentioned about a car pass. London Oyster cards have RFID, also, and passports.

I think the main concern would be the passport if you think some criminal may be scanning the info to clone it, but this isn't a worry to me. That is possible. I wouldn't worry about it for the credit card stuff as you are protected, anyway, although again, in theory, some could be scanned for into to use for fraudulent purchases but you are protected, anyway.

Dukey1

My understanding is that a simple piece of aluminum foil will prevent any scanning.

MmePerdu

"...a simple piece of aluminum foil will prevent any scanning."

Kind of like a foil hat protects against government sponsored mind control and, hopefully, brain-sucking aliens?