Remote Control Cards

Mobicint Lesssons Remote Control Cards

This document provides technical details and operational guidelines for the Remote Control Cards feature within the FLEX Mobile App. This feature empowers credit union members with real-time card management capabilities.

1. Overview

Remote Control Cards allow members to manage the status of their debit and credit cards directly through the FLEX Mobile App. This includes the ability to:

  • Activate cards.
  • Disable cards.
  • Mark cards as Lost.
  • Mark cards as Stolen.

Note: The specific options available to members are configurable by the credit union. Cards flagged as Lost or Stolen cannot be reactivated by the member via the app.

2. System Requirements

To implement and utilize the Remote Control Cards feature, the following prerequisites must be met:

  • FLEX Mobile App: The credit union must have purchased and implemented the FLEX Mobile App.
  • FLEX System Release: Release 8.02 or higher.
  • Remote Control Cards Module: This specific module must be acquired and integrated.
  • Processor Hot Carding Feature (Recommended):
    • While not strictly mandatory, having the Processor Hot Carding feature is highly recommended.
    • Without Hot Carding, there may be timing issues with real-time card status updates to the card processor.

3. Implementation and Setup

The setup process for Remote Control Cards typically takes up to 4 weeks.

3.1. Post-Setup Configuration

Once setup is complete:

  • A new option, “Debit/Credit Cards,” will appear in the Mobile Banking menu of the FLEX Mobile App.
  • Upon selecting “Debit/Credit Cards,” each of the member’s cards will be displayed, showing its current status (e.g., Active, Disabled, Lost).

4. Card Status Management

Members can change the status of their cards through the app.

4.1. Status Options

The available card statuses include:

  • Active: The card is fully operational.
  • Disabled: Transactions will be denied until the card is reactivated by the member.
  • Lost: The card is marked as lost. This status is permanent and cannot be reversed by the member via the app.
  • Stolen: The card is marked as stolen. This status is permanent and cannot be reversed by the member via the app.

4.2. Member Actions and Limitations

  • Changing Status: Members can select a card and update its status. A confirmation message will display to verify the member’s selection.
  • Active ↔ Disabled: Members can freely switch a card’s status between Active and Disabled.
  • Lost/Stolen Status:
    • Once a card’s status is changed to Lost or Stolen, the member cannot reactivate it through the app.
    • If a Lost or Stolen status was applied in error, the member must contact the credit union to either order a new card or have the block code removed by a credit union representative.
    • The credit union has the option to exclude the “Lost” and “Stolen” options from the member’s available choices within the app.

5. System Integration and Data Flow

5.1. Block Code Placement

  • When a member changes a card’s status (e.g., to Disabled, Lost, or Stolen), a corresponding block code is immediately placed on the card within the FLEX Card Maintenance system.

5.2. Processor Communication

  • With Hot Carding: If the credit union utilizes the Processor Hot Carding feature, the block code is sent in real-time to the card processor. This ensures immediate denial of transactions at the processor level.
  • Without Hot Carding: If the credit union does not have Hot Carding, the block message is not sent to the processor in real-time. The block is only applied within the FLEX system. In this scenario, the credit union would need to manually enter blocks into their card processor’s system based on the End of Day report (see Section 6).

5.3. Stand-in Mode Considerations

  • In situations where communication between FLEX and the card processor is down (e.g., the credit union is in stand-in mode), the processor will not be aware of blocks placed via the app.
  • Transactions may be approved during stand-in mode and will post once communication resumes.

6. Reporting

A comprehensive report is generated at the End of Day for the credit union’s review. This report provides an audit trail of all card blocks placed or removed during that day.

6.1. Report Details

The report includes:

  • All blocks placed: Both by tellers and by members through the app.
  • Maintainer Identification:
    • If a teller placed or removed the block, the name of the teller is displayed.
    • If the member placed or removed the block, the type of device used is displayed (e.g., Apple, Android, or other).

6.2. Manual Blocking (Without Hot Carding)

  • For credit unions operating without the Processor Hot Carding feature, this End of Day report is crucial. It can be used to manually enter card blocks into their card processor’s system.