RFID Possible Major Issue

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Training is now going on for RFID purchases.
2) There are some REALLY cool things, both for WDW and the guest.
3) But there is a major OOPS on its way.
4) At the end of a transaction, the casher has to hit a Clear Folio button.
5) This is different than Total button the casher will hit at end of purchase
6) If this button is not pushed.
. . . transactions are continued on the RFID chip (room charge)
. . . all future transactions are continued on the same RFID chip
7) So, as an example,
. . . Fred buys his souvenir, casher missed Clear Folio button, and Fred leaves
. . . Sue comes by and gets a souvenir - - - and Fred gets the bill
. . . Alfred comes by with a souvenir - - - and Fred is paying
. . . Nancy comes by for a souvenir - - - you guessed it, Fred is paying
8) Until Clear Folio is depressed, the same person pays for all transactions.

9) Word to the wise when making ANY purchase with RFID chip
. . . make sure you SAVE the receipt (even when buying a Coke at a cart)
. . . make sure the register person depresses the Clear Folio button

 

[anthony2k7]

sounds like a very temporary issue - surely disney has control of their own POS software to put a fix in ASAP?

Simple solution would be when the total button is pressed it also calls the clear folio code.

 

[DizCaptain]

I can see this as an easy fix, considering it should be simple enough that once a purchase is ended, the RFID system resets to its default state. Also, this problem would probably not occur if the next customer is also using RFID, or even credit for that matter since theyre all in one now and scanning a new card into the system would either override it or alert the cashier that two "cards" are being used. Now I know a lot of people still pay cash but it seems like an easy fix to me.

 

[Polydweller]

If Rusty noticed this so will many others who are being trained. Pretty simpe fix really as pointed out by Anthony2k7. It will be addressed.

 

[seashoreCM]

Where and when does the guest reach his hand over at the store checkout to press the back of his wrist (with the wristband) to an RFID reader?

6) If this button is not pushed.
. . . transactions are continued on the RFID chip (room charge)
. . . all future transactions are continued on the same RFID chip
7) So, as an example,
. . . Fred buys his souvenir, casher missed Clear Folio button, and Fred leaves
. . . Sue comes by and gets a souvenir - - - and Fred gets the bill
. . . Alfred comes by with a souvenir - - - and Fred is paying
. . . Nancy comes by for a souvenir - - - you guessed it, Fred is paying

Back at the Resort, Fred checks hsi foiio and finds various purchases he dd not make. He disputes those items with the result that nobody pays for the souvenirs that Sue, Alfred, and Nancy receive.

Alternatively, after audit, the cast member who rang up the purchases gets reprimanded (or cut from the cast) because three times he failed to press the Clear Folio button, namely after Fred's purchase, after Sue's purchase, and after Alfred's purchase.

I could not see a software bug like this staying around for very long.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

If Rusty noticed this so will many others who are being trained. Pretty simpe fix really as pointed out by Anthony2k7. It will be addressed.

1) I would hope.
2) BUT, there was a trial at Epcot with errors.
. . . the trial lasted three days
. . . there were fewer errors on the 2nd and 3rd days
. . . but, there were still errors
3) They did not fix anything for the roll-out.
4) The system remains the same.

NOTE: Even with reduced errors, can you imagine the problem(s) when
even a few get through? Especially if someone has a debit card as their
KTTW charging. If they hit KTTW limit, the card could get hit, and it could
reduce their bank account severely. Once done, it takes 5-7 days to
reverse the bank account charge, and sometimes up to 2-weeks.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Thanks Rusty.
Otherwise, too many peope with too much faith in Walmar ... Err, Disney

 

[doconeill]

POS software fixes don't just roll out the same day as the bug report Give them a bit. They can even catch it on the other end when multiple sequential transactions on the same RFID and terminal come through, although there are valid cases.

You would think that entering a different payment type/source for each transaction would wipe any previous one out anyways. And didn't someone say they would be PIN protected? Entering the PIN should close the transaction.

And it isn't like this is really new technology. I've had RFID payment ability on a couple of my credit cards for years now.

I'd still be more concerned about RFID skimmers.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . And didn't someone say they would be PIN protected? Entering the PIN should close the transaction . . . I'd still be more concerned about RFID skimmers.

1) The pin code applies for purchases OVER $50.
2) However, if the Clear is not done, the charge goes to the other person.
3) Whether pin code needed or not.

4) And, yes, skimmers are a potential problem.
5) A BIG potential problem.

NOTE: We used to have RFID chips for access to sensitive areas at
Company Headquarters (design labs, etc). However, these were so
easily skimmed, we went back to bar codes on ID cards.

 

[doconeill]

1) The pin code applies for purchases OVER $50.
2) However, if the Clear is not done, the charge goes to the other person.
3) Whether pin code needed or not.

4) And, yes, skimmers are a potential problem.
5) A BIG potential problem.

NOTE: We used to have RFID chips for access to sensitive areas at
Company Headquarters (design labs, etc). However, these were so
easily skimmed, we went back to bar codes on ID cards.

Which means if I had a skimmer, I could go on a $49.99 per item spending spree...

 

[ktlm]

Simple fix to avoid that. Don't let them put your credit card on your RFID. We never let them link our credit card to our KTTW card. Those cards just get taken in and out of pockets too many times to get in and out of parks, get fast passes etc. One year DH's actually got lost at Epcot, and I have found them at fast pass machines and handed them in to CM's before. We think DH's got dropped at a fast pass run. Thank goodness Guest Services was able to cut him a new one and we didn't have any credit card linked to it so no one could use it to charge anything before Guest Services deactivated it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

which means if i had a skimmer, i could go on a $49.99 per item spending spree...

yes !

 

[Planogirl]

I'll keep on NOT buying souvenirs or at the very least just pay cash. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Bee2u]

Another problem - while they had me choose and enter a PIN upon checkin, the PIN was never required when I purchased anything. Kind of defeats the purpose.

 

[ktrask]

I would imagine Disney would work on a fix on this problem ASAP.

This roll out is big news for them. This morning the whole system was a news story on a Boston news station, and in the Boston Globe. If they are making sure that news outlets around the country know about it and are announcing it for a springtime launch...they will make sure major glitches are solved....at least I hope so!

 

[seashoreCM]

If the vendor says there was a glitch and it is the vendor's system then I say the customer is always right.

 

[Polydweller]

Another problem - while they had me choose and enter a PIN upon checkin, the PIN was never required when I purchased anything. Kind of defeats the purpose.

Just a question to help understand, did you buy anything over $50 if not then a pin isn't required.

If the vendor says there was a glitch and it is the vendor's system then I say the customer is always right.

Right and since this would cost Disney money there is motivation for them to fix it. Disney would have to eat the loss.

I think the OP is being a bit alarmist. If they and other trainees reported this, you did didn't you OP, then this goes a long way to fixing it. Also, being in IT you can have people being trained while you fix and improve your POS system. So I don't have my head in the sand about this but know when a company has an issue that will lose them money they do address it and Disney doesn't want to lose money.

 

[anthony2k7]

POS software fixes don't just roll out the same day as the bug report Give them a bit.

Id imagine there was almost certainly a change embargo on all IT systems and especially POS over the last few weeks whilst the resort was at its busiest.

 

[rock_doctor]

Right and since this would cost Disney money there is motivation for them to fix it. Disney would have to eat the loss.

Ah, but the question is...which is less...fixing the issue or just paying for the errors? Disney's first response to a customer complaint is to refund their money or points rather then fix the issue... I have never and will never put charging abilities on my room. So it is a non-issue for me but find it interesting, especially since they have already acknowledged a security issue with the RFID by not using RFID enabled access cards to sensitive areas... Thanks for posting this Rusty.

 

[doconeill]

FYI, wdwmagic.com already reports they are applying the PIN code requirement to all purchases. So there has already been one "fix".