TAN generator: Error 00 – Meaning & troubleshooting

Online banking is now well established and barriers such as high fees have been eliminated. Almost everyone in Germany makes at least some of their transfers online or calls up their account balances in this way. With online banking, TAN generators have also found their way into households. The devices work in combination with a bank card and ensure authentication on the Internet. They thus act as an alternative to the phased-out SMS TAN procedure, paper TAN lists that are almost impossible to find, and TAN apps. However, the device does not always function properly. What does error 00 mean for a TAN generator? We’ll tell you!

TAN generator: error 00 with unreadable card

Error 00 with the TAN generator means that the inserted card is not readable. This in turn can have many reasons. We have summarized the most common ones for you in a list:

• The card is inserted the wrong way around in the device. Solution: Take it out and put it into the device with the chip pointing upwards first.
• The chip is dirty. Solution: Wipe the chip carefully with a dry microfiber cloth and then put you card back into the device.
• The slot is blocked or dirty. Solution: Take a look inside the slot with the help of a flashlight. If you notice dust, hair or similar objects, you should remove them carefully. For this, you can use a cotton swab.

The error still occurs?

Have you checked all the above possibilities and the error still occurs, there is probably a defect in the TAN generator or the card. You can easily check whether the generator or the card is affected by trying to use your card elsewhere – for example at an ATM or to pay at the supermarket. If it works there, the problem is with the TAN generator. If it does not work, the card is defective. If the card is defective, you should contact your bank or savings bank. If the TAN generator is defective, you must obtain a replacement device and then contact your bank to activate it.