Status of chip and pin cards?

arkitkat · Member

Status of chip and pin cards?

Michele Erdvig · Host

You can use your regular credit and debit cards with the magnetic strip. Instead of inputting a PIN you will sign a receipt like you do at home. If you are getting money from an ATM you will need a 4-digit PIN associated with your card.

I have been seeing reports lately that the US will be changing over to chip and pin. When? Only time will tell. They have dragged their feet and are behind the times because of the cost of changing everything over to new technology.

Piliki · Newbie

I recently got a new card and it has the chip in it. This works great for my upcoming trip. I called the credit card company to notify them of my trip. I asked about a PIN to use the card. I was told there is no PIN, just swipe the card. I hope it works!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Sadly, US banks appear to be making the switch to Pin and Chip in baby steps -- Read: 'On The Cheap' - furious furious

MOST of the new, 'Chip' cards are only set for 'Chip And Signature' . . .

Chip and Pin would require all retail establishment to upgrade their acceptance hardware -- which, presumably, would allow the merchants to renegotiate their contracts -- as in, fight for lower % of 'Handling Fees. Otherwise, the Banks would have to 'Eat' the costs.

Banking officials have said REPEATEDLY that the cost of Fraud is substantially LESS than the cost of switching to the much more secure, Chip and Pin! evileye evileye

Maybe, after a few more 'Target' incidences, they will reconsider . . . confuse confuse

Meanwhile, Banks are PROUDLY rolling out Chip and Signature cards. hmm hmm

Any card SHOULD work fine, in Ireland -- but, you should be aware that SOME merchants might be unfamiliar with Chip and Sign, since it is only a half measure.

tony2phones · Guru

I still posses A/F Inch size Tools for working on the Oil because the US refuses to go Metric.. don't worry about it.

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Correct me if I'm wrong, Tony, but didn't the EU also use Chip and Signature as an interim step -- when they switched over?

Perhaps the older clerks will be familiar with the usage . . .

For US customers, it SHOULD be 'Same Old / Same Old' as the magnetic strip should still be present and businesses can still 'Swipe and Sign' as they have always done with US Credit Cards.

In any event, as Tony said, there should be no difficulty in using your US credit card (Master Card and Visa, at least) anywhere that Credit Cards are accepted.

tony2phones · Guru

To be honest I cant remember the transition I think the Pin was introduced with the old swipe machines certainly had Pin for ATM's then the chip replaced the signature, My Amex card went on the fire long before Chips came in.