Chip and Pin

[Claire]

Morning all!

Is it chip and pin in the States or still signatures? I'm clueless as to the pin on one of my cards.

[Tink]

Chip and pin? Ummmm...in reference to cc's or ATM's I'm guessing?

Depends upon where you use the card. If it's in a store, you can use the signature option (but only if the card has a cc logo). You'll not be able to get any additional funds though. You need a PIN to access your cash at a store and ATMs.

Now, if that's not what you are talking about please disregard!

[Claire]

Sorry tink! Yes, for purchases. Cash we'll already have.

[Tink]

Still not sure what a chip is.

[Claire]

Still not sure what a chip is.

On the credit/debit card is an electronic chip. It's usually square and goldand visible from the front of the card just above the long number. You pop your card into a card reader chip facing down and enter your pin number to make your purchase. It's supposed to be safer and less open to card fraud than signature.

[Tink]

Oh! Well, I'm not familiar with that at all. I just use CCs or my bank card (with a cc logo) that allows me to sign (in the case of CCs) or sign or PIN (with the bank card).

So! I guess you'd better disregard everything I've said! We'll just wait until someone who knows what they are talking about comes along to give you some good information!

[Wendy]

We've never used it over there Claire, I don't think they have the facility for that yet. We just always sign the same as we used it here.

What does happen is that in Walmart though, is you put your card in the machine at the end and there is an LCD screen and you use the pen and sign on the screen - I don't think this checks the signature, I think it's just so they have an electronic copy

[Tink]

No, it doesn't check the signature. Often, the clerks don't even ask to see the card (in many shops). That always makes me a bit nervous. Anyone could take your card and use it. Most of those electronic screens make such a mess of your signature, no one could tell if it was the correct person signing or not!

And we wonder why identity theft is such an issue here.

[Johnie]

I did have a cashier at Wal-Mart check my card and my license when I used the little keypad the other day. I was quite surprised.

[uscwest]

Chip and pin is only slowly but surely beginning to catch on here in the US. I've noticed that when CC's are renewed that some of them have the chip now.