Chip and PIN - Any C&S cards refused yet?

Probably trained just well enough to read the prompts that come up on their screen.

In Marks & Spencers yesterday I had to sign rather than use my PIN. I thought you had to use your PIN at all retailers now. Have I got it wrong? I was going to ask the cashier this but I'd been queing up so long I couldn't be arsed.

I've been using my new Chip and PIN Amex card in the US all last week. Naturally I hadn't signed the card (totally forgot) - but had to sign for the transactions over there. Not one cashier seems to have checked the non-signature on the back of the card with what I signed. Their anti-fraud seems to be based entirely on real time lookup of the card status.

You only have to use the PIN at retailers which have Chip and Pin machinery, and where you have a Chip and Pin card. If either of those tests fails, you sign.

Before the 15th, I was being told every other time I tried to pay that I wouldn't be able to use my (chip and signature) card soon, which is of course incorrect as everyone seems to be coping fine with it now.

John.

Marks have Chip & Pin machinery. I have a Chip & Pin card. So I don't understand why I had to sign instead of using my PIN.

In message , A J Kincaid writes

Prior to 14/2 have you been asked to use your pin or your signature at other retailers ? (Not ATMs)

The Canny Scots Shop Gretna Green, 17th Feb. Told I must have a PIN. Persuaded the shop assistant to try my Chip & Sign card in the PIN entry device. It worked, I signed then a message spewed from the printer saying my card had been rejected. Manager called tried it all again and this time it worked. None of the staff were aware of Chip & Sign cards!. A gentleman in the ever growing queue said, "It's not your fault mate, or the shops staff, its the banks!"

I was asked to sign rather than use my PIN in Sainsburys the other day. It came up "use mag stripe" on the machine. Everywhere else, I use the PIN.

My PIN usually. Except at garages. They always seem to be signature.

I don't think they can legally refuse to accept a card if they display that they accept the card. They *can* now insist you use a PIN if your card is "chip & pin" which my amex is not.

Colin Forrester wrote

That speaks for itself, nobody checks the signature properly, and how many staff have ever been skilled enough to do so anyway?

ALDI today were requiring signatures, and were not yet offering C & P even though they seem to have had the keypads for some time.

...and yet my Chip and Signature Amex card prompted loads of 'you won't be able to use that for long' comments before the 15th but none now. Everyone's just getting on with it.

Just seems strange that every retailer seems to have got their act together all at once.

In message , A J Kincaid writes

Strange. I cant suggest an answer. Sorry!

The retailer can probably accept both - but if they accept your sig when they CAN take your PIN they will get done for any losses.(The tills are probably programmed to force you to put in a PIN if there is a PIN on the card - but can be overtaken in emergencies by supervisors i guess)

If they need a sig over a PIN it is probably because their machine is playing up.

If your card still has a sig (because its not updated or you need one for disabilities) then I assume the Bank will take responsibility like they used to - should your card be nicked and used by someone else

Bottom line is if you have a PIN card and don't/can't use it then the shop can refuse to take your order - although many smaller shops probably will (most large chains will probably not care about turning you away)

I only ever buy petrol from the unmanned chip & pin petrol stations, garages have always been a dodgy place for credit card cloning & fraud....

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In message , Moo writes

Generally, those unmanned stations were not Chip & Pin - just magstripe & PIN in the same way as an ATM. They may not have been updated to C&P.

They have number plate readers though too, so you need to not only use a stolen card, but also a stolen car, in that situation surely you might aswell just bilk the petrol station entirely.

Jim.

Might have been a system or chip-reading hiccup. I had that in a Tescos when I tried to bung the card into the slot. It was prised from my clasp with a "we have to swipe it first". It swiped, it said it had a chip, but the onscreen instructions said "swipe again and get 'im to sign". Apparently this "happens occasionally" so the staff have become used to the fallback without protesting or making me restock the trolley goods back on the shelves...

Isn't technology wunnerful?!

Jim Ley wrote

It's getting really grim, you have to pay for petrol with your own money these days.