Credit card - chip and pin

[alisonbestford]

Hi there

I've just posted this on the Budget board too but can anyone clarify for me the procedure, in the US, for credit card transaction?

Do you have to input the pin or are there still facilities for signing?

We rarely use our credit cards and I've spent the last half an hour panicking that I might have not got the correct pins for them (I chose not to change the pin, when the cards arrived, so as to deter us from using them )

Thanks

 

[catherine]

Alison, as far as I know they don't use chip & pin in the States. You just sign for credit card transactions.

 

[alisonbestford]

Fingers crossed then

Thanks

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

The USA does use Chip & Pin, but I think that the systems are incompatable with our banking system?

 

[alisonbestford]

Thanks

The response I got on the Budget board was that most Americans don't know the pins for their cc but do for their debit cards so, mostly, you sign for purchases

Mostly like we all did before 14th Feb I guess

 

[disneycymru]

Alison,

I have noticed on my visits that Chip and PIN is used in fact it has been used for several years in the US. I have also noticed people signing using an electronic pen on a LCD screen. I am not sure if they may have a back up of an electronically encoded signature on their cards, similar to the scan taken when you apply for a passport over here. I would suggest if it may be better to use a PIN if you know it, I beleive it will work on their systems as the actual PIN is encoded on your card and not checked with the Bank. The wait time you have for authorisation is check to see if your card has been cancelled, stolen, etc and is to protect the shop in terms of receiving payment from the bank.

 

[catherine]

I went ahead and checked with my in-laws for you and they said that they, and people they know never use chip and pin. They said that you shouldn't have a problem with just using your signature.

 

[alisonbestford]

Thankyou everyone

I've got a new, National, cc specially for our trip so I do know the pin for that

It was mainly for the car hire - just in case Alamo want to put a 'hold' on a deposit, as I'm not taking their insurance.
I tend to use an old cc with a large credit limit, that never gets used and is paid straight off.
I THINK I know the pin (and should have checked before now ) but don't want to run into problems

 

[paulh]

sometimes when you sign for your purcheses in the states,the electonic reader rembers how you sign weight angle and speed this is stored so every time you sign it checks the more you use the better it can check its surposed to be better than chip and pin.found it wiered when we whent to super target you do cc while checkout is sanning goods
Paulh

 

[jdybnsn]

The TCD rep laughed when I asked him this question ...he said if I was an American, and if I gave my permission, he could take my card and use it himself !!!

Surely that can't be right can it

 

[Goofyish]

Last December shops at the Florida Mall and Downtown Disney (including the Virgin Megastore) didn't use Chip 'n' Pin - you had to sign 'electronically' on a lcd pad.

We were also asked for photo ID in a number of stores when using credit cards - so make sure you have a photo driving license or your passport