credit card use - do you always tap?

[disykat]

Our credit card was compromised so they just sent a new one. It seemed like it took forever, probably two full weeks. (It's the card we like to use the most since we pay in full and like the rewards.) Both DH and I received cards where insert and swipe don't work. Tap works. I'm a creature of habit so always insert if it's available. I don't even know if tap is always available since I never pay attention. Can we get by with tap only? I don't want to have to wait for yet another new card!

 

[prairie_girl]

Our credit card was compromised so they just sent a new one. It seemed like it took forever, probably two full weeks. (It's the card we like to use the most since we pay in full and like the rewards.) Both DH and I have cards where insert and swipe don't work. Tap works. I'm a creature of habit so always insert if it's available. I don't even know if tap is always available since I never pay attention. Can we get by with tap only? I don't want to have to wait for yet another new card!

Come to Canada! Taps as far as the eye can see lol

At my bank, I was able to choose a dollar limit where I could not use tap, had to be swiped. Perhaps that would make you a little less worried..

 

[_19disnA]

I think newer machines have the tap feature, but not the older ones. I have never used the tap feature and never had any issues. I think for larger stores, it will be quite an expense to install all of the newest readers and would imagine they will permit either method going forward.

 

[Meriweather]

My main FC has both, but I always swipe

 

[tvguy]

Tapping is supposed to be safer. I just got my first card that is capable of tapping and I never paid attention to what locations had tap capability until recently. Most, but not all places are tap friendly now.

 

[PollyannaMom]

My card works both ways, but I almost always swipe.

I'm less comfortable tapping because it's so inconsistent - do you tap quickly or hold it on there for so many seconds? Where exactly on the machine do you tap it? etc.

It seems to be different at different places, and I feel like the tap ability just showed up with no "training".

 

[amcnj]

My main card is not tap capable, but is expiring soon so I expect the replacement will be. A secondary card does have that feature, but is really used at just one store which is tap enabled.

At one place I go the cashiers are constantly advising me to tap, and I have to explain my card doesn’t have that!

I didn’t realize though that new cards may be tap only. Is that common?

 

[AgentMama]

I always prefer to tap, its faster and then I often don't have to sign.

 

[GAN]

Most places I go to offer tap, but there are still some holdouts. I’ve put the cards I use in my Apple wallet/watch and it couldn’t be easier, super convenient.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I try to use it, and it seems to work sometimes.

Maybe I am not doing it right because many times I will tap, tap nothing happens then will just insert the chip because I am afraid people will think I look dumb just standing there hitting my card over and over on the thing.

 

[barkley]

just recently saw a news piece on some credit card skimmers discovered at a local business-law enforcement that was interviewed said only cards that had been swiped were endangered b/c tap and inserting doesn't allow the same information to be captured by the thieves. i tend to insert the card b/c tap is hit and miss working.

 

[mrodgers]

By "swipe" do you folks mean inserting the chip into the reader? We've had the chips for a long time now. I can't remember the last time any of my cards worked by actually swiping it through the magnetic reader. Surprised to see all the "swipe" unless you all mean inserting the chip.

For me, I don't want to hunt around on the machine to see if I can tap the card. It's mildly painful/uncomfortable as I don't carry my reading glasses everywhere to look down close to a credit machine. I just insert the chip.

 

[Southernmiss]

We had an issue while traveling recently and our main CC was closed on us. Yikes, that was a panic.

Dh had a venmo card whose swipe strip was not working and we realized that tap was not available everywhere, especially gas stations.

Fortunately, our son was with us and had his credit card.

I would try to get a card whose both swipe strip and tap worked.

 

[barkley]

for me 'swipe' is old school swiping it.

 

[livih99]

I only tap my card (way faster and is supposed to be safer) and the only place I regularly go to that I can't tap is my gas station that is not a franchise/name brand

 

[GAN]

I try to use it, and it seems to work sometimes.

Maybe I am not doing it right because many times I will tap, tap nothing happens then will just insert the chip because I am afraid people will think I look dumb just standing there hitting my card over and over on the thing.

I generally use my watch so can't speak absolutely for the "tap" but the reader doesn't (always) instantly pick up the tap. Sometimes you have to hold it for one more second or two and it connects. I think it's either because the terminal isn't functioning 100% or it's just so busy that it takes that extra moment(like a lagging internet connection).

 

[RedAngie]

If tap is available, I use it. The two Walmarts near me don’t accept tap, I insert the chip end into the device.

My company’s devices are tap and insert/swipe capable, but its credit cards don’t have a chip; it’s swipe only.

 

[Wood Nymph]

One of the shops that I go to at least twice a week has the smaller, portable credit card machines and you can't use tap for any purchase over $100.

 

[Christine]

I tap wherever available. I have one grocery store that does not have tap (I think it's my local Harris Teeter). Always have ot use the chip reader. I haven't swiped in a very long time.

 

[Miffy]

Tap when available. One place where I regularly shop has old-style machines, so tapping isn't an option, but everywhere else is tappable. At WDW, I'm a serial tapper!

ETA: OP, are you sure you can't insert or swipe your card? I'm pretty sure tappable cards allow you to do all 3 things. Just because your card says it's contactless doesn't mean it won't also work for swiping and inserting. Although I realize it's possible your card is tap-only, it seems unlikely.