Does your credit card have a computer chip in it?

[bicker]

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2011/03/the-death-of-the-credit-card-mag-stripe.html

 

[eliza61]

I wish they did Bicker. I've been vacationing in Europe and a lot of the atm machines and even vendor equipment all use the computer chipped enhanced credit cards with a pin.
Silly to want a change for a few weeks a year, I know but it does make travelling in Europe a hassle some times.

 

[scrapquitler]

When I got one with the chip in it, I called the issuer (actually with two cards: Chase and Citibank) and told them I DO NOT WANT THE CARD WITH THE CHIP IN IT. I cut them up and they sent new cards without the chips.

 

[mommasita]

Yes, has been that way for over a year now, possible 2.

 

[bicker]

When I got one with the chip in it, I called the issuer (actually with two cards: Chase and Citibank) and told them I DO NOT WANT THE CARD WITH THE CHIP IN IT. I cut them up and they sent new cards without the chips.

Why did you do that? The cards with the chips in them are safer than the ones without. See the article for details.

 

[SaraJayne]

Nope, and since I don't plan on traveling to Europe, I'm fine with what I have.

If Europe wants to switch over, good for them. It's going to take a long time before the US switches over to a different technology...and by then, the Chip and Pin system will be outdated.

 

[FINFAN]

Is the chip the same as this?

http://www.wthr.com/story/14001597/the-risk-inside-your-credit-card

or something different still?
That story was eye -opening....not sure what is best anymore.

 

[scrapquitler]

Why did you do that? The cards with the chips in them are safer than the ones without. See the article for details.

I read the article. It sounds to me like the chip thing is standard in Europe. But I don't live in Europe, nor do I have any plans to travel there in the near future. Once it becomes standard (if it ever does) here in the US, then I'll switch over. As the article states, these particular type of chips are probably NOT going to be standard in the US any time soon. Unless there is a particular benefit for me to change, I see no reason to do so.

 

[Gigi22]

Credit card issuers in Canada are switching over to chipped cards, so are Interact card issuers. Only American Express doesn't seem to be issuing chipped cards.
Cards continue to have the encoded strip on them too, so cards can still be swiped as well as inserted into bank machines and merchant card readers.

 

[eliza61]

I read the article. It sounds to me like the chip thing is standard in Europe. But I don't live in Europe, nor do I have any plans to travel there in the near future. Once it becomes standard (if it ever does) here in the US, then I'll switch over. As the article states, these particular type of chips are probably NOT going to be standard in the US any time soon. Unless there is a particular benefit for me to change, I see no reason to do so.

sorry to be debbie downer but like ipods, nooks and other technological advances whether you see the benefit or not, credit card companies are now beginning to change over. What do you see as soon? Everybody thought dvd's would not catch on but they did, now we hear the same thing about blue ray disc and I'm willing to bet in 2 years blue rays will be pretty standard.

1) they are safer, identity theft is way to easy now with the old magnetic strips.

2) and even though YOU have no intentions of going to europe, many Europeans (and americans) do travel widely abroad. American express plans on rolling out new cards with the chip in 2013. So, that's "soon" as far as technology goes.

 

[eliza61]

Credit card issuers in Canada are switching over to chipped cards, so are Interact card issuers. Only American Express doesn't seem to be issuing chipped cards.
Cards continue to have the encoded strip on them too, so cards can still be swiped as well as inserted into bank machines and merchant card readers.

Amex is supposedly phasing in within the next couple of years. Starting with their travel cards (Starwood)

 

[Northstar]

Why did you do that? The cards with the chips in them are safer than the ones without. See the article for details.

I'm not the person who sent back their new card with chip, but I can answer why the present chip technology scares me... RFID readers! There have been tests with people walking through a mall with a simple, fairly cheap chip scanner/reader device, and skimming the information off cards in people's wallets and purses as they walk by.

I know you can get a sleeve to stick your card in to baffle the reader, but you know how that would go... the thieves would then hang around cash registers waiting for people to pull out their cards.

I don't want a chipped card until they work out better security. I've got a chipped bank card already, but because you need the PIN to use it, and that's not encoded on the card, I figure that's a little better protected.

 

[FINFAN]

I'm not the person who sent back their new card with chip, but I can answer why the present chip technology scares me... RFID readers! There have been tests with people walking through a mall with a simple, fairly cheap chip scanner/reader device, and skimming the information off cards in people's wallets and purses as they walk by.

I know you can get a sleeve to stick your card in to baffle the reader, but you know how that would go... the thieves would then hang around cash registers waiting for people to pull out their cards.

I don't want a chipped card until they work out better security. I've got a chipped bank card already, but because you need the PIN to use it, and that's not encoded on the card, I figure that's a little better protected.

that is the link I posted above...so it is the same technology then....

 

[mommasita]

I'm not the person who sent back their new card with chip, but I can answer why the present chip technology scares me... RFID readers! There have been tests with people walking through a mall with a simple, fairly cheap chip scanner/reader device, and skimming the information off cards in people's wallets and purses as they walk by.

I know you can get a sleeve to stick your card in to baffle the reader, but you know how that would go... the thieves would then hang around cash registers waiting for people to pull out their cards.

I don't want a chipped card until they work out better security. I've got a chipped bank card already, but because you need the PIN to use it, and that's not encoded on the card, I figure that's a little better protected.

I need the PIN to use my credit card as well

 

[scrapquitler]

I'm not the person who sent back their new card with chip, but I can answer why the present chip technology scares me... RFID readers! There have been tests with people walking through a mall with a simple, fairly cheap chip scanner/reader device, and skimming the information off cards in people's wallets and purses as they walk by.

I know you can get a sleeve to stick your card in to baffle the reader, but you know how that would go... the thieves would then hang around cash registers waiting for people to pull out their cards.

I don't want a chipped card until they work out better security. I've got a chipped bank card already, but because you need the PIN to use it, and that's not encoded on the card, I figure that's a little better protected.

I am the person who got a new card without the chip. I had read a bunch of articles about the RFID readers, and how they can be 'read' with simple equipment purchased off of ebay, just as described in the article someone linked to. I'd just rather not have the chip, and until I HAVE to have it, I won't.

And for the person in Canada who says he needs a pin to use a credit card, that's not how it works in the US.

 

[eliza61]

Walmart has announced that all their stores will accept the chip and pin credit cards.

As Walmart goes, so does the rest of the world!!

http://www.creditcardguide.com/creditcards/news/walmart-accept-chip-pin-credit-cards-294/

 

[Imzadi]

Is the chip the same as this?

http://www.wthr.com/story/14001597/the-risk-inside-your-credit-card

or something different still?
That story was eye -opening....not sure what is best anymore.

No the technology is different. Bicker's article doesn't explain the chip & PIN technology until the eleventh paragraph. Bad writing.

The Chip & PIN technology is:

"That led to placing tiny computer chips on each card that were smart enough to be used for validation without the need to call a central bank. Instead, users enter PIN codes that can be checked against data on the chip for authenticity."

The technology in your article is where there is a chip in which the cards are read by a radio frequency - and Radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. No PIN number needed for verification. The reader takes down all your info off the card. And any thief who has a reader can get info by standing next to people.

I recently had my credit card number stolen and used in MY own neighborhood in Times Square. I still have my card, so they only got the number. I finally figured out it was from somebody standing near me and getting the info off my card via a reader and then using it nearby after making a fraudulent card.

My bank has actually stopped issuing these RFID cards, because of so many people stealing the info. I was lucky because my CC company called and alerted ME that there was fraud on my account. Their fraud detection is such that they know my spending habits. I never would spend $600 on sports shoes, nor another $300 in a drugstore I never frequent.

 

[Eliza32]

I'm fromEurope (UK) and we have had 'C&P' as we like to call it for about 5 years. You can't use the card in a store without the PIN, so it's pretty safe. You can't use it online without the security number off the back of the card, so that makes it pretty safe too.
With regard to people hanging around shopping malls with scanners, they still need the PIN, so little point really.
I certainly prefer it to the old system of signing where somone could easily forge your signature if they stole your card. I was very dissapointed on my last 2 trips that the US hasn't caught up yet. Trust me, it is coming your way.......(could be worse, they could decide to use the WDW finger scanning technology instead!!!!)

 

[FINFAN]

No the technology is different. Bicker's article doesn't explain the chip & PIN technology until the eleventh paragraph. Bad writing.

The Chip & PIN technology is:


The technology in your article is where there is a chip in which the cards are read by a radio frequency - and Radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. No PIN number needed for verification. The reader takes down all your info off the card. And any thief who has a reader can get info by standing next to people.

I recently had my credit card number stolen and used in MY own neighborhood in Times Square. I still have my card, so they only got the number. I finally figured out it was from somebody standing near me and getting the info off my card via a reader and then using it nearby after making a fraudulent card.

My bank has actually stopped issuing these RFID cards, because of so many people stealing the info. I was lucky because my CC company called and alerted ME that there was fraud on my account. Their fraud detection is such that they know my spending habits. I never would spend $600 on sports shoes, nor another $300 in a drugstore I never frequent.

Thank you for the clarification/explanation...I swear, some days I am ready to just crawl under a rock with all the defensive life skills needed these days!

 

[Charade]

My bank has actually stopped issuing these RFID cards, because of so many people stealing the info. I was lucky because my CC company called and alerted ME that there was fraud on my account. Their fraud detection is such that they know my spending habits. I never would spend $600 on sports shoes, nor another $300 in a drugstore I never frequent.

We have an AMEX card and my wife's card got turned off because there was a fraudulent 99 CENT charge (someone buying I-TUNEs on it to see it the number was valid). Two years ago I was shopping for a TV and (being extremely anal about it) I bought 5 TVs to try at home and then returned the ones I didn't like. They NEVER flagged a single TV purchase.