Chip and Pin

[Eric Mc]

Is everyone ready for the great "Chip and Pin" deadline for Credit and Debit Cards?

As of 1 January 2005, many retailers will not accept Credit or Debit Card payments without the purchaser being able to punch in their Chip n'Pin number.

[JonRB]

It's going to be a nightmare.

Some industry analysts are predicting that 1 in 4 people regularly forget their PIN number* and that the time taken for the average transaction is going to rise by 30 seconds as a result.

That's the average. Expect the reality to be that one will be standing in the queue for an extra few minutes whilst Mrs. Miggins invalidates one card after another as each one locks out after 3 attempts before finally getting out her chequebook and laboriously writing a cheque to pay for her purchase, whilst you get more and more irate and finally throw your goods on the floor and storm out shouting "OH FFS! ".

(* saying 'PIN' doesn't sound right, but saying 'PIN number' is saying "Personal Identification Number Number" which is redundant. But there you go.)

>> Edited by JonRB on Tuesday 7th December 14:26

[trevorw]

I'm ready for it, but i'm on my 3rd chip n pin card since i started using it, as it kept getting bent in my wallet and it could not be read

[charlescrawley]

I do get your point, but it seems to work out here on the continent... Admittedly, most people's PIN is probably 1111...

[sheepy]

Eric Mc said:

Is everyone ready for the great "Chip and Pin" deadline for Credit and Debit Cards? As of 1 January 2005, many retailers will not accept Credit or Debit Card payments without the purchaser being able to punch in their Chip n'Pin number.

Er, not quite. 1st Jan is the deadline for retailers to have the equipment to handle chip 'n' pin cards. You don't need to validate your ID using the pin, you can still sign. You are encouraged to use your pin if possible.

Sheepy

[FourWheelDrift]

Just.

Got a C&P card begining of November, first time I tried it it didn;t work, tried 2 other times nothing and the card locked. Rang up B******s twice to be told firstly to use an ATM to unlock it, then an ATM and check balance to unlock it. Nothing. Recieved a letter saying that due to a manufacturing fault some cards sent out are faulty and I would recieve a new card within 21 days.

21 days came and went I contacted the bank anf they said they had the cards but wren't dispatching them until the customers called to say it still wasn't working............MORONS....

Now have a new card that does work.

[jacobyte]

I never use my PIN for my credit card - this is so that I don't get cash out of the bank machine in a drunken stupor. So when I received my last PIN, I destroyed it, only to receive the new card a few days later, saying "you must use your PIN with this card". Doh!

[Muncher]

Nope, Halifax say they aren't changing to chip and pin until my card expires, which is September next year!

[telecat]

This is down to the banks now recovering debts on the credit cards from the retailers if they don't have a "secure" method of proving the card is real. The "secure" method of transaction for the Banks is "chip and Pin". Puts Internet traders at a disadvantage as they cannot verify it. Some tho now demand a Scan or fax copy of the face of the card to prove that the card is in your possession.

[GregE240]

Two out of the three banks I am with have replaced my card.

The third already had, it had a chip as soon as I got it.

The technology seems to have taken off quite quickly, at a shop the other day the assistant seemed quite surprised my card only had the strip on it.

[Bonce]

I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea that anyone watching me enter my pin, mug me and use my card in a cashpoint or shop to buy stuff far more easily than with signatures. If a photo of my face was on my card, then at least it would stop the stolen card being used in shops.

[mr_tony]

sheepy said:

Er, not quite. 1st Jan is the deadline for retailers to have the equipment to handle chip 'n' pin cards. You don't need to validate your ID using the pin, you can still sign. You are encouraged to use your pin if possible. Sheepy

glad someone out there is awake...

as for queues of people forgetting their number - this is a bunch of ar*e, most big retailers are doing this already, and I've seen literally hundreds of chip and pin transactions, and not seen anyone forget their number once...

[mmertens]

What is it with you UK people? This has worked for ages all over the place on the continent... and it has worked for years in cash machines in the UK, so the "someone might be looking" argument doesn't fly. And my paltry imitation of any of your signatures would easily withstand the cursory look of all shop assistants so that isn't safer once I have your card.

Paying with a pincode is dead easy, no fiddling with and scribbling on receipts. So, progress for you.
But no, obviously good old Fraser's spirit (of Dad's Army fame) rears its head again: We're doomed! Doomed,I tell you!

And as usual it's all to blame on the government, the European Union, the liberals, the immigrants, the demise of the British empire, the demise of Maggy T, the Euro, the metric system, lentilists, non-smokers, smokers, Brunstrom, Blunkett, The French, the banks, the US, the Pope, Bin Laden etc. etc. etc. Really, you're getting a bit predictable and very much confirming the continent view of Britain here: "Change?? Progress?? No, we will not have any of that malarky here, thank you very much!"

[bga]

Non-C&P card transactions in Safeways are already taking 30 seconds longer to process.

The cashier was telling me that it was to get their customers into the habit of using C&P as they will be refusing non-C&P card transactions after January. I'm not sure how it's going to work with the banks that aren't making the switch though.

It made me get off my arse and ask for a replacement card with C&P.

[Eric Mc]

Don't blame me - blame Radio 5. Their financial bint Pauline McCullough had to come on an hour or so after the initial report to clarify the fact that OLD STYLE NON CHIP AND PIN CARDS WILL STILL BE ACCEPTEDafter 1 January 2005. In the meantime I'd already phoned my Credit Card company to find out what was going on.

[mcecm]

My card doesn't run out until June 2005, does the bank have to give you a C&P card if you ask for one?

[FourWheelDrift]

mcecm said:

My card doesn't run out until June 2005, does the bank have to give you a C&P card if you ask for one?

See my post, probably have them all lined up but won't send them out till you ask for them.

[Trommel]

The real reason for the change is not to do with security - it's to do with the card issuers shifting the onus of responsibility.

[ginge]

I had a new card sent to me the beginning of November. I am a student and live the other end of the country and my parents forward my mail on every month or so. First I knew about it was when my card stopped working everywhere. On a Friday night. When I wanted some beer So went into Sainos to get some cashback. No luck there, "your card has been declined". No beer for me then.

Try again Saturday afternoon, same thing. I notice I've just missed the banks closing time on Saturdays.

Anyway, phoned them up and they said it had been sent out at the beginning of the month. Bugger. Now I have to go to the bank every time I want to buy anything unless I want to pop it on my credit card (chip and pin already). Probably for the best, I'd only end up buying rubbish anyway!

[stooz]

Bonce said:

If a photo of my face was on my card, then at least it would stop the stolen card being used in shops.

Yes, just like your signature being checked by the cashier, cuz that happens ALL the time

@ cashiers, not bonce.

Its the lack of checking of the sig thats helped the progress toward a system that checks 100% of the time - a computer.