Chip & Pin in US?

[jonny round boy]

I've just been reading online that the US doesn't use chip & pin technology for card transactions. Seems odd since the rest of the world does, and it's technology that was developed by US companies.

The thought of handing my card to a waiter and having them wander off into the back with it concerns me - in the UK we're told you should never let the card out of your sight, to stop people skimming/copying it. Over here they bring a remote terminal to you (or they have a terminal on the till in a shop), you put in your card, enter your pin, and that's it. These days it's unusual for anyone else to even touch your card, let alone walk off with it!

I've also read that sometimes they don't even ask for a signature or any form of ID - just swipe the card & that's it!

Is this still the case? No wonder the US leads the world in card fraud...

 

[Stephen B]

In Oz now terminal transactions under a set amount, say $50, do not require a pin or signature. We even have tap and go where you just tap the terminal with your card if it has a programmed chip.

I think that what you describe in US will mainly apply in restaurants because of the expected tipping system.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Most places you don't hand over your card, but it depends on where you go.  Restaurants are some of the few places where it is fairly common to hand it over.  If you are uncomfortable giving your card to waiter let them know and you'll probably accommodate you accompanying them to make the payment.  

 

[tjbnwi]

I've also read that sometimes they don't even ask for a signature or any form of ID - just swipe the card & that's it!

Is this still the case? No wonder the US leads the world in card fraud...

Yep, no signature if the sale is under $50.00 at a lot of places.

PIN's here are associated more with debt cards than credit cards at point of sale. I'd never enter a PIN number.

Tom

 

[mike68au]

We have the same Tech here in Australia.  I use my CC as part of my Business and also a work specific Visa Debit Card.  Both have the chip and i use a pin when purchasing.  I haven't signed for a transaction in 2-3 yrs now.

My CC also incorporates Pay-Wave whereby i can just tape the card on the terminal and if it is under $100 it will be approved and i'm on my way. no pin no sig at all.

If i'm at a restaurant i get up and go to the register to pay..... i don't give it to wait staff.  My security is worth more than feeling that the wait staff are there to do everything for me

 

[land_kel]

In Canada we have used PIN on our debit cards for years. Both at the bank machine and at the merchant.  Our CC are now coming with PIN.  As with anything, caution is forefront when entering your PIN but with the secure chips it is VERY hard for the bad guy to steal your PIN if you protect it.  I find it harder to hand over my passport as you do in Asia than I do having to give the waiter my CC.

 

[mouppe]

They're a little behind in the US but more and more places are adopting the technology. A lot of people still use cheques when banking and paying.

In Canada, it's similar to the UK.

 

[rljatl]

From what I've read, we're behind in cell phone and internet access, too.  It's my understanding that in many countries, you can use your cell phone to to buy things, even from vending machines.  Also, internet service is much cheaper and faster in many other countries.

 

[Paul G]

Yep, no signature if the sale is under $50.00 at a lot of places.

Here using AMEX at Costco the sig limit is $200. Considering no one ever checks the sig I wonder what is the point. In the sig band on all cards I write 'see photo ID'.

I never ever use debit cards, any fraud results in you fighting to get your money back while with credit cards you dispute the charge. Most of the time when you get an ATM card from the bank it is also a debit card, I always go back and ask for an ATM only card so there is no debit option for greater account security in the event my wallet is lost or stolen.

One place that uses handheld CC terminals is the Apple store, very convenient to get rung up but takes getting used to signing your name with a finger on their modified iphones. I'd imagine restaurants don't use this due to cost, but I would like it as a consumer.

 

[RC]

CC security and implementation in the US is dismal and the rest of the world is just banging its head on the wall waiting for their bastardized Chip & Pin implementation to roll-out to be able to get rid of that pesky mag-stripe. (I work for a CC processor so I know.) Talking about a third world country in payments... cheques... haven't been seen during my lifetime here (in the last 40 years at least...) remember hearing about them from my granddad. Direct debit & online payments, anyone? [doh] [censored]

You'll be faced with most taxies not accepting CC at all or at best they might have a carbon-paper mangler under the front seat - so remember to ask before jumping in!

Worst I've experienced in NYC was typing in my PIN, being asked for a photo ID and a signature for a purchase of $19... which is very much against card brand rules! You have PIN, you're golden, but nooo...

Also I would be quick to double check your CC bill when you get home from your trip. I got some double billings from restaurants in Chicago last time I visited.

 

[jonny round boy]

I've got a couple of pre-paid dollar cards (use it like a credit card) to avoid having to pay exorbitant charges & fees to my UK bank; or in cash. My UK cards will be going with me, but only for emergencies.

 

[windmill man]

Hi JRB,

Just a tip ,inform your bank/ card provider that you are going to the states and the dates of your visit and roughly what states you will be visiting . If you don't ,you stand a good chance that they will be stopped and trying to sort it from over there is hard work. It happened to me a few years back. Hope the trip goes well for you both

John

 

[fidelfs]

I lived in USA for almost 20 years now.  I became US citizen and coming from a 3rd world country, you have a different expectation about what US technology.

I travel for my job a lot (software engineer) and I face different technology everyday.  It is unbelievable how behind or undeveloped is in certain areas.  

I used to work from a Netherlands company in my home country, and one of the manager (dutch guy) told me once that US invent new things then it goes to EU to be perfected.  He cited cell phones, I didn't believed him until I came here and deal with it everyday.

 

[Stephen B]

Hi JRB,

Just a tip ,inform your bank/ card provider that you are going to the states and the dates of your visit and roughly what states you will be visiting . If you don't ,you stand a good chance that they will be stopped and trying to sort it from over there is hard work. It happened to me a few years back. Hope the trip goes well for you both

John

Yes, good advice, no matter what country you are visiting. I had a credit card refusal once in London, because I did not tell my bank that I would be re-entering the UK after two months in continental Europe.

 

[neth27]

I used my credit card a couple of years ago in Florida. A couple of months later I was billed on my account for 5 Dell lap tops purchased in Florida.. I got the money back okay.

John..

 

[ScotF]

You'll be faced with most taxies not accepting CC at all or at best they might have a carbon-paper mangler under the front seat - so remember to ask before jumping in!

Most taxis take credit cards and believe it or not they even have a swipe machine.  I travel 40+ weeks a year and take taxis every week all over the US.  Most prefer cash since they have to pay the credit card company, but a very high percentage of fares are paid with credit cards now days. 

Scot 

 

[RC]

I stand corrected. My experiences range from 2001 - 2012 annual conferences in mostly SF, NYC, Chicago & Vegas and it has become better over time, but even at my last years tour to Chicago it was only the third taxi driver who accepted MasterCard at O'Hare... Maybe bad luck then?

 

[joiner1970]

I've done quite a bit of work for the guy who's company invented the chip & pin. A Russian billionaire who owns most of London .

 

[jmbfestool]

In Oz now terminal transactions under a set amount, say $50, do not require a pin or signature. We even have tap and go where you just tap the terminal with your card if it has a programmed chip.

I think that what you describe in US will mainly apply in restaurants because of the expected tipping system.

Sounds same system like we have in UK.  We have contacless pay with credit and debit cards plus we get a paytag which you can stick onto your phone or something else and you can only use it to pay contacless.    

Just simply swipe over the machine job done max amount is £20 per transaction.

Thing is contacless has very very poor security and any thief can swipe your card from a metre or more away even when its in your pocket,wallet,handbag.  So with out you even knowing you could be £20 out of pocket.  If you have a few cards then you could be. £40-60-80 out of pocket!

So I don't use the paytag and I have bought some tinfoil sleeves to protect my cards so it can't send a wireless signal while its in my wallet.    

Any one getting passports in the UK now have the contacless technology now. I just hit my passport with a hammer to break the wireless chip inside. Don't want anyone stealing my passport details wirelessly.

Contecless sleeves,wallets p protection

Or instead of hitting your passport with hammer you can get passport wallets with RFID protection
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=sr_rd_mob?me=AH5RIUCLRR1V8&rh=i%3Amerchant-items&ie=UTF8&gclid=CKGNlN7uqrkCFZShtAodDlgACQ&marketplaceID=A1F83G8C2ARO7P

 

[junk731]

My wife and I have spent a fair mount of time travelling around the US over the years. Always have good old fashion cash with you especially if your renting vehicles/fuel and going to a few different States. It will save a lot of aggravation especially when one of your cards isn't recognized or shutdown.

John