Tesco no longer accepting non-chipped cards after Oct - arg!

Hermia

One of my cards is chipped so that's okay, but my Amex card isn't. Tescos just won't accept it after October and Amex said I'll get a chipped card when this one expires which is not for eons!

creditscorer_2

Are you sure about this? HAs it been advertised in stores?

I'm pretty sure that at worst, they won't let you sign if you've got a Chip and Pin card. There are plenty of TPF(Tesco) customers with Chip cards but not Chip and Pin, not to mention those who will never have a PIN.

cs

cardtart_2

If I get to the checkout with my usual basketfull of shopping and they won't let me pay with my AMEX then I shall tell them to stick it and go to the asda!!!

James

Hermia,

Having just spoken to Tesco you have been completely misinformed there is no change. After 14 Feb however if you have a Chip & PIN card and forget your PIN then Tesco MAY decline to accept your card as a means of payment.

If you have a problem with PINs then now's the time to apply for a Chip & Signature Card.

crippled_monkey

A further clarification.

It is the bank who decides if a card is accepted or declined, not the retailer. After Feb 14th, retailers will continue to process cards as they are doing now, accepting mag and signature, chip and signature and chip and pin. What changes is that the bank may decide not to accept a transaction if the pin number has been bypassed to signature. This is out of the retailers control. That is why all retailers are pushing the APACS 'love your pin' campaign as its in their interests and that of their customers.

Hermia

My local Tesco is ABSOLUTELY COVERED with notices saying they will not accept signatures after the end of the month, only a PIN. I went to speak to the Customer Services lady and she said they had decided to bring the date forward. I said that my credit card wasn't chipped and she said I would be unable to use that card.

Caped_Avenger

Hermia wrote:

Amex said I'll get a chipped card when this one expires which is not for eons!

Tell them your existing card is damaged, and you want a replacement. Chances are the replacement will be Chip & PIN.

Regarding the Chip & PIN issue, Tesco should still accept a sig on a Chip NO PIN card, as there are going to be people in 5 years time who still aren't using Chip & PIN, as they are physically incapable of using a PIN.

'Chip & PIN Day', which has been set as 14th Feb 2006, is the day where retailers will begin to ONLY accept PINs, and fallback to signature will be at store's discretion.

bunking_off

Well that's very interesting, given my clubcard+ (clubcard that acts as debit card) is still signature, not chip.

Hermia, are you sure they're not saying that if a card is chipped, they'll only accept chip & pin post October? (ie they won't take chip & signature)

Hermia

bunking_off wrote:

Hermia, are you sure they're not saying that if a card is chipped, they'll only accept chip & pin post October? (ie they won't take chip & signature)

No, I asked two members of staff and they both said that they would not accept non-chipped cards after the 31st. They said that signatures were no longer acceptable, only PIN. I waved my unchipped card at them and they said I would not be able to use it. Maybe they have misunderstood a memo from head office?

KathrynPenguin

If they don't accept chip and signature cards they will have a big problem. They will issue one - my Mum has one. Not accepting their own cards would be tricky.

I think as other posters have said it is most likely staff misunderstanding a memo.

Rafter

Sounds like it could be a one store test by tesco to see what the impact and customer reaction will be. It also gives them ammo to beat up banks who aren't ready.

I'm sure they will continue to accept - they are just testing customer reaction.

R.