Chip 'n' Pin - A Quick Guide Discussion Area

James

Anyone catch Tonight with Tervor McDonald? Chip & PIN?

Much of the programme was taken from The Truth Behind Chip & PIN, London Region ITV.

The one issue that both programmes fail to address is , Is it compulsory for a cardholder for whatever reason to accept a PIN with a Chipped card? Can individuals who have issues with PINs ask and get a Chip & Signature Card? Why are we being kept in the dark over Chip & Signature?

James

rlmjam

James wrote:

The one issue that both programmes fail to address is , Is it compulsory for a cardholder for whatever reason to accept a PIN with a Chipped card? Can individuals who have issues with PINs ask and get a Chip & Signature Card? Why are we being kept in the dark over Chip & Signature?

James

The simple answer to the above is yes, it is compulsory. The card issuer sets the terms and conditions and if you want a card you have to accept them. Some card issuers may decide that if people insist on a signature card then they can have one but I would expect them to shift all liability for fraudulent use to the cardholder.

James

Sorry rimjam but this is a very grey area indeed. If it were compulsory for a cardholder to accept a PIN then why isn't it compulsory for all retailers to implement Chip & PIN? They have a choice!

Furthermore last year I was told by Liverpool Victoria call centre staff (including a supervisor) that it was a 'legal,' requirement for a cardhodler to have a PIN with their card. Trading Standards challenged them and Liverpool Victoria apologised.

One wonders why the press aren't asking this very question.

TREVORCOLMAN

Its like a lot of things they go off half cocked! I have an AMex card with no chip and other half has a card - from my account with a Chip and PIN. Now thats a reciepe for confusion if ever the was one!

James

Robbed at the Tesco checkout!

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/business/articles/timid399762?source=

The victims experience is very enlightening.

Tawneyboy

My partner had her purse containing a Barclaycard chip and pin card just after using the card whilst out shopping. Despite canceeling all cards within an hour a series of cash withdrawals were made by the thief. We are now being charged for these [£500]. We never keep PIN numbers in bags / purses. The only other possibility as far as we can see is that someone watched my partner enter her PIN, followed her and then stole the card by knicking the purse.
Barclaycard say it is our fault? Do we have a case? If not then all other users beware.

James

Tawneyboy, sorry to hear of your partners bad luck. Hope the following may help.

1. Report the incident to the Police. (presume you've already done this).

2. Ask Barclaycard to provide information as to which cash points withdrawals were made from and find out if these cashpoints are covered by either the banks own CCTV or street CCTV. Inform Barclaycard / police of your findings.

3. According to T&Cs, Barclaycard have to prove you've been negligent with your PIN ask them to examine the CCTV coverage.

Sorry to say this but all the more reason for not having a PIN with a card. Insist on a Chip & Signature card - your partner wouldn't have been in this position and the crook wouldn't have been able to withdraw hard cash.

Aiadi

James wrote:

Sorry to say this but all the more reason for not having a PIN with a card. Insist on a Chip & Signature card - your partner wouldn't have been in this position and the crook wouldn't have been able to withdraw hard cash.

That is a good point. I wish someone from whichever organisation that set up chip and pin would sit up and take note of all these problems. :mad:

georgeherb

I wonder if there will be lots of people in the same boat as my mum and what we can do about it?

My mum, a pensioner, suffers from dementia and struggles to remember numbers. In fact she never uses cash machine for that reason. Last night while shopping at Sainsbury's she was informed that come June she must have a pin number to pay for her shopping on Switch and she will not be allowed to sign for it. So come June she will not be able pay for her shopping and have cashback at Sainsbury's.
What can she do? I find all this quite scary and like big brother is taking over.
Will all supermarker's do the same? I will be asking the bank next week what their response is?

James

Georgeherb - Yes there are tens of thousands of people like your mum, this was highlighted in a letter to the Telegraph from various assoications and organsations.

Your mum should contact her bank immediately and ask for a Chip & Signature Card.

You are advised by the card people (although never told about it), to report stores like Sainsbury's, see the following:

If Your Signature is Refused:

http://www.chipandpin.co.uk/consumer/2005/problems.html

Hope this helps