Using Chip and Pin in NY?

neilbond007

stoneman wrote: »

I found that as well, they ask for the ID then give it back to you before you sign for the goods. I asked why they didn't bother checking the signature and was told that British people seem honest.
LOL, I nearly peed myself, (and nearly dropped the 2 bottles of soda stuffed down my pants) :rotfl:


JOKE

Is that a 16oz coke or are you just pleased to see me?

martindow

stoneman wrote: »

LOL, I nearly peed myself, (and nearly dropped the 2 bottles of soda stuffed down my pants) :rotfl:


JOKE

Drinking a bit less soda might sort the peeing problem.

osaddict

Delayed response but thanks for this people, looks like I'd better take my passport everywhere, eek!

BeeKeeper

The only places that we found in the US where they use anything like a "PIN" number are 24-hour petrol stations.

The PIN number is actually your 5-digit American post (zip) code so it's pretty useless for non-residents.

We got caught out by this in California and nearly ran out of petrol as the 24-hour station we were heading for was unstaffed.

Doshwaster

BeeKeeper wrote: »

The only places that we found in the US where they use anything like a "PIN" number are 24-hour petrol stations.

The PIN number is actually your 5-digit American post (zip) code so it's pretty useless for non-residents.

We got caught out by this in California and nearly ran out of petrol as the 24-hour station we were heading for was unstaffed.

The ticket machines on the New York subway also ask you to enter your ZIP code. I gave in trying to get it to accept my card and just used cash. There were lots of other tourists having similar frustrations.

osaddict wrote: »

Delayed response but thanks for this people, looks like I'd better take my passport everywhere, eek!

Personally, I would rather leave my passport in the hotel and use my UK photo driving licence as ID as it's going to be less of a bother if it's lost or stolen. I go to the US 3 or 4 times a year with work and I have only once had my driving licence refused as ID - and that was a few months ago by a jobsworth bartender who insisted that they didn't accept "foreign driving licences". It was the only time in my life I have been refused a beer, and I'm almost 40.

pogofish

I had no problems using my cards in NY last year - Chip & Pin all the way and I was never asked for ID and only asked to sign once in the entire fortnight.

purplepardalis

There is no chip and pin in the US

emmajt81

went on a 2 week roadtrip around the States a few weeks ago spent 3 days in New York - during my 2 weeks stay including NYC I never used chip and pin once - always signing for stuff. They rarely check your sig either - they swipe your card, give it back to you, then you sign the slip and thats it. They never check signatures! They do ocassionally ask for ID like a drivers license to make sure you are the person named on the card. Sometimes you sign a slip of paper sometimes they have machines where you sign with a pen like an etch a sketch for want of a better word!!

The ZIP code thing is annoying if you hire a car as when you fill up you swipe you card before you pump the gas and then it asks you for a ZIP code (so it matches your credit card) - if you don't live in the USA you won't have one so you'll have to go into the petrol station to pay normally with cash or card with a signature - and then pump your gas! Subway in NYC runs this way as well - although a handy guy who worked at Times Sq station said to me to just enter the ZIP code as 99999 - which I did - and it worked - so happy days lol!

Doshwaster

emmajt81 wrote: »

Subway in NYC runs this way as well - although a handy guy who worked at Times Sq station said to me to just enter the ZIP code as 99999 - which I did - and it worked - so happy days lol!

Good tip. I'll try to remember that next time. I think I tried 00000 and that didn't work.