Post Office Credit Card problem

laura2506

I applied for a Post office credit card last week as I am going to the states next Sunday.

It arrived yesterday so I popped to town this morning, and tried to use the card to make sure it worked okay with the PIN i was given etc.

I handed it to the cashier in Boots and once she put it in the Chip and Pin Machine, I was given a message NOT ACCEPTED. I didnt even put my PIN in....it just rejected the CHIP !!!

She swiped the card and it worked fine.

So I went to HMV and tried to use it there, and got NOT ACCEPTED again.

I have called the credit card helpline and was told there is nothing wrong with the card and its the retailers at fault !!! But it took me a while to get through to the woman on the end of the phone that it was the CHIP that was at fault and not the PIN number !!!

I am concerned about taking it to the States and not being able to use it at all.

Has anyone else had any problems with Chip and Pin or Post Office cards before?

YorkshireBoy

Daft question...you have activated the card account? (actually, if it worked with 'swipe and signature', which I missed on the initial read, then maybe that's not the problem).

I did once have a problem with an Egg card. I couldn't change the PIN at an ATM, and it turned out to be a faulty chip so they replaced the card.

jules73_2

I don't think they use chip&pin in the States anyway, so swipe card shouldn't be a problem.

exel1966

Sounds like either a chip or activation problem to me.

I can confirm you'll get some very blanks looks in the US if you mention chip and pin. They are years behind us in this and many other simple electonic matters ie. mobile phones...oops cellfones !

All that will be required in the US is your signature, unless you were thinking of using an ATM over there. Never had a problem with my PO card anywhere.

laura2506

Thanks everyone for your replies.

The girl on the phone was adamant that there is nothing wrong with the card, but I'll do like she suggested and try it at the cash point tomorrow. Hubby wants to get a new tyre for the car, so I'll pop that on the card and see if it works then.

The swipe works fine, so as long as the US is swiping it, I should be fine !!!

Thanks again

Eagle15

There IS a problem with some PO Credit Cards. I had exactly the same problem that you describe. The PO help line admitted that a batch of cards were faulty and they sent me a new one that works okay.

laura2506

Eagle15 wrote: »

There IS a problem with some PO Credit Cards. I had exactly the same problem that you describe. The PO help line admitted that a batch of cards were faulty and they sent me a new one that works okay.

Thanks Eagle15.

I didnt get chance to post back here before I left for the states, but I called the PO Credit Card co back and told them of the problem and they sent me a brand new one which works fine !!!

Would have been more helpful if they admitted they were at fault in the first place rather than try and fob me off !!! I still cant get over the woman on the phone telling me that I should tell the stores to get new Chip and Pin machines !!!! :rolleyes: