janisj

McLisa: >>Interestingly, I was never asked for my pin #.<<

Because it <i>isn't</i> a chip+PIN card. It is chip+signature.

kja

"There are almost no American banks issuing chip and pin cards"

Check your options through the Andrews Federal Credit Union or United Nationals Federal Credit Union.

janisj

>>Check your options through the Andrews Federal Credit Union or United Nationals Federal Credit Union.<<

That VAST majority will not qualify to join either Andrews or the United Nations federal credit unions . . .

kja

Really? Each only requires joining something for a nominal annual fee.

xyz123

You can join UNFCU by joining an organization whose purpose is to enhance the acceptance of the UN in the USA. You can join Andrews FCU by joining some consumer finance organization. You can easily join State Department FCU and Pentagon FCU by joining some organization (incidentally you need join only once, you don't have to keep renewing membership annually. Once you're in, you're in).

You can join USAA unless you can establish some sort of relationship with the US military. You can't join US Navy FCU for the same reason. You can't join Harvard FCU which does offer a "true" chip and pin card without some sort of relationship with Harvard University.

Another FCU that offers a "true" chip and pin card is First Tech FCU which you can join if you live in certain states or join some sort of orhanization.

xyz123

...should have said you can't join USAA unless you establish some sort of relationship with the US military. Mea culpa.

kja

@ xyz -- I'm glad you clarified, and thank you for the information you so generously share on this, and other, topics.

thebenskys

Last month we got a Capital One Quicksilver card, which is chip-and-pin, no fee, no foreign transaction fee and 1.5% cash back. It will be our main travel card.

Holly_uncasdewar

bensky: Is that an ATM card only, or also VISA? or other?

tom_mn

Capital One does not offer chip and PIN, only chip and signature. And it must be a credit card since it offers a rebate.

thebenskys

My mistake - I checked with Capital One and the PIN only works for cash advances at an ATM - given the fees, we will try to avoid doing that. We'll take our Andrews FCU card with us as well.

Dublin1

For those thinking of getting a chip card from USAA, don't bother. I've been living in Europe for the past 2.5 years now and have been using my USAA C/P fairly regularly. Worked great until it expired and they issued a new card in May. Before expiry, everytime I used the card, a PIN was requested. Now it's only signature preferred with PIN as a backup. Too many merchants aren't set up for signature or not prepared (I can't count the number of times I get to the front of a queue and they don't have a pen). Touristy places are well prepared but if you're off the beaten path or purchasing items in "local" type places, you will find that many shops are not anticipating signatures. In a few cases, they outright refused to accept the card unless we could enter a PIN. I've gone round and round with USAA and they indicate they cannot change the card back to what it was. I read a quote somewhere from a Visa or MasterCard exec that explained the thought process behind going to Chip and Signature vs. Chip and Pin as being "because Americans couldn't handle the dramatic change so we have to spoon feed it to them one step at a time" (my paraphrase). In any case, now on the hunt for a true chip and pin issued from the USA. May just have to get one issued by my local bank here. Trouble is, I'm still paid in the US so transferring money can get expensive. Cheers.

thursdaysd

I am traveling with a signature preferred card (two months so far). Mostly but not exclusively in cities. The card has not been refused, and I carry my own pen.

janisj

>>I can't count the number of times I get to the front of a queue and they don't have a pen<<

>>The card has not been refused, and I carry my own pen.<<

Yeah - that works

My one and only chip (and signature) card was not refused anywhere except one ticket machine. (And I <u>always</u> have a pen)

Dublin1

Yeah, when travelling I carry a pen but when picking up a few groceries on my way home from work, I usually don't have one. I'm just spoiled using the PIN as it was great. But I have had merchants not even entertain me as soon as the card went in the machine and asked for a signature. The last one was the post office here in Maynooth Ireland. 40 minutes in the queue to find out they wouldn't take the card. Not happy. You'd think USAA with such close affiliation with the armed forces who are located around the world, would have a better option (ie. Chip and PIN not Chip and Signature) but they don't, not now anyway.

xyz123

BTW Dublin...if it's any consolation, they are in violation of mc/visa regs and you can get a copy of them and demand to see the manager and show them these regs. At the point the signature required message is flashed, the transaction has already been approved so what the fxxx are they worried about? Your experience with this is hardly universal; unfortunately it happens once in a while.

But none of this should have been a surprise to you if you've read some of my comments regarding USAA and what it pulled with its pin preferred cards. Also, as I've said, if you want a true chip and pin card from a US financial institution, the only 2 available today are UNFCU and First Tech FCU both of which require you to join some associate organization to join and qualify for a card. But the good news is First Tech FCU does not have a foreign transaction fee which will make anything you buy with it 1% cheaper than with USAA who still has the obnoxious and what should be illegal 1% foreign transaction fee.

Dublin1

I don't think I qualify for First Tech unfortunately. I am employed by a company on their list but they specify a location I am not associated with. I'll contact them to see. As for UNFCU, I don't qualify. I'm only meant to be here another few months so I'll manage (although there's talk of another 6 months)....If I get extended, you can bet I'll be looking into additional options.

xyz123

UNFCU allows you to join by joining an organization devoted to upholding US participation in the UN.

First Tech allowed me to join even though I don't live in the geographical area they service...I had to join some organization. I have both cards which are backup cards in case I run into a problem like you did with merchants refusing to follow their merchant agreements and not finishing chip and signature transactions. Both cards indeed function as "true" chip and pin cards and do always ask for a pin although as I said UNFCU has the obnoxious 1% ftf while First Tech does not.

McLisa

"janisj"... I do indeed have a chip & PIN card. I know what I procured and what I travelled with. No need for snarkiness.



janisj on Jul 31, 15 at 2:08pm
McLisa: >>Interestingly, I was never asked for my pin #.<<

Because it isn't a chip+PIN card. It is chip+signature.

janisj

What was snarky?