Chip + Pin Credit Card
 

I was pretty annoyed to find out that my arrival+ Barcleys Master Card is not Chip+Pin compatible. In particular, it still forces a signature. As you know - this can be awkward and inconvenient in places like gas stations in France or Germany.

Can anyone recommend a US credit card that is truly compatible with the European Chip + Pin functionality?

Rant - I can't believe how slow American credit card companies have been on adopting this tech.

Thanks,

I have had this card for several years now and it works great. It is a true Chip and PIN, although if there is a human involved in the transaction, it may still ask for a signature. The important fact is, however, that in unmanned situations - tolls, ticket kiosks, gas stations, it does function seamlessly as a Chip and PIN.

You do NOT need to be military. The step on joining their credit union are spelled out.

https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_ca...k_rewards.html

https://www.andrewsfcu.org/credit_ca...resources.html

https://www.andrewsfcu.org/join_andrews_federal.html

You can search chip and pin on this website in the box on the upper right. There are endless threads about this very question. Just pick the most recent info

The search function is pretty well useless as it doesn't have the ability to search for things posted since early last year

<<Rant - I can't believe how slow American credit card companies have been on adopting this tech.>>

American credit card companies have had no need to "adopt this tech" because the US does not and did not have the unending theft of straight-off-the-magnetic-strip card identity theft that led to the development of the chip-and-pin.

Moreover, US consumers have limited to no liability for loss by theft of credit card information ($50 maximum under federal law, many issuers eat the $50), a protection that was NOT available for European consumers.

Complaining that US card issuers have not utilized technology necessitated by and created due to rampant theft outside the US is just baseless.

Huh; I could have sworn when I got Barclays Arrival Plus card this past summer that it was chip and pin capable. Did I misunderstand something?

http://thepointsguy.com/2014/05/new-...in-capability/

History: Target stores rolled out chip and pin in 2004 in the US, but the cards were unpopular (slow at checkout) so withdrawn.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014...32990728181278

that card is Chip and Signature:
"Chip and signature cards with PIN capability- whenever you activate your card you can set a PIN so you can use it abroad where PIN-only transactions are accepted"

"While the added redemption options and longer redemption period are welcome, the greatest boost here is the step up to a chip and signature card (with PIN capability), which strengthens security and improves the likelihood of acceptance when traveling abroad. Many self-service kiosks and automated ticket machines in Europe and elsewhere will not process the swipe and signature cards prevalent in the US, so you’ll be glad to have the chip when you’re out of cash trying to board the Paris Metro and there’s a 20 minute line for the human teller. Since it also has signature technology, it can still be used in the US with ease since most merchants are not equipped to handle strictly Chip + PIN cards."

That last line seems incorrect since Chip and PIN only cards [at least my Andrews card does] also has a magnetic swipe strip on it. Not sure about European bank issued ones.

Another vote for the Andrews FCU chip and pin Visa card, also no foreign transaction fees. You can also get a debit card (or just an ATM card) and get no-fee withdrawals at ATMs in Europe.

To join the credit union, the easiest way is to pay $5 to join the American Consumer Council for a year. (I don't think you need a lifetime membership; it's not like the credit union will revoke your account if they find out your ACC membership lapsed.)

indyhiker -

They may say that - but it is not true. My visit to Germany last Oct - I was forced to sign for all transactions. I called customer service over the weekend - they told me that the card will always force a signature.

BigRuss -

Are you really defending the security of the US credit card network? Really? The US POS system - here POS stands for point of sales and piece of sh*t - is an antiquated joke. Heard of Target? And there is plenty of skimming that goes on in the US - the credit card companies just keep in quite.

rholt, out of curiosity, did you try to use the card at an automated kiosk of some sort, e.g., to buy tickets at a train station?

<i>I was forced to sign for all transactions. I called customer service over the weekend - they told me that the card will always force a signature.</i>

I suspect that if the gas station or ticket dispensing machine had no attendant, the card would have switched over to the chip.

No - I did not. I think that may be the issue.

There is in fact a thread from this summer that has good info on this. I guess the way this arrival card works is that it really wants a signature - but if signature is absolutely not an option - you will be given the option to use a pin.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...redit-card.cfm

Still a huge pain. I was in many situations (e.g. Tesco) where I created a disruption for the merchant and the other customers because they had to go through this special process to get my signature. Everyone else was using a pin.

<i>Still a huge pain. </i>

A mountain out of molehill.

Thanks for clarifying, rholt. I guess I'll just see how it pans out when we are in Italy in May. In past trips, I had only a regular credit card and don't remember a situation where I disrupted anything by using it. I can, however, remember not being able to use an automated kiosk to buy an RER ticket in Paris--and that's the scenario I mosted wanted a solution for. It is my understanding that to use an Arrival Plus card at an automated kiosk, you have to first use it as a chip and signature card.

The bigger issue should be "foreign transaction fees". Amex Platinum and Barclay's Rewards, and now it's US Airways/American Airlines Plantium cards, charge no foreign transaction fees, which is a major savings. I haven't checked others, but there are a few.

Some inconviences I can live with.

Many US banks are finally, slowly adopting this technology but are only providing the pin/chip cards to customers who request them. Have you called to ask for one? I thought I saw online that the Barclays arrival MC had the technology for customers who request it.

Big Russ...the only time I had my credit card number hijacked was in Ohio, however I do agree that my (Canadian Bank) ate the fraudulent charges.
Indyhiker...my well established chip and pin was not accepted at automated toll booths in France, which was a nuisance, but it worked for the RER. I can't really account for the toll booth problem, but I have seen others on here say the same thing.
I really don't find that entering my 4 digit PIN takes as much time as when I shop in an American owned chain, such as Lowe's, and I have to sign.

Barclays Arrival is Chip and Signature - see my post above with quote from Barclays page.

The issue with French toll booths is that they are not all owned/operated by the same company and therefore there may be some places a Chip and PIN card will work and others won't. I had issue the first year I used my Andrews card along those lines [2012] but on our trip from October to December, the same booths that didn't take the card now happily accepted it.

I have the Barclays Arrival Plus MasterCard.

I had to set up the PIN first on the website. Then you do a chipped transaction where you'll have to sign. Then the PIN is suppose to be active.

However, when I went to France last September, I had to sign every time there was an attended transaction, like at restaurants and shops.

But there were two instances where my other chip and signature cards would not work but this one did, with the PIN:

1. Unattended gas station near Avignon, charge of around 50 Euro

2. Kiosk for the Rhone Express train in Lyon to the airport.

However, I've stopped using the card in favor of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and BofA Cash Rewards, which are both chip and sign cards, because these offer rewards.

I'm not sure if I'll keep it after the first year when the annual fee is due.

I'm hoping Apple Pay takes off so I don't have to deal with this chip and signature vs. chip and PIN vs. magnetic stripe bullshit.