Chip and Pin credit cards
I have searched for awhile for a true chip and pin card. There was a recent post on the topic and it was pointed out the Andrews Federal Credit Union issues them. On the surface, there is an easy way to membership eligibility. However, I have to share my experience which was less than satisfactory. They are difficult to reach. They do not get back with questions that they might have. In sum, they are the least professional financial institution with which I have had the misfortune to deal. I have decided to wait for other institutions to offer the product.
david
washington 11/15/12
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The issue of needing a chip & pin credit card has been very overblown in the media. The average American tourist does not need one there and will get along just fine without it. I'm all for giving information, but as you note, it can be a real hassle to obtain one compared to the benefit it provides.
Who would benefit from a chip & pin card? Those traveling long term or more frequently (say for business), students on exchange, those living in Europe and those that are planning extensive driving road trips.
I suspect that with all of the talk about the Andrews card, they have been overrun with requests and inquiries. Credit unions aren't like big, nationwide banks with fancy phone apps and online banking. The small credit union I deal with here is maybe a little behind the times in some ways, but their lack of fees for foreign transactions, and the service I get there makes up for that. But Douglas is right. There is little need right now for a chip and PIN card except in specific circumstances. Perhaps by the time it really is a critical issue there will be more issuers here.
Both Visa and Mastercard have published a "roadmap" for transitioning U.S. cards and infrastructure to the EMV chip, so you will likely see more options as time progresses.
corporate.visa.com/newsroom/press-releases/press1142.jsp
www.mastercard.us/mchip-emv.html
On my last trip, I did have a Andrews Chip/Pin Visa, and the few times I needed it, I REALLY needed it: getting gas at an automated station after hours, getting my car out of a gated parking lot after the attendant had gone, buying subway tickets at a machine, etc.
It did take a bit of work to engage Andrews, but as a previous poster said, they are a small company with their own processes. Their business plan seems to be to provide banking services to government and military people who could be sent just about anywhere. We tourists are an afterthought for them.
I normally use my Schwab Debit card for no-fee-anywhere ATM withdrawals, and my Capital One MC or AMEX for the rare credit card purchases, but sometimes cash won't do, or sometimes you're short of the correct bills or coins, and sometimes all the US cards in your pocket just won't work. It's good to have options.
I look forward to the US catching up with the rest of the world. But we're stubborn, aren't we? We still measure distance based on the length of some old King's shoe. We still measure area by the amount of land a yoke of oxen could plough in one day. And don't get me started on 'horsepower'.
Yes, they've been swamped, but we got one last year. I just had to call a few times and transmit documents.
I too tried to negotiate an application. They were completely nonresponsive. When I finally did get a hold of them to get the status of my application they said they needed payroll stubs and without ever contacting me let the application expire. I have an 800 credit score so I'm not sure what they need payroll stubs but they apparently have a policy against leaving a message on an answering machine so they let just let it go. I think I would rather do business with a more professional organization. Are there any other options?
Jeff, precisely my experience. All, fine, make excuses for an overrun/poorly managed institution. However, if one has such issues becoming a client, just think how things will go with any future problems. Another issue, they will not permit an account to be closed within 60 days without a $25 penalty.
Are there any other options?
Yes - the Travelex Cash Passport is one. It's a pre-paid card but has a chip & pin and can reportedly be used in automated machines. BUT it comes with a high cost. There exchange rate is about 10% higher than the interbank rate. Most credit card and ATM fees range from 1-4%. So if you absolutely need one, this should work in those intstances, but only use it as needed.
But let me be clear on this again, the average tourist does not need a chip & pin card for Europe. Please see my post above for the exceptions.
Supposedly Diner's Club is now issuing a true chip and pin card.
Traveled to France for 10 days in late Sept/early Oct, and prior to that - in early August, put in for a chip and pin with Andrews. They were nothing but nice the entire process....and that's what they require. For all these people who are complaining....you are applying for a card from them, but more than likely, otherwise, would never have become a customer. Have a little patience, do the steps that they require, and you will have your card in 4 - 6 weeks. Again everyone, cut them some slack....they probably DO NOT have the staff to accommodate the people on these websites who are now looking to IMMEDIATELY get the card from them.
So, is there a comprehensive list where a pin and chip card is required?
So, is there a comprehensive list where a pin and chip card is required?
Bruce,
There can't be a comprehensive list because more and more places are refusing to accept non chip and pin cards around Europe, but it is spotty.
By definition, if anyone were to attempt such a list, it would be out of date before it had been published.
It certainly is not everywhere, and not in all circumstances, but the march of the chip and pin only card transaction is inexorable.
..."the march of the chip and pin only card transaction is inexorable."
I prefer to stroll.
A chip and PIN is virtually a necessity in certain situations in Europe. Getting gas can be a real chore requiring a lot of planning w/o it; with it, you don't have to worry about it. Yes, Andrews is a little backward, but if you can't spend the time necessary to deal with it, you don't have the patience to travel. I got frustrated with them at times, but now I have the card and it's good until 2015, and by then every bank will have one, or whatever takes its place.
"A chip and PIN is virtually a necessity in certain situations in Europe. Getting gas can be a real chore requiring a lot of planning w/o it."
Not necessarily in all of Europe. This applies only to countries where unmanned, pay-at-the-pump stations are common. They don't exist at all in Germany, I have not encountered any in Austria, Switzerland, or the Netherlands, and they are rare in Belgium. The only country where I commonly read reports where this causes anything greater than an inconvenience is France.
A more general benefit of chip-and-pin is its stronger defence against identity theft. Published statistics indicate a significant drop in credit card fraud where the chip-and-pin system operates. In the long term, this credit card format pays for itself in the security savings to financial institutions and (one would hope) to the consumer.
"...Published statistics indicate a significant drop in credit card fraud where the chip-and-pin system operates..."
For now. Counterfeit chip&pin cards are already being manufactured by criminal groups, and the pin encryption on the chips has been cracked by hackers. Nothing is full-proof;)
What Tom said. Unless you're planning a driving vacation through France, ask yourself if it's really worth it. Furthermore, is it really worth your time and money to deal with crappy service? Blind loyalty is worth more than principle? Jesus people.
One addition to what Tom said. Italy is another country where unmanned service stations are very common, especially on weekends and during the traditional afternoon break (1 - 4 p.m.). We first ran into problems with them a number of years ago, when the chip card was first being introduced and we hadn't heard of it. We nearly ran out of gas a couple of times, when our cc's wouldn't work in the unmanned stations. If you know you need an attended station, you just plan for it. Also, most autostrada stations can take unchipped cards. We were in Italy for three weeks in May and had no problems using our cc's or in keeping our car gassed up. I agree with those who advise that you not get overstressed about this.
Agree with those who say you don't need a chip & pin card in many places in Europe. And the places where it can be inconvienent to not have one, well, you can plan around it by carrying cash for tolls and transit tickets, and getting gas during regular working hours.
Unless someone was doing extensive driving trips in Italy/France once a year or more, I don't really think it's worth the hassle for most travelers right now to get one.
For me personally, the only situation where I was really grateful to have one was when making a large purchase at IKEA.
I also have not been successful with Andrews FCU. There are long wait times on the phone. There are a lot of hurdles even to apply and the staff has not been overly helpful in problem solving. I easily applied for the Bank of America Travel card, which advertises as a chip and pin technology but have just read on another site that a traveler returning from a month in France found it to really be a chip and signature card. Does anyone have recent experience with an easy to obtain, U.S. chip and pin card?
@Jennifer,
"I also have not been successful with Andrews FCU. There are long wait times on the phone."
It's possible that they may be overwhelmed with requests for "Chip & PIN" cards, as they're one of a small number of financial institutions able to provide them at the moment.
Someone provided a list on the HelpLine recently, showing all the U.S. EMV card issuers at the present time. I'd have to search to find it, but that may be of some help in your search.
Good luck!
Jennifer, for what purpose do you need the chip and PIN card? It has been noted above that the Travelex Cash Passport has chip and PIN technology. It is a prepaid card with a 10% "fee" over the interbank exchange rate. So it doesn't come cheap, but for a few uses when only chip and PIN will work, it's a quick and easy option. And you aren't applying for new credit cards all the time...
We actually got our cards through Hyatt and British Airways-both Visas-might be something to consider. There was no hassle-very easy.
We have a chip & pin card from British Air via Chase Bank. Simple to obtain, extremely useful to have on our last driving trip in France (April, 2012). Yes, there is an annual fee of $95, but for me that's peace of mind knowing I won't have an issue with unmanned toll booths or gas stations. Yes, we did encounter both of those issues on our trip. It was a true chip & pin, no signature required in France. Here in the US, we still must sign when using the card. Chase offers many credit cards--just look for the British Air card.
Deborah
Visa. Last week I called Visa & they changed my existing card to a pin card, no problem. Received in 3 days. The name on the front of the card is a little different, called Bank Anericard Travel Rewards Visa signature card. Definitely a must to have is driving & fueling.
As has been noted before, the Bank Americard Travel Rewards Visa is a chip and signature card, not chip and pin. I was told by a representative there that it will NOT work in true chip and pin applications, like unmanned gas stations and ticket machines. You might want to check before trusting that you are covered in those areas.
This article Chip and Pin vs Chip and Signature does a good job of explaining the difference between the two types of cards.
I can say that I was able to use the Chase British Airways chip and signature card at the RER machine in Gare du Nord. We needed two tickets to the airport and it was later on a Sunday night and the machine only accepted coins and credit cards. We were 1.4 euros short in change and our other cards didn't work. I'm not sure what we would have done w/o the card since I didn't see any workers around nor any change machines (at least working ones).
I did have trouble using it at the Roissy ticket machine at the airport but I'm guessing that might have been due to jet lag and not reading the directions (not sure but it could have easily been my fault).
Chase also has the Hyatt card which is also chip/signature with no foreign fees. Not to mention it comes with 2 free nights in any Hyatt such as the Park Hyatt in Paris. Having just stayed there on points it would be something to remember.
(I'm sure there are other cards as well and no, I don't work for Chase or any banking job.)
My BofA Travel Rewards chip card came w/out a PIN, but I called and they sent me a PIN in the mail. I have yet to use it at a petrol station.
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