Originally Posted by
jamar
As far as I'm concerned, if we want to talk about "true" Chip+PIN there are only four variations:
1. Offline Chip+PIN where C+P is priority 1 on CVM list
2. Offline Chip+PIN where some other CVM takes 1st place
3. Online Chip+PIN where C+P is priority 1 on CVM list
4. Online Chip+PIN where some other CVM takes 1st place
It seems that the very few mainstream issuers in the US that issue C+P cards are issuing Ver.2 whereas what most people seem to want is Ver.1, even though there are other countries that are doing Ver.3. Thus far it seems only Citi AA MasterCards and a couple others are Ver.4.
By "very few", you mean one at this point, though it's arguable whether UNFCU is "mainstream". At present, I have one #4 card and one #2 card, as well as a corporate charge card that is both online and offline PIN (with offline as priority #1 IIRC). The rest are either magstripe only (Discover, Chase Freedom, debit cards) or have no PIN ability at all (CSP and Amex).
Originally Posted by
jamar
Yep, it is. I've used mine overseas for quite a while now. When VR was still a thing I would use this as a method to earn miles on overseas spend on cards that would otherwise incur a FTF. CC->VR->Bluebird, the VR purchase fee generally being more than worth the AA or US miles.
Nice. I was at Walmart last night and almost spent the $5 to get the card then and there, but I might just get one online. I also have a Google Wallet card, but I'm not sure if that's FTF free or not (and may be easier to recharge/use if one has a local country SIM in their phone since it's a MasterCard debit card).
Originally Posted by
JEFFJAGUAR
I wouldn't call the results of that poll overwhelming as the vast majority of people polled don't seem to care one way or the other.
One can also spin it as "the vast majority of Americans want chip and PIN", since not caring either way could be argued in the court of public opinion as wanting either.
Originally Posted by
JEFFJAGUAR
And in saying what I am about to say, I am simply the messenger. The bean counters have obviously spoken and won the day. As far as visa and mc are concerned (others will not buck the trend), chip and signature is cheaper than chip and pin to implement and confers almost as much protection on card is present transactions as chip and pin (they will readily admit chip and pin is somewhat more secure but only marginally so and the difference is not worth the amount of infrastrcture needed to implement chip and pin). And after all, they will argue, there is no big problem overseas because merchants are required to accept all valid cards. (We know this is not a universal truth but trying to rebut the argument is like spitting in the wind blowing in your face). They will admit unpersonneled kiosks might be a problem but tell you they are working with regulatory agencies in various countries to resolve this problem but that the cards (chip and signature) will work 99.7% of the time and that nothing is 100%. Domestic merchants don't care; they're not liable anyway. Most consumers don't care (add together in that poll the number of chip and signature with the number of I don't care) as they have no intention of going overseas. Add it all up. Scream about it, yell about it, write letters all we want (yes I want offline chip and pin) and you know what. It isn't going to change any of the beans counters and hence the banks' minds.
No one said the poll was going to change anyone's minds at the banking institutions. Just thought that it was interesting data.