American Express Membership Rewards - American Express USA to begin issuing EMV "chipped" cards in late 2012

http://about.americanexpress.com/news/pr/2012/emv_roadmap.aspx

The articles does not specify if the USA-issued cards will be Chip & PIN or Chip & Signature, but most USA VISA and MasterCard issuers have chosen Chip & Signature because PIN adds little value in an online verification system and because the USA ATM network does not support PIN changes.

Please discuss in this thread until American Express announces more specifics:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs/1223331-usa-issuers-announce-emv-cards-chip-pin-chip-signature.html

I called Amex and worked my way up the ladder of CSR's,to be told that USA issued Platinum and Centurion card holders would be able to request chip-and-PIN cards as of November 21, 2012. The CSR will inquire if European travel is planned.
When asked if this is Chip and Pin rather than Chip and Sig, the CSR said her notes stated it will be Chip and Pin.
Let's see if this really comes to pass.

I called Amex and worked my way up the ladder of CSR's,to be told that USA issued Platinum and Centurion card holders would be able to request chip-and-PIN cards as of November 21, 2012. The CSR will inquire if European travel is planned.
When asked if this is Chip and Pin rather than Chip and Sig, the CSR said her notes stated it will be Chip and Pin.
Let's see if this really comes to pass.

Sweet. Been a long time coming. Sick of not being able to use automatic underground kiosks on London...

Take it with a grain of salt. My Canadian Platinum card with Chip & PIN still only works in a Chip reader about 10% of the time (it always asks to swipe instead), and we've had Chip & PIN in Canada for quite a while now.

Take it with a grain of salt. My Canadian Platinum card with Chip & PIN still only works in a Chip reader about 10% of the time (it always asks to swipe instead), and we've had Chip & PIN in Canada for quite a while now.

Sounds more like a dodgie chip, I once had a visa that was faulty and needed replacing because of the exact same thing.

If the roll out for USA Amex chip and pin is the same as the UK, I imagine all the Charge Cards will get and then it'll be ages before anything else gets one.

Sounds more like a dodgie chip, I once had a visa that was faulty and needed replacing because of the exact same thing.No, it's a common problem that I've heard about with the Canadian SPG Amex - I think Amex Canada's implementation has some bugs.

No, it's a common problem that I've heard about with the Canadian SPG Amex - I think Amex Canada's implementation has some bugs.

Oh right, sounds like Amex's implementation of contactless in the UK. It never works, you just get "Contactless transaction unsuccessful". The only place it does work is McDonalds.

Row2's report and replies thereto have been moved into a more recent thread.

Problems with the Canadian Chip & PIN rollout are discussed here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1247267-amex-chip-pin-canada-but-i-have-swipe-everywhere.html

Sweet. Been a long time coming. Sick of not being able to use automatic underground kiosks on London...

So true. I welcome the upgrade!

I called Amex and worked my way up the ladder of CSR's,to be told that USA issued Platinum and Centurion card holders would be able to request chip-and-PIN cards as of November 21, 2012. The CSR will inquire if European travel is planned.
When asked if this is Chip and Pin rather than Chip and Sig, the CSR said her notes stated it will be Chip and Pin.
Let's see if this really comes to pass.

I wonder if the Mercedes-Benz Platinum card will be included, or if it'll just be the standard platinum card. And if it turns out to be Chip & PIN, that'll be huge.

I hope it really is chip & pin and not chip&signature. Crossing my fingers

I would make sense that American Express would choose Chip and Pin. In Europe the banks chose chip and pin, not Visa or MasterCard, American Express did have a choice though as its separate from the other card networks and they still went chip and pin.

I really do not care chip & pin or chip & signature. My Chase BA visa worked just fine in all the machines in France, Germany, Switzerland. I am just happy to get the chip.

My AMEX ( German) Gold card already has a chip. Sometimes when I buy something I have to enter the pin and other times not. Don't understand that however, I think the pin and chip is a good idea.

Yep - I can confirm that my October-issued Amex Gold had a chip, but the chip doesn't work in many places. So far, I've only got it to work at the McDonald's by where I work (they have upgraded CHIP machines)...everywhere else, swipe and sign. And sometimes, I've had the 'looping' problem, and I need to use a different card ('looping' - where it asks to insert chip card, then asks to swipe, then asks to insert chip card, then swipe - and so on. Never actually authorizes...), but that isn't even store-dependent...it seems to be card-reader dependent...

I called Amex and worked my way up the ladder of CSR's,to be told that USA issued Platinum and Centurion card holders would be able to request chip-and-PIN cards as of November 21, 2012.

This is great news! I have a chip+signature card from CitiBank ... most Japanese merchants couldn't understand why their terminals wasn't accepting PIN pad input with my card. The chip+PIN will be extremely handy for my international trips later this year.

Just a reminder to everyone - today you can order your Chip + Signature Platinum card. They are not offering Chip + PIN.

When I spoke to the Platinum CSR today, she said that they have been accepting PIN+SIG Platinum requests since November 15th. If you ask, they will overnight the new cards. :)

Sorry ... CHIP + SIG

Does this include the Mercedes-Benz version of the Platinum card, or just the plain vanilla Platinum?

When I spoke to the Platinum CSR today, she said that they have been accepting PIN+SIG Platinum requests since November 15th. If you ask, they will overnight the new cards. :)

Were you able to request one for yourself?

The CSR says my new Chip+Sig card(s) will go out UPS next day. She did have to look up the process in her notes. I didn't ask if other type of Plat cards are eligible

What's the benefit of chip and signature?

The key time you need a chip and pin is at a kiosk that only takes cards with chips, but chip and signature isn't going to help there, is it? There's nothing to sign.

A good example is train tickets in many European cities. A lot of the machines only accept cards with chips now, but do not require pin or signature. I'm not sure if there's an upper limit to how expensive your ticket can be before a pin or signature is required.
-Karl

What's the benefit of chip and signature?

The key time you need a chip and pin is at a kiosk that only takes cards with chips, but chip and signature isn't going to help there, is it? There's nothing to sign.

Agreed. I used a Chip+Signature card from CitiBank in Japan this summer. Most merchants had no idea why I couldn't enter a PIN or why their system was printing out a receipt for signature. I just don't get why Amex can't issue a Chip+PIN card for those in the US.

The CSR I just spoke to specifically said "chip and pin"

Just ordred mine. Asked for chip & pin and she made a point to say to was chip & sig.

Just ordred mine. Asked for chip & pin and she made a point to say to was chip & sig.

Look at me already complaining LOL... I'm thrilled it's at LEAST chip + sig. One step forward for the US. It will come in handy on my upcoming trip to London.

Look at me already complaining LOL... I'm thrilled it's at LEAST chip + sig. One step forward for the US. It will come in handy on my upcoming trip to London.

lol, I was a little disappointed too but told "well at least half way there." Very happy it has a chip.

That's great news! Thanks for the update. Placed an order for mine and my wife's. Will get it monday evening next week.

Awesome! I wonder will they charge the material of the card to make it more like the centurion?

Hell, the chase sapphire preferred even comes in a metal material...it just feels cooler. With a $450 fee, it only seems fitting...:p

Awesome! I wonder will they charge the material of the card to make it more like the centurion?

Hell, the chase sapphire preferred even comes in a metal material...it just feels cooler. With a $450 fee, it only seems fitting...:p

I don't know about that, but I have a feeling AMEX has some new perks for the Platinum under their sleeve. They are slowly but surely phasing perks out like the 20% MR points back bonus and it seems many other features aren't being utilized.

The CSR I just spoke to specifically said "chip and pin"

Mine said the same thing. Even when asked if it was a chip and signature or a chip and PIN.

It'll probably be a chip and signature. We'll see on Monday. ;)

Mine said the same thing. Even when asked if it was a chip and signature or a chip and PIN.

It'll probably be a chip and signature. We'll see on Monday. ;)

Amex are not huge fans of Chip and Signature. Even in countries that use Chip and Signature, like South Africa, they still issue chip and pin ones, so that it works outside of SA in chip and pin countries.

What's the benefit of chip and signature?


Chip & PIN vs Chip & Signature is extensively discussed in these threads (and several others in the Credit Card Programs forum:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs/1223331-usa-issuers-announce-emv-cards-chip-pin-chip-signature.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/credit-card-programs/1304271-usa-emv-cards-available-today-chip-pin-chip-signature.html

Agreed. I used a Chip+Signature card from CitiBank in Japan this summer. Most merchants had no idea why I couldn't enter a PIN or why their system was printing out a receipt for signature. I just don't get why Amex can't issue a Chip+PIN card for those in the US.

My theory is why financial institutions in the U.S. are reluctant to go chip and PIN, and just chip and signature at this time, is the U.S. consumer is a stubborn bunch to educate. Since chip and pin terminals are basically non-existent in the U.S., there is no reason for a consumer to remember a pin. They'll then go overseas, or just cross the border into Canada, and on their first transaction find the merchant cannot complete the transaction without a pin. Without the pin the purchase cannot be made. Plain and simple. They may be put in a bind if they need to pay a large restaurant bill with no way of doing it.

So until chip readers become more common in the U.S. and banks can ease our slow learning population about the pin (maybe a few years down the road), don't expect a pin. Nothing new. The U.S. could never catch on with the metric system, so we're the only ones around stuck with pounds and feet.

My theory is why financial institutions in the U.S. are reluctant to go chip and PIN,

If you read the Credit Card Programs threads you will see that the US issuers have been guided by VISA which regards PIN as an obsolete verification method. This doesn't help those of us who travel to countries where it has been adopted, but it gives some insight into the decision making process. (The USA is certainly not the only Chip & Signature market.)

Further to your point, Chip & PIN cards of the type which work in most unattended POS machines store the PIN in the chip. (This differs from the USA debit card system where the PIN is stored on the network.) In countries where Chip & PIN has been adopted the ATM's have also been fitted with chip writers and cardholders use them to change PIN's. In the USA there is no way to change the PIN, except to request a replacement card from the issuer.

In any event, please discuss this topic in the Credit Card Programs threads, there is no point to repeating the discussion here.

Good luck with the chip and pin cards and hope you don't have the trouble we're experiencing in Canada:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-express-membership-rewards/1247267-amex-chip-pin-canada-but-i-have-swipe-everywhere.html

I requested mine on Wednesday morning and the agent told me it would be sent via UPS but wouldn't arrive until Monday due to the holiday, which is fine. This morning I received an email alert on the card replacement which states it was sent via US Postal Service. Is this typical and did anyone else receive this message?

I sent a message asking about this, and they replied

"I wish to inform you that, United States of America remains in the early stages of EMV chip adoption. So, when your Card is eligible for the EMV chip Card, we will inform you by sending the offer by mail/e-mail."

I have the platinum.

I requested mine on Wednesday morning and the agent told me it would be sent via UPS but wouldn't arrive until Monday due to the holiday, which is fine. This morning I received an email alert on the card replacement which states it was sent via US Postal Service. Is this typical and did anyone else receive this message?

You can sign onto your account online and check the status. They told me it would ship via UPS... it shows online USPS 5-7 days. Ugh... I guess I'll call and see what's up.

I requested mine on Wednesday, too. The rep told me chip+pin, but another agent said it is chip+signature. They told me I would get it Monday.
Well, UPS dropped it off this morning. It is definitely chip+signature card. The letter states:

"We are pleased to provide you with your new Platinum Card with chip & signature technology." The letter gives more details about the chip+sig card. The letter references a link: "To learn more, please visit americanexpress.com/chipandsignature"

I requested mine on Wednesday, too. The rep told me chip+pin, but another agent said it is chip+signature. They told me I would get it Monday.
Well, UPS dropped it off this morning. It is definitely chip+signature card. The letter states:

"We are pleased to provide you with your new Platinum Card with chip & signature technology." The letter gives more details about the chip+sig card. The letter references a link: "To learn more, please visit americanexpress.com/chipandsignature"

Same exact situation over here. Was told Monday, got the card today, and yes, chip + signature (the rep I spoke to on Wednesday said it would be chip + signature, so I wasn't expecting otherwise). Also, to answer alrvd83's earlier post, the material of the card is the same (I'm with you on thinking the material should change).

Same exact situation over here. Was told Monday, got the card today, and yes, chip + signature (the rep I spoke to on Wednesday said it would be chip + signature, so I wasn't expecting otherwise). Also, to answer alrvd83's earlier post, the material of the card is the same (I'm with you on thinking the material should change).

Thanks for the update regarding the material. I guess Amex is cheap? who knows..lol

I have to use my corporate Amex, provided by my company Siemens, every time I travel and even in the US i find places that won't accept Amex. When I go overseas, I have even more trouble.

Even with chip + signature, I keep reading that it still wont work if the merchant requires chip + pin.

So amex in itself being not accepted everywhere + with the chip + pin issue overseas...its like a double negative against you when you use amex :(

I have my marriott premier visa as a backup..which is chip + sig, but at least visa is taken pretty much everywhere.

I called to request a card with an EMV chip today. I will post a picture when I receive it if someone else hasn't already. I checked online, and the request reason states "MAG TO CHIP AND SIGNATURE".

This will mean that the only non-EMV card in my possession will be my TrueEarnings Card. However, I only use the card as my Costco membership card, so having an EMV chipped version is of little value at this point.

Just called and requested mine, CSR mentioned "Chip and PIN"....UPS 11/26 delivery.

Wirelessly posted (beckoa's PWP wondrousdevice3.0: Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9810; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.11+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/7.1.0.694 Mobile Safari/534.11+)

I called to request a card with an EMV chip today. I will post a picture when I receive it if someone else hasn't already. I checked online, and the request reason states "MAG TO CHIP AND SIGNATURE".

This will mean that the only non-EMV card in my possession will be my TrueEarnings Card. However, I only use the card as my Costco membership card, so having an EMV chipped version is of little value at this point.

Interesting you mentioned the True Earnings Card- was just talking about this a few days ago to an AMEX representative and how it would be nice to have Chip & Pin on the card. Also saw a Korean Samsung AMEX version today- looked pretty cool.

Interesting you mentioned the True Earnings Card- was just talking about this a few days ago to an AMEX representative and how it would be nice to have Chip & Pin on the card.

The reason I said it would be of little value at this point is because there is no value to using this card overseas. The 3% cash back for gas and 2% cash back for restaurants is for domestic purchases only. Furthermore, the card has a foreign transaction fee of 2.7%, which places you worse off than using the Platinum card without the fee. Since US merchants still do swipe and sign, there is no need at this point to have an EMV version of the TrueEarnings Card.

Interesting about the reason moving from mag to chip. My status said it's worn and tipping. I will call Amex and make sure.

Just called this morning and the CSR was so polite! Literally took 3-5 mins for the request. She rushed delivered it and will show up on the 28th via UPS. She did mention that because I requested my AMEX Plat to be chip and signature, in the future I would NOT be able to convert back to the former(magnetic strip).

**Currently available to only Plat and Cent members, but everyone will get one in 2013**

Just called this morning and the CSR was so polite! Literally took 3-5 mins for the request. She rushed delivered it and will show up on the 28th via UPS. She did mention that because I requested my AMEX Plat to be chip and signature, in the future I would NOT be able to convert back to the former(magnetic strip).

**Currently available to only Plat and Cent members, but everyone will get one in 2013**

"Everyone" as in which cards I wonder will get the EMV feature?

"Everyone" as in which cards I wonder will get the EMV feature?

I believe AMEX plans on converting certain cards(or all) regardless if you request it or not. That's the impression I got from the convo I had with the CSR.

So we're all getting new EMV Platinums next year, regardless of when our current ones expire?

So we're all getting new EMV Platinums next year, regardless of when our current ones expire?

Where did you get such info?

Just called and requested my plat, took about 2 min. New card will be overnighted monday and ill have it tuesday.

The documentation that comes with the card states that it is a replacement and gives no indication that it is an EMV card.

This lends credibility to the theory that Platinum cards issued from now on will be EMV.

http://i.imgur.com/SJby9l.jpg

New cards arrived today. Three seperate packages, what a waste of money.

Now if I can just get my Bank (USAA) to issue a Chip ATM cards. I keep asking and they keep telling me no. You would think with their large customer base in Europe and elsewhere, they would be issuing them.

New cards arrived today. Three seperate packages, what a waste of money.



3 separate packages? What other cards did you request to have changed to EMV? Are they all with AMEX? Supplemental cards?

My card came today,looks nice ...chip is silver color not gold, like in the video. The black frame in my emv card is darker than my new one month old plat.i Do wish it was made out of metal.

3 separate packages? What other cards did you request to have changed to EMV? Are they all with AMEX? Supplemental cards?

My Card and 2 supplementals, each card in its own UPS 2 day service package.

The documentation that comes with the card states that it is a replacement and gives no indication that it is an EMV card.

This lends credibility to the theory that Platinum cards issued from now on will be EMV.


WOW you guys get tiny chips. My Uk gold card has a big round chip but it is contactless as well, maybe thats why.

WOW you guys get tiny chips. My Uk gold card has a big round chip but it is contactless as well, maybe thats why.

The contactless chips are actually pretty minimal. My Amex blue has the contactless chip and since it's the see-through card, you can actually see the chip in there. Maybe 1/4 the size of the EMV.

WOW you guys get tiny chips. My Uk gold card has a big round chip but it is contactless as well, maybe thats why.

I believe it all depends on the card manufacturer. In the US, the Chase cards come with the large chips I've seen overseas, whereas Citi (and apparently now Amex) are using the smaller chip posted in the picture. BofA's chips are large as well, but are different than what Chase is using.

I didn't think about that. Looking at the back of my card, pretty much all the chips on my cards are made by the same company called Gamalto.

Received my new EMV card today, talk about fast shipping.

A few things I noticed:

-The EMV chip is more "silver" looking than gold
-Plat card is noticeably brighter and more glittery. More sparkle if that makes sense.
-Black border is darker.
-account number stayed the same, security code changed.

Ill be in Asia later this year and Europe in early Feb. We'll see how I fare this time around with AMEX overseas.

Received my new EMV card today, talk about fast shipping.

A few things I noticed:

-The EMV chip is more "silver" looking than gold
-Plat card is noticeably brighter and more glittery. More sparkle if that makes sense.
-Black border is darker.
-account number stayed the same, security code changed.

Ill be in Asia later this year and Europe in early Feb. We'll see how I fare this time around with AMEX overseas.
I notice the same thing, the card does look better .....the silver is a little darker to.

Got mine today, called up amex to clarify, it is chip & signature NOT chip & PIN. Which sucks a bit as id really hoped for chip+pin

The mailer clearly states this is chip and signature.

The mailer clearly states this is chip and signature.

I never got a mailer. Mearly saw on here that they were offering the Chips, called and requested. When i got the card for some reason the little letter with it had a URL to go to which for some reason re-directed to amex.com/australia/chipandpin which had a huge page all about using your pin. I didnt notice the AU re-direct and got really confused why it was talking about a PIN when on here people were saying sig

I never got a mailer. Mearly saw on here that they were offering the Chips, called and requested. When i got the card for some reason the little letter with it had a URL to go to which for some reason re-directed to amex.com/australia/chipandpin which had a huge page all about using your pin. I didnt notice the AU re-direct and got really confused why it was talking about a PIN when on here people were saying sig

Clearly they decided Americans can't remember a 4 digit pin :P

...decided Americans can't remember a 4 digit pin :P

If one has several cards which require PINs and which are only used intermittently, it can indeed be difficult to remember. Jetlag compounds the problem. At the beginning of each trip I must remind my spouse of the PIN associated with her UK-issued debit card and USA-issued Diners Club MasterCard.

If one has several cards which require PINs and which are only used intermittently, it can indeed be difficult to remember. Jetlag compounds the problem. At the beginning of each trip I must remind my spouse of the PIN associated with her UK-issued debit card and USA-issued Diners Club MasterCard.

Haha. Indeed, I recently worked in the US for about 6 months. On my return to the UK, I struggled to remember my PIN :P On the first transaction I completed forgot and how to force it onto fallback.

(Basically putting the card upside down a couple of times and it'll then me swipe it through)

Called Amex since my wallet was lost and then found my a local starbucks employee with all the money missing. Thought it would be better to get a new card in case they stole the card numbers too.

Amex overnighted me a new card. To my surprise this new Centurion Card is completely different then my previous one. The numbers look like they are stamped on and painted vs the previous one looks like it was just carved.

Also it has a chip on the left side, can someone explain what thats for? The letter I received from them says nothing about the chip. Thanks

Called Amex since my wallet was lost and then found my a local starbucks employee with all the money missing. Thought it would be better to get a new card in case they stole the card numbers too.

Amex overnighted me a new card. To my surprise this new Centurion Card is completely different then my previous one. The numbers look like they are stamped on and painted vs the previous one looks like it was just carved.

Also it has a chip on the left side, can someone explain what thats for? The letter I received from them says nothing about the chip. Thanks

It lets you use your card in card readers in countries that use chip and pin and chip and signature. (Basically means you won't need to swipe it through in countries like the UK). Amex is just chip and signature, so you'll still sign like normal. Just when your abroad in chip countries you'll dip it instead.

JohnzCA's question has been appended to the established thread on the topic of USA-issued American Express cards with EMV chips.

EMV chips are used in many countries, but not in the USA, to authenticate the card during an in-person transaction. Rather than "swiping" the card you insert it into a reader, leave it there, and follow the instructions displayed on a screen. This is a "contact" chip, it does not work with wireless payment methods.

In many countries the cardholder is authenticated by entering a PIN number. That system is called Chip & PIN.

In others the cardholder signs a transaction slip. That system is called Chip & Signature.

In common with most other USA issuers, American Express has elected to issue Chip & Signature cards. These will work perfectly in Chip & PIN countries when the payment is processed by a person, but may fail at unattended points of sale such as gasoline pumps or ticket machines which are hard coded to require a PIN. You can sometimes work around this by entering a dummy PIN such as 0000.

The card also has a magnetic stripe and can be swiped the same as before.

For additional discussion please review the preceding posts in this thread, and the extensive threads in the Credit Card Programs forum.

Thank you for the the clarification!

Hmm, I am confused and here's why: I got my Chip card on Monday and I called Amex after activating it, asking where/how do I select my PIN and the CSR put me on hold for a few minutes then came back and said that my PIN will be mailed out separately and should receive it in a week. So this is not a Chip and PIN card?

Hmm, I am confused and here's why: I got my Chip card on Monday and I called Amex after activating it, asking where/how do I select my PIN and the CSR put me on hold for a few minutes then came back and said that my PIN will be mailed out separately and should receive it in a week. So this is not a Chip and PIN card?

The PIN would be for cash advances. The card is a Chip & Signature card. mia's post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19760772-post74.html) outlines the differences. Some people have reported being able to use their cash advance PIN successfully in unmanned kiosks that use online PIN verification, and the transaction has posted as a normal purchase. You can read kebosabi's post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17837726-post3.html) on another thread for more details. The transaction will usually fail if the kiosk uses offline PIN verification since a Chip & Signature card does not store the PIN on the chip itself.

Got mine today after I called in a few days ago as the old Plat card wasn't reliably swiping. The CSR offered a chip & sig card, I accepted, and the flyer linked to the FAQ here:

http://chipandsignature.americanexpress.com/

Just called and requested my chip and sig card today. Looking forward to the ease of use. I'll try and remember to post some results after a few uses.

Assuming your chip and signature cards are the same as a disabled person's chip and signature card that is issued in the UK, on any automated machine it will fall back to PIN authentication and ask for the cash advance one (My grandmother has one).

You can read kebosabi's post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17837726-post3.html) on another thread for more details.

Great post. It answers the big question I had: what if the retailer is stuck on requiring a PIN? Apparently, this won't be a problem. Even if the retailer has an "EMV-only" policy (even if they're not supposed to - that's a separate issue), the machines are programmed to print out a signature slip if the the card is Chip & Signature without the operator having to do anything.

As a side note, does anyone know if on Chip & PIN cards, can the purchase PIN be different from the cash advance PIN? If not, then this opens an additional gaping hole in security that potentially far exceeds what is fixed with EMV.

Great post. It answers the big question I had: what if the retailer is stuck on requiring a PIN? Apparently, this won't be a problem. Even if the retailer has an "EMV-only" policy (even if they're not supposed to - that's a separate issue), the machines are programmed to print out a signature slip if the the card is Chip & Signature without the operator having to do anything.

As a side note, does anyone know if on Chip & PIN cards, can the purchase PIN be different from the cash advance PIN? If not, then this opens an additional gaping hole in security that potentially far exceeds what is fixed with EMV.

Chip and Pin cards have one PIN for both POS and ATM transactions.

I received my new EMV-enabled Platinum, but noticed the magnetic stripe no longer is a hologram with AmEx logos on it, but just a simple silver stripe. I thought the holographic Amex stripe was a security feature?

I received my new EMV-enabled Platinum, but noticed the magnetic stripe no longer is a hologram with AmEx logos on it, but just a simple silver stripe. I thought the holographic Amex stripe was a security feature?

Newer cards don't have it. It had a habit of being scratched up and damaged easily.

Newer cards don't have it. It had a habit of being scratched up and damaged easily.

+1. I got a new mag Platinum last Feb and it just had the silver stripe. I was surprised since my old Blue had the hologram, but it was completely beat up. Got a new Blue a couple months ago (just due to regular expiration), and it also had the silver stripe.

I don't have a Platinum right now; decided it was too expensive for what I need. But I did get a Chase British Airways chip & signature card last March, and I love it. It worked great in the UK. Plus there are no currency conversion charges either.

Most likely we'll all be using the chip & pin though, eventually. It's just a more secure card, harder for crooks to use without the pin.

Good to see AmEx crawling reluctantly towards the future here. I am really surprised that they continue to use signature and not the option of adding PIN.

Does anyone know when or if AmEx will add contactless (ie. PayWave) to their cards? I find this immensely useful and so frustrating that a card with a high annual fee won't offer it.

Does anyone know when or if AmEx will add contactless (ie. PayWave) to their cards?

They've had for several years on some cards. My SPG Amex has it.

Just wanted to add my findings to this post.

My brother is an additional Platinum cardholder on my account - AmEx experienced some type of glitch and let his current card expire without sending a new one. He called in and they overnighted him a new Platinum card - no EMV chip (card was received last Friday 12/1).

I read this thread and called AmEx on Saturday 12/2 to request the chip + signature card for my upcoming holiday in Europe. The agent did some checking with his supervisor and came back and informed me that they would be able to issue me an EMV card. Card arrived today via UPS :D

So, it seems that unless you specifically request it at this point, renewal/replacement cards aren't automatically issued with the chip.

I can absolutely confirm "immaculate's" posting.. just requested a new card since my card was used in fraud activity. I did request for a chip & signature card, however, the agent sent me a new card without... called back and requested again, this time it was correct and I did receive it with the Chip..

Card looks a bit different as posted earlier in this thread...

I called Monday for an EMV chip Plat., the agent wasn't familiar with it so I was put on hold for about 5 min. The agent came back & said "no problem, yours was my first request" & I had the card Tues. (next day).

Good to see AmEx crawling reluctantly towards the future here. I am really surprised that they continue to use signature and not the option of adding PIN.

Does anyone know when or if AmEx will add contactless (ie. PayWave) to their cards? I find this immensely useful and so frustrating that a card with a high annual fee won't offer it.

The contactless thing isn't really catching on the US (at least not yet), thanks to fears that "it'll be too easy for criminals to steal my info using a hidden wireless device in a suitcase" or "government is now tracking everything that I do" or the sort. See wireless identity theft (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_identity_theft).

Many card companies don't even bother putting them in the cards and instead, opt to send out to those that request one, keychain dongles or cell phone stickers instead of being in the card itself.

Many card companies don't even bother putting them in the cards and instead, opt to send out to those that request one, keychain dongles or cell phone stickers instead of being in the card itself.

Well, they could make us use a pin.

The chip & pin cards are very successful in Europe, everyone has them. In the US, we are still using cards where someone with a cell phone can take a photo of both sides of the card (in a restaurant, for example) and then go make a bunch of charges after you leave. Really no difference, actually.

The pin number is an extra protection. Of course, the signature should match, but most people don't really look at it. I can't tell you how many times I use my husband's credit cards. No one seems to notice.

The chip & pin cards are very successful in Europe, everyone has them.

Isn't this mostly due to the fact that there has been a liability shift which still has yet to occur in the US?

Well, they could make us use a pin.

The chip & pin cards are very successful in Europe, everyone has them. In the US, we are still using cards where someone with a cell phone can take a photo of both sides of the card (in a restaurant, for example) and then go make a bunch of charges after you leave. Really no difference, actually.

The problem is that since the US never really used offline PIN transactions in the past which requires a hard coded PIN onto the chip itself, there's no way to change the PIN to something that you remember quite easily at any bank branch or ATM in the US. Our PINs are stored on the server and verification is done all online, instantaneously.

The only true hard encoded Chip & PIN card that's available in the US today is the Andrews FCU GlobeTrek VISA card and you're assigned by VISA, a PIN that you have to remember. It is not changeable so you're pretty stuck with that number.

And Americans, compared to the rest of the world, tend to hold many many credit cards in their wallets. Trying to remember oh my AA Mastercard's PIN number is this, my Chase Hyatt's PIN was that, oh wait that's my Andrews FCU card PIN, umm, what was my AMEX Platinum's PIN again... gets lost if one can't change the PIN. Unless of course if you want to write down a list of PIN on a piece of paper, but how safe is that?

The problem is that since the US never really used offline PIN transactions in the past which requires a hard coded PIN onto the chip itself, there's no way to change the PIN to something that you remember quite easily at any bank branch or ATM in the US. Our PINs are stored on the server and verification is done all online, instantaneously.

The only true hard encoded Chip & PIN card that's available in the US today is the Andrews FCU GlobeTrek VISA card and you're assigned by VISA, a PIN that you have to remember. It is not changeable so you're pretty stuck with that number.

And Americans, compared to the rest of the world, tend to hold many many credit cards in their wallets. Trying to remember oh my AA Mastercard's PIN number is this, my Chase Hyatt's PIN was that, oh wait that's my Andrews FCU card PIN, umm, what was my AMEX Platinum's PIN again... gets lost if one can't change the PIN. Unless of course if you want to write down a list of PIN on a piece of paper, but how safe is that?

Some companies will allow you to choose your PIN online when getting a replacement or when applying for a card.

Some companies will allow you to choose your PIN online when getting a replacement or when applying for a card.

Yes, but this is the cash advance PIN, and it will only be used for online PIN verification. An example of this would be where you withdraw cash from an ATM. As kebosabi mentioned, this PIN is not stored on the chip itself but with the bank. If the kiosk does offline PIN verification, which is common in some countries like France, the kiosk will try to match the PIN stored on the chip on your card with the PIN that you have entered. The purchase will fail because the Chip & Signature card doesn't have a PIN stored on the chip.

One exception is that there have been reports of successful transactions if 0000 is entered as the PIN, but this doesn't work 100% of the time. Chip & Signature is still a net gain, however, because there is no more arguing with the cashier about having to accept a swipe & sign purchase with your non-chipped card. Technically the merchant has to accept your swipe & sign purchase, but some merchants flat out refuse to do this.

Some companies will allow you to choose your PIN online when getting a replacement or when applying for a card.

Correct but this is for ONLINE verification, meaning the when you punch in the PIN number, the card machine connects to the internet or dials over phone lines and verifies with the PIN stored on the bank's server to see if you're the actual cardholder. This is a non-issue in the US because our telecommunication costs are really low that it doesn't cost that much money to install dedicated lines to each subway kiosk or gas pumps all over the nation.

But that's not the case elsewhere. Abroad, card machines (i.e. train station kiosks, gas pumps, toll roads) may not have direct connections to the internet or a dial up phone access due to high telecommunication costs or high installation fees. And for things like train station kiosks abroad where there's high demand for mass transit, it does cost a lot of investment to put in dedicated secure telecommunication lines to each and every multiple number of kiosks all over the city's stations.

Hence in places where they still can't do it online, they need a way to verify that you're indeed the cardholder. Hence they went with verification with a PIN that's encoded directly onto the card itself (not the server) that only you are supposed to know about. And of course ID verification doesn't work; it's not going to do any good when you yell at the non human machine waving your state issued drivers license or US Passport in front of a kiosk or a gas pump saying that "it's is me! it's my damn friggin' card!" :D

And since there's no magical wireless technology where once you change the PIN, it beams the info wirelessly and rewrites the PIN written on your card itself, the only choice is stick with PIN that the card company gave you, until banks in the US install specialized machines at the branch or at the ATM to do direct PIN changes to the chip. They are in the process of doing that now, but it's not exactly a flip-of-the-switch turn-key operation since the US never used that before.

Chip & Signature is still a net gain, however, because there is no more arguing with the cashier about having to accept a swipe & sign purchase with your non-chipped card. Technically the merchant has to accept your swipe & sign purchase, but some merchants flat out refuse to do this.

Let alone, trying to argue with a live merchant who doesn't speak the same language as you do. I had that experience in a non-touristy town in Flemish area of Belgium. The restaurant wouldn't accept my non-chipped card and trying to argue with them in different languages gets you nowhere and just a is a waste of time not worth the hassle.

The relief from the stress and headache of that alone is worth having a Chip & Signature card where the merchant (usually a part-time cashier) wouldn't get confused with a non-chipped card they're not familiar with and instead, just stick it into their machine and follow the prompts on their machine in their local language.

Correct but this is for ONLINE verification, meaning the when you punch in the PIN number, the card machine connects to the internet or dials over phone lines and verifies with the PIN stored on the bank's server to see if you're the actual cardholder. This is a non-issue in the US because our telecommunication costs are really low that it doesn't cost that much money to install dedicated lines to each subway kiosk or gas pumps all over the nation.

But that's not the case elsewhere. Abroad, card machines (i.e. train station kiosks, gas pumps, toll roads) may not have direct connections to the internet or a dial up phone access due to high telecommunication costs or high installation fees. And for things like train station kiosks abroad where there's high demand for mass transit, it does cost a lot of investment to put in dedicated secure telecommunication lines to each and every multiple number of kiosks all over the city's stations.

Hence in places where they still can't do it online, they need a way to verify that you're indeed the cardholder. Hence they went with verification with a PIN that's encoded directly onto the card itself (not the server) that only you are supposed to know about. And of course ID verification doesn't work; it's not going to do any good when you yell at the non human machine waving your state issued drivers license or US Passport in front of a kiosk or a gas pump saying that "it's is me! it's my damn friggin' card!" :D

And since there's no magical wireless technology where once you change the PIN, it beams the info wirelessly and rewrites the PIN written on your card itself, the only choice is stick with PIN that the card company gave you, until banks in the US install specialized machines at the branch or at the ATM to do direct PIN changes to the chip. They are in the process of doing that now, but it's not exactly a flip-of-the-switch turn-key operation since the US never used that before.



Let alone, trying to argue with a live merchant who doesn't speak the same language as you do. I had that experience in a non-touristy town in Flemish area of Belgium. The restaurant wouldn't accept my non-chipped card and trying to argue with them in different languages gets you nowhere and just a is a waste of time not worth the hassle.

The relief from the stress and headache of that alone is worth having a Chip & Signature card where the merchant (usually a part-time cashier) wouldn't get confused with a non-chipped card they're not familiar with and instead, just stick it into their machine and follow the prompts on their machine in their local language.

Indeed offline pin is used here in the UK. I normally change my pin on a new card at any ATM. (We only have 1 ATM network called Link in the UK, all banks are connected to it). Even in the UK where communciations are cheap a lot of transactions are still done offline. For example with EMV contactless almost all transactions are done offline, so most of my under £20 (25 dollars ish) are all done without Amex or whoever knowing.

One problem with Online PIN that the US could experience problems in a lot of places in Europe. In the UK and France all transactions are done via offline PIN. I do know from my Wife who owns a shop and runs a card machine that this causes problems. Those from Denmark till recently had online PIN cards and her card machine would literally just decline it straight away or give a card error, She couldn't swipe them either as it would tell her to inside card (Due to most cards having the EMV if possible flag on the magstripe). She would often have to force a fallback. I.e. Put the card upside down in about 5 times and it would think there was something wrong with the chip and would finally let her swipe though.

From what I've read, online PIN if not possible should revert to signature, but this is not always the case and some countries/card machines are not setup to take online PIN.

Regarding the 0000 thing, this is often machine thing. I know some machines also have an override PIN for Online PINs and magstripe cards (When the UI must have some kind of PIN entry), When I had an emergency replacement card, they still issue magstripe only ones in the UK and if I tried to use an automated machine, it would still ask for a PIN, Amex told me that 1001 would normally work.

Even in the UK where communciations are cheap a lot of transactions are still done offline.

As is with Japan. About 75% of my transaction done in Japan show up as pending instantaneously. This shows that these were done online.

However the other 25% may not show up as pending post until over a month later, which to my understanding, is done on the old fashioned way of batch processing on whatever the accounting terms that the merchant has with the acquirer.


From what I've read, online PIN if not possible should revert to signature, but this is not always the case and some countries/card machines are not setup to take online PIN.

Which is the case with many automated kiosks. There's really no process of say, signing a receipt when purchasing a subway ticket or a paying for a toll road AND verifying if the signature matches the back of the card, is there? ;)

Which is the case with many automated kiosks. There's really no process of say, signing a receipt when purchasing a subway ticket or a paying for a toll road AND verifying if the signature matches the back of the card, is there? ;)

Very true, although toll roads shouldn't be much of a problem, they have NO card verification on them all, even us PIN people don't enter our PIN.

I normally change my pin on a new card at any ATM.

It occurred to me earlier today. Would it be possible to use a US Chip & Signature card on a European ATM and assign a PIN to the EMV chip? I don't know if the EMV is coded in such a way that renders this impossible, but I'd be curious to know.

It occurred to me earlier today. Would it be possible to use a US Chip & Signature card on a European ATM and assign a PIN to the EMV chip? I don't know if the EMV is coded in such a way that renders this impossible, but I'd be curious to know.

No, it wouldn't be possible. As your Chip and Signature card will already have a PIN for ATMS as it is but it wouldn't allow it anyway haha. The chip will have signature as its on card verification method on it.

finally, i struggle with this everytime i travel....."will it be PIN or Signature Sir?" i prefer the PIN option.....

Don't know if it was posted already but the Mercedes plat is offered in chip/signature as well. Just received mine in the mail.

i got mine in the mail today....

http://chipandsignature.americanexpress.com/

Just returned home from London and had no issues whatsoever. Albeit, I never had to use an unmanned kiosk. Other than that, it was accepted everywhere and it seemed the waiters always had a pen handy as they were used to some cards being chip and signature. They all carry those terminals with them to the table so you pay right there which is either brilliant, or I'm just an ignorant American who has never seen this technology LOL. The US REALLY needs to get on this wagon!

Kudos to AMEX thought in taking the first step, may be later than other card issuers, but it's a step and it helped tremendously in my travels.

Just returned home from London and had no issues whatsoever. Albeit, I never had to use an unmanned kiosk. Other than that, it was accepted everywhere and it seemed the waiters always had a pen handy as they were used to some cards being chip and signature. They all carry those terminals with them to the table so you pay right there which is either brilliant, or I'm just an ignorant American who has never seen this technology LOL. The US REALLY needs to get on this wagon!

Kudos to AMEX thought in taking the first step, may be later than other card issuers, but it's a step and it helped tremendously in my travels.

The terminals are quite common in Europe. I hope you were pleasantly surprised with Amex acceptance in the UK. Amex has done a brilliant job getting Amex acceptance almost to the same level as Visa and MC.

The terminals are quite common in Europe. I hope you were pleasantly surprised with Amex acceptance in the UK. Amex has done a brilliant job getting Amex acceptance almost to the same level as Visa and MC.

I was very pleased. chip and pin would be ideal, but at least it's not swipe. I was in Australia last year and I got a few snarls when the merchant had to swipe.

As an FYI... Salisbury Store no longer accepts any signature card. Has to be chip and pin... found out the hard way but the manger overrode the transaction. A bit embarrassing haha

I was very pleased. chip and pin would be ideal, but at least it's not swipe. I was in Australia last year and I got a few snarls when the merchant had to swipe.

As an FYI... Salisbury Store no longer accepts any signature card. Has to be chip and pin... found out the hard way but the manger overrode the transaction. A bit embarrassing haha

A shame really as many disabled users have chip and sig cards in the UK. They could be fined severely for discrimination.

I must admit I don't think you would have a had a huge amount of trouble with swipe and sign though. My local supermarket's machines don't work properly wish Amex's chips and they always have to be swiped lol

The terminals are quite common in Europe. I hope you were pleasantly surprised with Amex acceptance in the UK. Amex has done a brilliant job getting Amex acceptance almost to the same level as Visa and MC.

The waiter bringing the terminal over to your table is also the norm to our neighbor up north in Canada. I wish more US restaurants starting doing this as well.

I feel much safer that way for them to do transactions right in front of me instead of taking into the backroom and having no idea what no good they may/may not be doing to the card (not really that hard to skim a card or even snap a photo of the front and back of the card using a smartphone camera in a secluded area).

The waiter bringing the terminal over to your table is also the norm to our neighbor up north in Canada. I wish more US restaurants starting doing this as well.

I feel much safer that way for them to do transactions right in front of me instead of taking into the backroom and having no idea what no good they may/may not be doing to the card (not really that hard to skim a card or even snap a photo of the front and back of the card using a smartphone camera in a secluded area).
I guess they don't much of a choice in chip and pin countries with having the mobile terminals. I must admit I have seen one in New York as well very recently in a restaurant. It was literally an EMV machine though the guy had to get me to do it via PIN (He'd never done it before, I had to show him to dip it in as the machine kept saying "Insert card" if he tried to swipe it through) but for none chip cards it would have been he brought it to the table and swipe it there and then I gather.

As an FYI... Salisbury Store no longer accepts any signature card. Has to be chip and pin... found out the hard way but the manger overrode the transaction. A bit embarrassing haha

Apparently they DO accept Chip & Signature, as you found out: they just have to have a manager approve.

Just returned from Taiwan and didn't have issues using the new amex plat chip and signature except for one place. The Taiwan High Speed Rail ticket purchase could not accept the card. I was here earlier in the year and they were able to accept the credit card easily. They then pointed to the chip and said that this card doesn't work. I told them they could still swipe it like normal and i watched them do it and it didn't work. Not sure what the error was. Had to use my visa credit card to pay for the tickets. Maybe they know of the issue but couldn't explain it too me. Should I tell Amex about this or maybe an Amex rep can read this blog and respond?

Just returned from Taiwan and didn't have issues using the new amex plat chip and signature except for one place. The Taiwan High Speed Rail ticket purchase could not accept the card. I was here earlier in the year and they were able to accept the credit card easily. They then pointed to the chip and said that this card doesn't work. I told them they could still swipe it like normal and i watched them do it and it didn't work. Not sure what the error was. Had to use my visa credit card to pay for the tickets. Maybe they know of the issue but couldn't explain it too me. Should I tell Amex about this or maybe an Amex rep can read this blog and respond?

You can't normally swipe a card through that has a chip on it if the machine has a chip reader. Its encoded in the service code on the magstripe.

Just ordered mine today, will get it tomorrow!

Just returned from Taiwan and didn't have issues using the new amex plat chip and signature except for one place. The Taiwan High Speed Rail ticket purchase could not accept the card.

Did you try to use the automated kiosk? The automated kiosks will fail if a PIN is required because there is no PIN associated with the AmEx unless you're enrolled in "Express Cash". Even then, the transaction will still fail if the kiosks use offline PIN verification since the PIN for a chip-and-signature card is stored on the network, not on the card itself.

I will try to purchase tickets from the THSR kiosk (chip-and-signature + cash advance PIN) next week, and I'll report back if it works. I won't be able to test my AmEx since I'm not enrolled in Express Cash/don't have a PIN assigned to that card.

Did you try to use the automated kiosk? The automated kiosks will fail if a PIN is required because there is no PIN associated with the AmEx unless you're enrolled in "Express Cash". Even then, the transaction will still fail if the kiosks use offline PIN verification since the PIN for a chip-and-signature card is stored on the network, not on the card itself.

I will try to purchase tickets from the THSR kiosk (chip-and-signature + cash advance PIN) next week, and I'll report back if it works. I won't be able to test my AmEx since I'm not enrolled in Express Cash/don't have a PIN assigned to that card.

THSR kiosk actually uses your 4-digit security code on the front of your card as the PIN for all Taiwan issued Amex cards. You can try if it also works for non-Taiwan issued cards.

THSR kiosk actually uses your 4-digit security code on the front of your card as the PIN for all Taiwan issued Amex cards. You can try if it also works for non-Taiwan issued cards.

I'll try that as well and report back. On a separate note, I'm questioning the security value of Chip-and-PIN if the PIN is available to anyone who has physical possession of the card. Is this something unique to the THSR kiosks? The last time I visited I only had swipe-and-sign cards, so I always had to talk with a person if I wanted to use my card.

I'll try that as well and report back. On a separate note, I'm questioning the security value of Chip-and-PIN if the PIN is available to anyone who has physical possession of the card. Is this something unique to the THSR kiosks? The last time I visited I only had swipe-and-sign cards, so I always had to talk with a person if I wanted to use my card.

Huh? The pin is not available to anyone who has a chip and pin card. Just certain kiosks may ask for the security code instead. I know when I've been in the US that some Walmarts ask for the same thing even when swiping.

Huh? The pin is not available to anyone who has a chip and pin card. Just certain kiosks may ask for the security code instead. I know when I've been in the US that some Walmarts ask for the same thing even when swiping.

The previous poster was saying that the THSR kiosks use the CVV2 as the PIN for AmEx cards issued in Taiwan. What I'm saying is that this provides no security advantage over accepting swipe transactions.

The previous poster was saying that the THSR kiosks use the CVV2 as the PIN for AmEx cards issued in Taiwan. What I'm saying is that this provides no security advantage over accepting swipe transactions.

This is probably the kiosk actually reads the magstripe and not the chip at all or because the local cards don't support offline PIN.

The previous poster was saying that the THSR kiosks use the CVV2 as the PIN for AmEx cards issued in Taiwan. What I'm saying is that this provides no security advantage over accepting swipe transactions.

No security against a lost card, but plenty against a cloned card. Cloning the EMV chip is far more difficult than the mag stripe.

No security against a lost card, but plenty against a cloned card. Cloning the EMV chip is far more difficult than the mag stripe.

I'll concede that point on cloning a card, but I was referring to the lost card scenario where the card itself is legitimate. In that case, I don't see a chip-and-PIN transaction where the CVV2 acts as a surrogate PIN offering any benefit over swiping the magnetic stripe.

No security against a lost card, but plenty against a cloned card. Cloning the EMV chip is far more difficult than the mag stripe.

Yeah, I don't get that. If the card has both magstripe and chip, just clone the stripe and swipe to use it -- or would cloning the strip also clone whatever info on it that tells the terminal to reject a swipe if it is supposed to have a chip? In that case it only offers protection against uses that use chip-reading terminals.

Maybe I just answered my own question! :p

Yeah, I don't get that. If the card has both magstripe and chip, just clone the stripe and swipe to use it -- or would cloning the strip also clone whatever info on it that tells the terminal to reject a swipe if it is supposed to have a chip? In that case it only offers protection against uses that use chip-reading terminals.

Maybe I just answered my own question! :p

You can't swipe a copy of an EMV card magstripe on an EMV machine.

Thanks for the feedback on the HSR. The chip not being hard coded might be a problem. Looking forward to some feedback when you try the kiosk.

Had to get a new card b/c strip was worn out. It arrived with the chip.

My friend has a US Merrill Lynch new card with a chip. Is that card signature only too?

My friend has a US Merrill Lynch new card with a chip. Is that card signature only too?

Yes

Just ordered a replacement Centurion card with chip. Will be interesting to see where they place it...

Just ordered a replacement Centurion card with chip. Will be interesting to see where they place it...

Will be in the same place as all the other EMV cards. Left on the middle of the card.

I'm curious as well. The placement seems to be at the left-center of the card.

I have a Mercedes Benz co-branded card, and the MB logo is where the EMV chip would go. My new card is being shipped to my work address tomorrow, and I'm curious to see how the new card will look.

-ed

... placement seems to be

EMV chips are in exactly the same location on all cards. EMV uses contact chips which must align with pins in the reader throughout the transaction.

I chose my words carefully, as I don't normally speak in conjecture.

Thank you for the clarification mia!

Here's what the new card looks like, against the non-EMV version (more or less...):

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b15/mrbunnyfeet/121812AMEXEMV_zps6ddf99b9.jpg

Just got my PLAT card (was a gold card user); no chip.

I suppose you have to ask for it then. No one has problems with this in the US, right? Since almost everyone in the US uses the metallic strip...

Welcome to the ugly card club....
UK cards have been blighted by the chip for years now - it looks particularly bad on my (RED) amex, although the platinum not quite as bad - they also scratch over time and wear out faster than the card. Had a couple that have corroded too and needed replacing.

For purely aesthetic purposes it would have been better if the genius/collective that originally designed the chip system and placement had perhaps decided to put it on the back of the card..

when i enrolled for centurion 2 weeks ago i asked for the chip and got it(US card)

when i enrolled for centurion 2 weeks ago i asked for the chip and got it(US card)

What was the card material? Plastic? Titanium?

THSR kiosk actually uses your 4-digit security code on the front of your card as the PIN for all Taiwan issued Amex cards. You can try if it also works for non-Taiwan issued cards.

Hello AmexCent and others interested,

I tried to use my EMV-enabled AmEx Plat unsuccessfully at the THSR kiosk in Taipei. I used the CVV2 code and 0000 as the PIN, but both times the transaction failed. I did not try 0000. The terminal did ask to enter a Cash Advance or card PIN, and the terminals make use of online PIN verification based on my more detailed report here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19903931-post611.html) in the general EMV thread.

What was the card material? Plastic? Titanium?

Had to get a new card b/c strip was worn out. It arrived with the chip.

It's still Titanium. And FWIW, I didn't request a chip.

Hello AmexCent and others interested,

I just tried to use my EMV-enabled AmEx Plat unsuccessfully at the THSR kiosk in Taipei. I used the CVV2 code as the PIN, but the transaction failed. I did not try 0000, but I will try in a few days.

I've offered a more detailed report here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19903931-post611.html) in the general EMV thread.

Its like the repeat of trying to use a British card at gas pumps in the US. We don't have a ZIP code so it can be troublesome lol

lol I just noticed on that http://chipandsignature.americanexpress.com video that credit card fraud was present on it :P Notice the woman using the card but the card is C F FROST (C is for Charles :P)

What was the card material? Plastic? Titanium?

Titanium

Hello AmexCent and others interested,

I tried to use my EMV-enabled AmEx Plat unsuccessfully at the THSR kiosk in Taipei. I used the CVV2 code and 0000 as the PIN, but both times the transaction failed. I did not try 0000. The terminal did ask to enter a Cash Advance or card PIN, and the terminals make use of online PIN verification based on my more detailed report here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/19903931-post611.html) in the general EMV thread.

Thanks Majuki, I also tried my MB Plat (non EMV) at the HSR kiosk today, using the CVV2 code as PIN, and the transaction failed. Just a FIY.

Thanks Majuki, I also tried my MB Plat (non EMV) at the HSR kiosk today, using the CVV2 code as PIN, and the transaction failed. Just a FIY.

We might have to wait for someone who has a cash advance PIN assigned to try. It's also possible that Taiwan HSR simply doesn't accept Chip-and-Signature AmEx cards even if one has a cash advance PIN.

Got my Plat card with Chip just now. I see this new card has a light blue AMEX written on front. My old Plat card didn't have such marking. Can anyone confirm if this is for everyone with chip or I got some defective card ?

Got my Plat card with Chip just now. I see this new card has a light blue AMEX written on front. My old Plat card didn't have such marking. Can anyone confirm if this is for everyone with chip or I got some defective card ?

Don't see it on my card.

Talked to Amex customer service and they are saying that this is normal for new card with Chip!! We have 1 primary + 2 additional cards...and this light blue AMEX mark is on all three. No idea whats going on...

Talked to Amex customer service and they are saying that this is normal for new card with Chip!! We have 1 primary + 2 additional cards...and this light blue AMEX mark is on all three. No idea whats going on...

Are you seeing AM EX in light blue in very large letters? This might be a security feature that is on all Amex cards and visible very well under ultra violet light.

Yes, that's what I am seeing (AMEX in large letter). Only thing different is that I can see it in normal light also. I am assuming this should not be visible in normal light. correct ?

Yes, that's what I am seeing (AMEX in large letter). Only thing different is that I can see it in normal light also. I am assuming this should not be visible in normal light. correct ?

Correct. Should be visible with ultra violet light only.

Yes, that's what I am seeing (AMEX in large letter). Only thing different is that I can see it in normal light also. I am assuming this should not be visible in normal light. correct ?

Yeah, looks like some dodgie ink.

Can someone post a pic of their Centurion card with the chip? I have a Business Centurion card (long story about how I ended up with that from a Personal one, and can't switch back now), and I think the card is unpleasing to the eye enough. I'm thinking that the addition of the chip will make it look even worse, unless they redesign it. IF they redesign the Business Centurion card, I really hope that they make it more understated and classy like the personal one looks (let the black do the talking). #firstworldproblems

To my surprise this new Centurion Card is completely different then my previous one. The numbers look like they are stamped on and painted vs the previous one looks like it was just carved.

JohnzCA, can you post a pic please? (Of course obfuscating the details) I want to know if I should ask for the new one or hold onto mine for as long as I can.:D

USA Centurion here.

Just got a replacement card for a damaged one.

The new card has a chip (!) and weighs the same.
The numbers are much more legible and detailed than the previous version, although the numbers seem like they are not metal anymore.

The card also came with a letter briefly outlining the "Chip & Signature" technology.

USA Centurion here.

Just got a replacement card for a damaged one.

The new card has a chip (!) and weighs the same.
The numbers are much more legible and detailed than the previous version, although the numbers seem like they are not metal anymore.

The card also came with a letter briefly outlining the "Chip & Signature" technology.

+1. Got mine today since I will be traveling abroad more in 2013. Everything is same except the numbers are a different font or not as dark gold bold so you can read them better. Background of card has amex watermark in gold for extra security (the "World Service" globe which is shown in the ad to the right - which you can hardly see). Basically the same card as old so need to swith unless you travel extensively.

Got mine for plt and excited. Now it will be easier to use abroad. I travel a lot but my wife doesn't. She has the additional card in plt but she didn't get a replacement. Is Amex replacing everyone's or are they seeing travel habits and issuing to those customers only? Thanks.

Got mine for plt and excited. Now it will be easier to use abroad. I travel a lot but my wife doesn't. She has the additional card in plt but she didn't get a replacement. Is Amex replacing everyone's or are they seeing travel habits and issuing to those customers only? Thanks.
They are replacing the cards for everyone who's asking for a replacement card.

Just received a business platinum card with the new chip/signature...

Did NOT asked for and they sent it randomly to me i guess.. I did request one before for my personal one..... not sure why they sent me a new one for my biz card.... (maybe i use it alot for international purchases?)

I also found a new personal Platinum Chip and Signature card waiting for me when I got home from Asia yesterday. I hadn't requested it and my previous card had not quite a year of validity left.

I've had numerous foreign currency charges on it and my corporate AMEX card this year, as well as prior years, so perhaps that's the reason it was sent.

Also received a new Platinum card today. Didn't ask for one.
It does seem rather pointless to make this CHIP and sign.
I use my Diners card in Europe all the time with its CHIP and PIN (the downside is the pricey currency fees).

I used my new Chip and Sign card in Canada a lot earlier this week. I was amazed that chip terminals were everywhere I looked.

At a fast food place I was handed a terminal for a $13 charge, I stuck the card in and answered the questions on it and it didn't ask for a PIN, just went to approved.

At two different restaurants I inserted the card and it printed out a slip to sign, as expected.

At a store I was handed a terminal that did not have a printer on it. It didn't work. The clerk ended up swiping it on their main terminal.

At a retail store the clerk just took the card and said "It's an Amex, I have to swipe it" and swiped it and it worked that way.

It does seem rather pointless to make this CHIP and sign.

How so? It essentially eliminates the risk of a cloned card, with no change needed in cardholder behavior. In the three cases I've experienced where I've had a credit card account compromised, one involved online purchases (which no type of physical card technology addresses), and two involved cloned cards.

The only benefit I see of Chip & PIN (aside from eliminating signature slip storage for the merchant) is that it protects against a lost or stolen physical card. I suspect that's a small amount of fraud compared to cloned cards.

It does seem rather pointless to make this CHIP and sign.

One part that has made it far more convenient is higher acceptance and understanding from the merchant/retailer party without being able to speak the language.

If you can only speak English and the other can only speak Czech, try communicating "well VISA and MC agreements states that you have to take the magnetic stripe blah-blah-blah."

It's far less of a hassle to just hand a card with a chip, let the merchant take it and stick it into their reader, and have them follow the prompts on the machine in their native language. No persuasion, communication, or lost in translation involved.

One part that has made it far more convenient is higher acceptance and understanding from the merchant/retailer party without being able to speak the language.

If you can only speak English and the other can only speak Czech, try communicating "well VISA and MC agreements states that you have to take the magnetic stripe blah-blah-blah."

It's far less of a hassle to just hand a card with a chip, let the merchant take it and stick it into their reader, and have them follow the prompts on the machine in their native language. No persuasion, communication, or lost in translation involved.

I'll have to agree with that. US cardholders don't seem to have much trouble getting people to swipe the card in the UK.

When i insert my card in Belgium it always switch to english on the card reader automatically.

When i insert my card in Belgium it always switch to english on the card reader automatically.

Some card readers do this or atleast show both languages. When I used my Amex in Barcelona airport it said Enter PIN and in English and Spanish.

Just used my EMV card for the first time. Oddly, at a parking meter in New Orleans. :p

I just upgraded to a Business Platinum (got a pre-approved upgrade from my Business Gold). I got the card a few days ago and called in to request a Chip card because the one I got didn't have a Chip on it.

I spend a lot of time in Europe so it's convenient to have the Chip. The rep apologized and put one UPS and said it will be here tomorrow. So definitely they are still sending out cards without the Chip sometimes but they will immediately send out another upon request.

I've had a Platinum AMEX IDC card for a while and had the Chip plus PIN for a while.

Called Plat (USA) & asked about chip card & if I could get one. The rep said no problem & sent me one overnight.

WT

Called about two weeks ago. Card was sent overnight. Has the same card number, but the expiration date & security code on the card had changed. Tried to replace the additional cards on the account, but needed to have the card in hand to provide the security code.

Called Plat (USA) & asked about chip card & if I could get one. The rep said no problem & sent me one overnight.

WT

Centurion cards now come with chips for US cardholders. Recently one of our cards stopped working, I called to get a new one and the rep went on about the new chip titanium card forever and then when it came in the next morning it has the cup up near the logo. So this is the future in the Us for centurion cards.

I got a new chip card in the mail without asking for one and I still have 2 years left on my card.

I got a new chip card in the mail without asking for one and I still have 2 years left on my card.

was wondering if anyone else got one without a request like me ! it seems thier upgrading current card holders ...they sent me and my wife one without asking them. I needed a new card anyways lol my plat account num was faded out heeh

Has anyone here actually successfully used the chip in the US? I got my chipped plat a few weeks back and I'm 0/1 so far -the new Target near me has terminals that take chips, but it kept saying "Invalid Card". Cashier said she has had international folks use them (presumably with PIN) just fine

Has anyone here actually successfully used the chip in the US? I got my chipped plat a few weeks back and I'm 0/1 so far -the new Target near me has terminals that take chips, but it kept saying "Invalid Card". Cashier said she has had international folks use them (presumably with PIN) just fine

The machine probably hasn't been updated with the American Express chip application. My UK card wouldn't work in the chip reader at a walmart that had chip readers, gave the same error. It's also the error that comes up often if Amex is not accepted in the UK at the merchant.

I asked for all 3 of my cards (and auth users) to get replaced with chip versions.

All 3 cards got replaced, but 1 of the 3 was just another ordinary non-chip card :(.

In any case, I did use the chipped card in Amsterdam without issue.

In any case, I did use the chipped card in Amsterdam without issue.

was it a PIN-based transaction, or signature-based?

(if it was PIN, what number did you input to successfully use the machine?)

I got a new chip card in the mail without asking for one and I still have 2 years left on my card.

Yesterday I received a new chip card for my Platinum without asking and it still have a couple of years on it too.

Even funnier is that I am just an "additional card"; my wife is primary, and she no replacement has come for her.

To top it off, we actually canceled my card on her primary account 2 days ago since I just got my own primary account card (with the 100K points sign on).

My new primary account card did NOT have chip in it. Don't need it now, but if I end up going somewhere overseas, I'll have one sent.

was it a PIN-based transaction, or signature-based?

(if it was PIN, what number did you input to successfully use the machine?)

It's chip and signature, although the specific amount (low dollar) of the transaction required no signature, likely for unrelated reasons. No pin was entered.

I just used my chip Platinum (which I requested) numerous times in Berlin and Switzerland. No muss, no fuss and nobody asking for a PIN. The reader just tells them to get a signature.

Worked great (admittedly I don't know if it would have worked just as well without a pin at all).

Greg

Spent the last 6 days in French Alps and GVA. Used Marriott card with chip & sig. No issues at all. Since there were not automated machines, I did not try my Andrews FCU card.

The only place where both got declined were on an Aer Lingus flight when I tried to BOB. Both cards came back as "Card Denied". I used my SPG AMEX swipe card and it worked fine. I doubt it was the cards itself, maybe an issue with the very old looking devices they were using. I have no idea.

Cheers.

Spent the last 6 days in French Alps and GVA. Used Marriott card with chip & sig. No issues at all. Since there were not automated machines, I did not try my Andrews FCU card.

The only place where both got declined were on an Aer Lingus flight when I tried to BOB. Both cards came back as "Card Denied". I used my SPG AMEX swipe card and it worked fine. I doubt it was the cards itself, maybe an issue with the very old looking devices they were using. I have no idea.

Cheers.

Some of the very first emv chip readers struggle with chip and signature lol

Received my updated Plat card today. Had been expecting a heavier card, based on the chip version of the Marriott Visa Sig, but this will do just fine. If only they offered chip & pin. Had several times on a recent trip to Stockholm where I could not use the kiosk due to the card requiring a signature.

Has anyone here actually successfully used the chip in the US? I got my chipped plat a few weeks back and I'm 0/1 so far -the new Target near me has terminals that take chips, but it kept saying "Invalid Card". Cashier said she has had international folks use them (presumably with PIN) just fine

I used mine at a parking meter in NOLA just before New Years.

...expecting a heavier card, based on the chip version of the Marriott Visa Sig,

The weight is a marketing decision made by Chase, unrelated to the presence of an EMV chip.

I used mine at a parking meter in NOLA just before New Years.

How do you know the parking meter read the chip rather than the stripe?

Mine came in yesterday. Would've been nice to have it in FCO a couple of weeks ago, but it'll come in handy for the future.

How do you know the parking meter read the chip rather than the stripe?

If it had been done via EMV the receipt should have shown the card AID.

The weight is a marketing decision made by Chase, unrelated to the presence of an EMV chip.

I know.. Would still be nice if Amex made the same marketing decision.

I know.. Would still be nice if Amex made the same marketing decision.

lol..im with ya. it would make it seem cooler, especially after the $450 fee.:p

it would make it seem cooler, especially after the $450 fee.:p

It would also further diminish the distinction between Centurion and Platinum.

It would also further diminish the distinction between Centurion and Platinum.

ok, that's a fair statement :)

I have an Amex Blue Cash Preferred - anyone know if/when they are doing EMV for those?

At this time EMV is available only for Platinum and Centurion cards.

I just got a new PLAT card (switched from AA World Elite), and was wondering if my card will come with the EMV chip or will I have to specifically request it? I'm leaving for another Asia trip next Friday, and am worried they won't re-issue a new card because I'm within the 10 day window.

The Taiwan HSR now is accepting EMV platinum amex cards.

I spent a week in Mexico and everyone swiped my chipped card. In the Cancún Wal-Mart I watched closely as they inserted chipped cards and people entered pins. When it was my turn, the cashier inserted my chipped card in the slot, then pulled it out and swiped it. I've used the chipped slot a few times in Montreal a few weeks ago, so not sure what's the deal in Mexico.

The Taiwan HSR now is accepting EMV platinum amex cards.

This was with a US-issued AmEx? Did you use the 4-digit security code as a PIN?

The weight is a marketing decision made by Chase, unrelated to the presence of an EMV chip.

Is it just me, or does the new Amex Plat Chip & Sig card seem a little heavier and made of more densely packed plastic? It seems less flimsy then the previous non chip & sig amex plat.

I even weighed it (don't judge me). The Amex Plat chip & Sig weighs 5.2 grams whereas the old card (and all my other normal cards) weigh 4.8 grams. I even weighed my nano sim card (which is made from the same material as the EMV chips and is of the same size) and it only weighs .1 grams.

Maybe denser plastic is required to maintain the EMV chips? Or is this Amex's way of improving the quality of its card, yet not changing the material to help distinguish between the cent and plat cards?

Tried my chipped Plat Amex & chipped BA Visa (Chase) at 2 Smart Carte locations (different cities) both would not work. My non-chipped *wood Amex worked fine.

Just requested my Chip & Sig AMEX Plat card for an upcoming trip to France. Any experience with the unmanned kiosks there - e.g. Metro, RER stations?

Just requested my Chip & Sig AMEX Plat card for an upcoming trip to France. Any experience with the unmanned kiosks there - e.g. Metro, RER stations?

I didn't have any AMEX chip/sig cards during my visit last year (early Dec) but a Hyatt Chip/Sig saved my butt on the RER.

We arrived late on a Sunday night via the Thalys from Cologne and needed to get tickets to go to CDG since we were staying at the Sheraton. The machine would only take coins or CCs. We ended up being a Euro or so short and couldn't find a working change machine or any employees. Then I tried the Hyatt CC and it worked.

Now that I have the Plat I need to call and get the chip version.

Just requested my Chip & Sig AMEX Plat card for an upcoming trip to France. Any experience with the unmanned kiosks there - e.g. Metro, RER stations?

They don't work with AMEX unfortunately. Visa/MC only.

I just returned from London and the only card I could rely on for dealing with unmanned kiosks such as London Underground was my Diners Club which had Chip and PIN. Worked great.

Called Amex just now upon my return since I heard they can issue Chip+PIN on request. Rep told me it would just be Chip+Sig, so I told her not to bother. So annoying that American Express touts themselves as the perfect card for travel but I can't get a card that can be used universally in Europe.

So much for the world of possibilities that Platinum Amex unlocks...

I just returned from London and the only card I could rely on for dealing with unmanned kiosks such as London Underground was my Diners Club which had Chip and PIN. Worked great.

Called Amex just now upon my return since I heard they can issue Chip+PIN on request. Rep told me it would just be Chip+Sig, so I told her not to bother. So annoying that American Express touts themselves as the perfect card for travel but I can't get a card that can be used universally in Europe.

So much for the world of possibilities that Platinum Amex unlocks...

Amex US seems to be issuing Pin-surpressed cards, which is slightly different from some other US chip and signature issuers.

Effectively it will ask for a signature unless a signature request is not possible, it will then revert to PIN (Which will be your ATM one). So probably worth while asking for it anyway.

Does seem stupid they won't issue Chip and PIN cards though considering the fact I have 3 Chip and PIN UK issued Amex cards.

An additional data point: I was in Canada last week, and used my US-issued Chip&Sig Centurion card at a restaurant that had mobile credit card terminals where you insert the card. The waitress inserted the card, but it instructed her to swipe it instead, which worked. I'm not sure if this was because it was Chip&Sig, or if for some reason it didn't recognize the chip at all.

An additional data point: I was in Canada last week, and used my US-issued Chip&Sig Centurion card at a restaurant that had mobile credit card terminals where you insert the card. The waitress inserted the card, but it instructed her to swipe it instead, which worked. I'm not sure if this was because it was Chip&Sig, or if for some reason it didn't recognize the chip at all.

Its actually an issue with Amex chips and Canada. An Amex chip and pin card would have had to have swiped as well.

I just returned from London and the only card I could rely on for dealing with unmanned kiosks such as London Underground was my Diners Club which had Chip and PIN. Worked great.

Called Amex just now upon my return since I heard they can issue Chip+PIN on request. Rep told me it would just be Chip+Sig, so I told her not to bother. So annoying that American Express touts themselves as the perfect card for travel but I can't get a card that can be used universally in Europe.

So much for the world of possibilities that Platinum Amex unlocks...

My US-issued Platinum Amex with Chip+Sig worked perfectly with the London Underground kiosks earlier this year.

I called today to replace my amex plat for one with the smart chip. When I spoke to the rep, I accidentally asked for a chip and pin card. After a minute on hold, he told me that they currently don't have chip and pin card (obviously) but amex is working on chip and pin on certain cards in the future. That's when I realized I made the mistake of asking for a chip and pin vs chip and signature. I haven't had the time to scroll through this thread, but was wondering if anyone has heard anything similar. It seemed like the agent knew what he was talking about and wasn't confused or anything. Maybe there were enough complaints from traveling amex holders for a chip and pin card?

Nevertheless, my new card will be here tomorrow :)

In 14 years I've never called Amex customer service. Billing questions, MR points that didn't post or product changes I've always been able to handle through email. Actually amazed what they can handle without a call. Going tool don in July and railed requesting chip card. Was told I needed to call. Called, requested chip card an asked if I needed next day. Said no, they asked no questions and received 3 days later. Not sure why I needed to call

In 14 years I've never called Amex customer service. Billing questions, MR points that didn't post or product changes I've always been able to handle through email. Actually amazed what they can handle without a call. Going tool don in July and railed requesting chip card. Was told I needed to call. Called, requested chip card an asked if I needed next day. Said no, they asked no questions and received 3 days later. Not sure why I needed to call

They can't do card replacements via email due to security apparently. Well they can't in the UK anyway.