American Express Membership Rewards - US AMEX w/ Chip+PIN

As I continue traveling to Europe this year, I find that on each trip its getting harder to use a regular swipe AMEX card. The new Chip+PIN rules have made it very confusing for merchants.

I have contacted AMEX several times asking when I get a US Card with this technology. The best answer to date is for me to apply for a UK card! Anyone know if that can be linked to MR? Does anyone know of a US card with Chip+PIN (doesn't have to be AMEX).

Fryfrye

I ran into a similar problem in May in London. But it wasn't with an Amex card. It was with a visa and MasterCard. When I came back I called the bank that issued the MasterCard and they have never heard of that rule. To make it even better the bank is one of the biggest credit card banks in the world. When you visit their UK site they have the cards with the chip and pin. But have no clue about it here in the states. I guess the credit card companies don't want to allow us to use our cards internationally.

The Chip+PIN rules in the UK have absolutely no effect whatsoever on cards which don't have an embedded chip.

I don't know what you guys have been told about Chip+PIN but I don't think it's true.

As I continue traveling to Europe this year, I find that on each trip its getting harder to use a regular swipe AMEX card. The new Chip+PIN rules have made it very confusing for merchants.

I have contacted AMEX several times asking when I get a US Card with this technology. The best answer to date is for me to apply for a UK card! Anyone know if that can be linked to MR? Does anyone know of a US card with Chip+PIN (doesn't have to be AMEX).

Fryfrye

this is only a problem in UK, other european countries are not using this system on credit cards.

yep

this is only a problem in UK, other european countries are not using this system on credit cards.

It is slowly coming. I have already used my Visa with Chip in Estonia. And in Finland they are implementing the new card readers.

Amex although is coming behind, Visa/MC are leading the way.

It is slowly coming. I have already used my Visa with Chip in Estonia. And in Finland they are implementing the new card readers.

Amex although is coming behind, Visa/MC are leading the way.
Oh Please!!!
Amex has already issued proximity cards in the US for 4 years now and v/mc are just now doing some very small tests.
Amex does have chip based cards in the US as I have one that I received last November and none of the US Banks or Visa or MasterCard are able to issue chip cards yet.
You probably like Discover as well.

Amex has already issued proximity cards in the US for 4 years now and v/mc are just now doing some very small tests.
Amex does have chip based cards in the US as I have one that I received last November and none of the US Banks or Visa or MasterCard are able to issue chip cards yet.
You probably like Discover as well.

What I was writing was about Europe. Amex is currently issuing chip+pin cards only in UK. Visa and MC are issuing them almost every country in Europe and also forcing the usage. I have had my Visa equipped with chip now over a year, none of my Amex cards have chip.

I don't like Discover - we don't have it in Europe :D

I didn't know that Amex issues chip+pin cards in the USA - so you do not have to sign any receipts any longer? Are all the cards issued by Amex chip+pin cards in the USA?

This is poor training of the retailers. If the card has no chip, it should be swiped as usual with no pin required.

I have a new Chip & Pin Centurion, and to be honest I get remarks because it DOES have the chip (most Amex cards still do not).

this is only a problem in UK, other european countries are not using this system on credit cards.
Still waiting for an answer on what these supposed problems are...

(and France has been using IC cards for YEARS!)

Indeed... I've actually never had a French issued VISA card WITHOUT chip&pin... These cards have been in use here for about 20 years!!



(and France has been using IC cards for YEARS!)

Oh Please!!!
Amex has already issued proximity cards in the US for 4 years now and v/mc are just now doing some very small tests.
Amex does have chip based cards in the US as I have one that I received last November and none of the US Banks or Visa or MasterCard are able to issue chip cards yet.
You probably like Discover as well.

Chip+PIN is different than AMEX BLUE that has the RFID in it. Which AMEX card did you recieve that has CHIP+PIN? I have the standard Platnum card....perhaps I should try to get a black card out of this... ;-)

Indeed... I've actually never had a French issued VISA card WITHOUT chip&pin... These cards have been in use here for about 20 years!!
Of course, this being France, the system used is incompatible with the international standard :D

Of course, this being France, the system used is incompatible with the international standard :D

Wrong as I've recently used my VISA card in Italy using the chip&pin feature... Shouldn't the international standard anyway be the one that was used in the first country that carried Chip&pin cards? :eek:

To further complicate things, a Canadian bank has issued a platinum VISA card with a chip (although chip readers are not common here), but my understanding is that the chip doesn't have a PIN. It is exactly like swiping the card and produces a receipt with a signature line.

I am now traveling in London and just went out shopping today. My Visa Platinum card (issued in Thailand) has a chip/sim and the very first time since I arrived UK, the merchant asked me to input a PIN and I basically told her that I don't need to (this is because in Bath, I did not have to put in any pin when using the same card)...she took a look at her screen for a few seconds, then she apologized and told me that I am correct...then the transaction went thru.

The 2nd store and onwards did not ask for my pin as the transactions went thru with no problem...

Somehow, I don't find any problems. If you got pin, great, if now, transactions should go thru (at least all mine went thru with no problem).

I also have an AMEX card (USA) with a chip in it, but I have never been asked for a PIN, and if I were I would not know it. Going through all that India stuff to ask them to reset my card PIN is too much to handle. I have used it in the UK without swiping (so I use the chip), but the clerk always tears off a signature receipt and I again think they are never sure if it will ask for PIN or signature, but they surly support both.


I have frequently been using a Citi Dividend MasterCard issued in USA without issue in the UK also.

I get the impression that if they do not see a chip on the card, they automatically swipe it in the nifty little handheld wireless device and it prints the receipt I have to sign first, and then they check the signature matches and then it prints my copy of the card receipt after they push button to verify the match. Though I have a feeling they are never sure if the LCD screen will ask them for a PIN in which case they would hand the device over to me to enter one or if the LCD screen will ask for a signature.

They are sure to match the signatures, and I have more than once been questioned as sometimes they "feel" the signatures do not match.


credit and debit card fraud has dropped by loads with Chip & PIN technology.

I also have an AMEX card (USA) with a chip in it, but I have never been asked for a PIN, and if I were I would not know it.

Which Amex you have if I may ask? Chip+Pin does not work if you do not know your PIN and I think they will always tell it to you. That is how it works with Visa/MC; I am not sure how it works with Amex UK as they have now started to rollout Chip+Pin (do they mail your PIN automatically?).


credit and debit card fraud has dropped by loads with Chip & PIN technology.

I am not sure about that yet as I think most of the markets are still rolling out the technology.

Which Amex you have if I may ask? Chip+Pin does not work if you do not know your PIN and I think they will always tell it to you. That is how it works with Visa/MC; I am not sure how it works with Amex UK as they have now started to rollout Chip+Pin (do they mail your PIN automatically?).




I am not sure about that yet as I think most of the markets are still rolling out the technology.

In the UK it has dropped. I have seen literature on it.

I have a blue from when it was a new product in USA (2001?). I don't think AMEX USA issues anymore chip cards even on replacements of renewals. Although, I think even if I knew my PIN I could not use chip+PIN---my card is not enabled for that. I think the caveat of chip+PIN is that your issuer has to enable your account to use it.

Which Amex you have if I may ask? Chip+Pin does not work if you do not know your PIN and I think they will always tell it to you. That is how it works with Visa/MC; I am not sure how it works with Amex UK as they have now started to rollout Chip+Pin (do they mail your PIN automatically?).
It's worth noting that, in the UK at least, we have three different varieties of cards.

Firstly, the original mag-stripe cards with signature verification.

Secondly, the Chip and PIN card with IC and PIN verification.

Thirdly, and rather more uncommon, is the Chip and Sign card which has the IC but still uses the signature for verification.

One of my Centurion cards is Chip and Sign and one is Chip and PIN (due to the date of issue), and I've never had any problems - although that said I did get a £9 charge for groceries 'declined' at the supermarket midweek. Which was odd as (funnily enough) Amex had actually approved it!

I think there are still some minor wrinkles in the system to be worked out.

Information about UK Chip and PIN (which is unrelated to the chips that American Express uses in Blue cards issued in North America) is here...

http://www.chipandpin.co.uk/index.html

Q. I am visiting the UK as a tourist or on business and I don't have a chip and PIN card - will I be able to use it in shops?

A. You don't need to worry. Your cards will still be accepted in UK shops and by other businesses including hotels and restaurants. You will simply be asked to sign, just as before. The changes taking place after 14 February 2006 only apply to chip and PIN cardholders.