American Express Membership Rewards - "Accepting Amex will break our chip and pin machine"

I'm serious! That's what the merchant told me!

I tried to use my shiny brand new Amex Platinum Charge Card the other day and the merchant had a hell of a panic saying "Nooo! DO NOT enter your pin number" because "using an Amex card in this reader will break it and lock up the till and they wouldn't be able to unlock it". He was absolutely convinced the they couldn't accept the card or all hell would break loose. Apparently I narrowly missed causing a major incident. :rolleyes:

I've had plenty of negative "recognition" with Amex cards in the past, so much so that I gave up using them but this one takes the biscuit!

I only got the card for the Travel/Car Insurance and Priority Pass - I don't intended to actuall USE it but I wanted to test the card to make sure it worked in case I ever needed to charge some travel insurance expenses to it. :eek:

Cute. Granted they don't work in some C&P machines (they do work in *most* by now), but I doubt using an AmEx card would EVER have any adverse effect on the MACHINE?!

I have had a Mastercard for no reason lock up the Target readers (although the cashier can override the mechanical reader), and there have been some reports of the Centurion card getting stuck in the Targte readers.

I have had a Mastercard for no reason lock up the Target readers (although the cashier can override the mechanical reader), and there have been some reports of the Centurion card getting stuck in the Targte readers.

They have and do. But no UK chip and pin cards, which was the point of the OP's post, are made of titanium. So a bit OT, no?