I had issues with the card being read at various places in Japan, but it has happened here in the US too. It probably has something to do with the card being metallic. There didn't seem to be any pattern as to where the card would work and where it didn't. If I recall correctly by the end of the trip I ended up using my BA card more often than the CSP because of the issues.
In my experience some places in the US have issues with the card as well.