Originally Posted by
Xyzzy
I get your point, but that's the case with any credit card at any time. I've been t
plenty of places that couldn't accept cards at all for a period of time for some reason.
In Europe (particularly the UK) I find chip+signature to be far better than the mag stripe cards. Many merchants either don't have mag stripe readers or workers have no idea how they work. With chip+signature I no longer have to explain anything or try to convince someone to try swiping my card. Instead, they stick the familiar-looking chip end in and instead of asking me to enter my PIN a piece of paper pops out. Sometimes this happens as they ask me to enter my (n
nexistent) PIN.
Do I wish we had real chip+pin cards? Of course! But this isn't as bad as people make it out to be. I find it actually causes less confusion.
OK, here's what I would consider a "safe" position regarding Chip & Signature-
Plan for it to be of no more use than a striped-only card, but try it whenever possible, and it may save you some trips to the ATM for cash. Just don't assume it's going to put you on par with the options available to locals.
In all likelihood it will work in (some) places the stripe-only cards will not. ^