At one merchant in Canada, could only use a non-chip USA card.
Sep 8, 2015, 9:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
At one merchant in Canada, could only use a non-chip USA card.
Had an odd experience in Montreal the other day. I'm USA-based and most of my cards now have chips. At one merchant, the terminal was on-line but the chip reader wasn't working. We tried a couple cards and the terminal didn't respond to the chips, but when they were swiped it said to use the chip reader.
I realized I had my non-chip Chase IHG card with me, and that worked when swiped.
So it may still be worth it to carry a non-chip card around, even in predominantly chip-using countries!
Seth
I realized I had my non-chip Chase IHG card with me, and that worked when swiped.
So it may still be worth it to carry a non-chip card around, even in predominantly chip-using countries!
Seth
Sep 8, 2015, 10:14 pm
#2
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Location: San Diego, CA
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The terminal should have allowed the swipe after the chip failed to read a few times. They also should still have been able to enter the card #, etc. by hand if all else fails. I wonder why neither happened.
Anyway, having non-chipped cards may be unrealistic for some at this point (and will soon be impossible for everyone).
Anyway, having non-chipped cards may be unrealistic for some at this point (and will soon be impossible for everyone).
Sep 8, 2015, 10:35 pm
#3
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
Yeah, I figured my "luck" in using a non-chip card was a fluke of the long transition period to chip cards.
Thanks for the suggestions to run the card a few times or enter the number by hand; that's helpful for next time!
Seth
Thanks for the suggestions to run the card a few times or enter the number by hand; that's helpful for next time!
Seth
Sep 9, 2015, 1:52 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
This is an argument against chip cards (not saying you're making it, but I have heard it) I don't understand: sometimes the readers fail, so we shouldn't switch. Sometimes magnetic stripe readers fail or are incredibly quirky too (can anyone say the plastic bag trick? LOL). I am not convinced either fails more often, both are mechanical devices subject to both normal wear as well as dirty or damaged customer cards.
If anything it is a good argument to support contactless.
If anything it is a good argument to support contactless.
Sep 9, 2015, 2:15 am
#5
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This is an argument against chip cards (not saying you're making it, but I have heard it) I don't understand: sometimes the readers fail, so we shouldn't switch. Sometimes magnetic stripe readers fail or are incredibly quirky too (can anyone say the plastic bag trick? LOL). I am not convinced either fails more often, both are mechanical devices subject to both normal wear as well as dirty or damaged customer cards.
If anything it is a good argument to support contactless.
If anything it is a good argument to support contactless.
It's dishonest as hell but at least a couple of people will fall for it.
Sep 9, 2015, 1:17 pm
#6
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If so, having non-chipped cards always handy would not be impossible therefore for MSers who hold off on turning their Visa/MC gift cards back into cash.
Sep 11, 2015, 9:59 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: NYC
Posts: 419
Thanks for the thoughts on this. I agree, chip readers and magnetic-strip readers are both subject to occasional failure. I think it's a good switch we're making but it won't eliminate terminal problems.
Interesting point about gift cards -- guess it may make sense not to liquidate all of them! Just have to keep track of 'em.
Seth
Interesting point about gift cards -- guess it may make sense not to liquidate all of them! Just have to keep track of 'em.
Seth
Sep 11, 2015, 10:09 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: San Diego, CA
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Thanks for the thoughts on this. I agree, chip readers and magnetic-strip readers are both subject to occasional failure. I think it's a good switch we're making but it won't eliminate terminal problems.
Interesting point about gift cards -- guess it may make sense not to liquidate all of them! Just have to keep track of 'em.
Seth
Interesting point about gift cards -- guess it may make sense not to liquidate all of them! Just have to keep track of 'em.
Seth