Does the US have chipped credit cards? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Barnes · 10-24-2009, 04:30 PM

Going to the US tomorrow and will be using my credit card a bit. I have one with the chips in and I have no idea what my pin is.

Do they use the chip/pin number in the US or is it still all rung through via magnetic strip and signature?

FlameCity · 10-24-2009, 04:38 PM

Not sure if they have chips in the US but I believe that the pin is usually that same as your bank cards pin.

redforever · 10-24-2009, 04:40 PM

USA does not have a chip. But our Canadian credit cards have both the swipe and the chip. So you can use your credit card no problem.

Many people do not have the same PIN on their credit cards and debit cards (ATM), so better you check what your situation is.

Table 5 · 10-24-2009, 04:41 PM

I live in the U.S and my credit card has a chip in it.

Barnes · 10-24-2009, 04:42 PM

The pins are not the same for some reason.

redforever · 10-24-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Table 5

I live in the U.S and my credit card has a chip in it.

Good to know that. When I got my first credit card with a chip and asked my bank about it, I was told at that time that the USA did not have chips but I would have no problem using my credit card because I could also swipe mine.

redforever · 10-24-2009, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barnes

The pins are not the same for some reason.

Usually the PINs are set by the customer so perhaps you set the cards up that way for extra security?

T@T · 10-24-2009, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redforever

USA does not have a chip. But our Canadian credit cards have both the swipe and the chip. So you can use your credit card no problem.

Many people do not have the same PIN on their credit cards and debit cards (ATM), so better you check what your situation is.

Bank of America had chiped cards last March.

Art Vandelay · 10-24-2009, 05:00 PM

My bank sent me a letter separate from the credit card with the pin. Not sure if this is standard with every bank.

redforever · 10-24-2009, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T@T

Bank of America had chiped cards last March.

I can't see how the USA can not follow what other countries are doing with their credit cards. To not do so would be to severely hamper their own citizens when travelling outside of the USA.

redforever · 10-24-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

My bank sent me a letter separate from the credit card with the pin. Not sure if this is standard with every bank.

Sometimes banks do that and then the customer has the discretion of choosing a new pin once the card is activated.

LChoy · 10-24-2009, 05:03 PM

Was in Buffalo 2 weeks ago. My credit card has a chip in it, so it asked for my PIN when I bought stuff.
Some places still print out a paper receipt for signature instead of asking for a pin. I guess you can always ask to see if you can do that instead of inputting your PIN

redforever · 10-24-2009, 05:09 PM

Another thing my bank told me, and I am not sure if it applies to credit cards as well as ATM cards. If you do a lot of travelling, keep your PIN to four characters, numbers or combination thereof. I was told some countries bank machines will not accept PINs longer than that.

Now I have never had any problem because my PIN is of that length. But some close friends of ours were in Australia this year and he had trouble using his credit card and I do believe it was to do with the PIN.

Anyhow, best thing to do is check with your bank in regards to that.

flip · 10-24-2009, 06:06 PM

I have a chip card and I was sent a PIN but have the option of changing it.

FTR I asked my banker father and the reason not much of the US has chips is because banks aren't as regulated in the US. Banks in the US aren't chartered so having the big banks in Canada agree on chips is easy because there are so few. In the US there are SOOO many banks and as such it is WAY harder to get them all to sign on to the chip program.

Barnes · 10-24-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flip

I have a chip card and I was sent a PIN but have the option of changing it.

FTR I asked my banker father and the reason not much of the US has chips is because banks aren't as regulated in the US. Banks in the US aren't chartered so having the big banks in Canada agree on chips is easy because there are so few. In the US there are SOOO many banks and as such it is WAY harder to get them all to sign on to the chip program.

Sounds like I should be okay as it sounds like support for the chips aren't that high and POS systems probably wont support them. I'll bring a ski mask and a pellet gun just in case.

I was sent a letter with my pin before they sent they new card. Apparently I have brained too many kill cells and have the memory of a goldfish.

Bagor · 10-25-2009, 12:53 AM

Weird that it's taken 10+ years for N. America to utilize the technology.

Anyone any reason why? Security? Political? Costs?

BuzzardsWife · 10-25-2009, 07:10 AM

They do have chips in the U.S. and the Pin is NOT the same as your debit card!!

evilcougar · 10-25-2009, 12:27 PM

I think it just depends on which company or bank your credit card is through. I have a bank account and a visa through the Royal Bank and also a bank account and a mastercard through BMO.
The royal bank visa PIN is automatically the same as my bank account PIN but the BMO mastercard PIN was sent to me with the option to change it if i want.

DOK · 10-25-2009, 04:04 PM

Was just in the US for two weeks, used a visa and MC the entire time, never was asked for a pin, just swiped and signed. Debit card only worked in some stores though, not all.