From: T S Skogvold 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: Chip and PIN - Any C&S cards refused yet?
Date: Tue, 21 Feb 2006 23:23:07 +0000

On Sun, 19 Feb 2006 21:08:39 -0000, "A J Kincaid"  wrote:

>
>"JM"  wrote in message 
>news:45s4cpF8a37pU1@individual.net...
>>A J Kincaid wrote:
>>> In Marks & Spencers yesterday I had to sign rather than use my PIN. I 
>>> thought you had to use your PIN at all retailers now. Have I got it 
>>> wrong?
>>> I was going to ask the cashier this but I'd been queing up so long I 
>>> couldn't be arsed.
>>
>> You only have to use the PIN at retailers which have Chip and Pin 
>> machinery, and where you have a Chip and Pin card.  If either of those 
>> tests fails, you sign.
>>
>
>Marks have Chip & Pin machinery. I have a Chip & Pin card. So I don't 
>understand why I had to sign instead of using my PIN. 

In Norway, where the brand new concept of 'Chip and PIN' has been
around for as long as I can remember (think I got my first bank
account in 1993), the 'fallback' if the terminal is offline is that
the customer approves the transaction by signature. 

In this scenario it is normally also required that the customer
provides ID, however I guess this is at the retailer's discretion.
Have never experienced being turned away if I didn't have ID.

Mind you, in Norway, the Chip and PIN card itself contains a laminated
photo and various codes, hence if you have your card you also have ID
that is recognised everywhere... Now there's an idea!


--
Thomas