chip and pin!!!!

Looks like Americans are getting chips. I have a few American credit cards. Just got a new card and it has a chip in it. Usually you have to request the chip for Europe, but this one came with it unrequested. I was a little surprised at the gas station, usually I swipe it like normal, but this time had to leave it in for the chip to be read. Still no pin, but the chip is a good start.

 

We've had the chip and pin in Canada for at least 5 years now. So I'm very used to the technology.

One thing that happened frequently and still happens in the U.S. is restaurants double charging credit cards. Now you control the credit card, it never happens.

Nice thing about the chip, thieves would need to copy the chip. You try to swipe a chipped card at a retailer with a chip reader, it makes you insert the card into the chip reader.

This is why I don't use credit cards online, its the only way a thief can steal my cards. I had a diners club card stolen and $10k in charges made. Took months to get Diners to leave me alone. It was their fault the card got stolen. The hassle has me more paranoid about credit card theft. I love this technology.