Campaigns

Chip & PIN deadline

Summary: You will no longer be able to sign with your Chip and PIN card.

• Changes after 14 February 2006
• What you need to do
• Mystery Shopping
• Further help

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Changes after 14 February 2006

On 14 February 2006 signatures will no longer be accepted when using Chip & PIN cards. This will not affect blind and partially sighted people and others who have been issued with a Chip & Signature card; signatures will still be allowed.

Do you have the right card for you?

Some blind and partially sighted people who are unable to use PINs have a Chip & PIN card rather than a Chip & Signature card. They have until now been asking retailers to allow them to sign rather than key in a PIN. We would strongly advise anyone in this position to contact their card issuer to request a Chip & Signature card.

Are you being told you have to use PINs?

Unsurprisingly, messages about these changes are sometimes getting confused. Some customers have been told by banks or retailers that no signatures will be allowed at all. This is incorrect.

The Chip & PIN cards and the Chip & Signature cards look identical. Cashiers will not be able to tell from just looking at your card that you have a Chip & Signature card. Retailers and their staff who are confused about the use of signatures with Chip & Signature cards should be reminded that when the card is inserted into the machine it will actually tell them to request a signature rather than a PIN number. Hopefully this will solve most problems!

What you need to do

If a retailer refuses to allow you to use your Chip & Signature card, explain that the card does allow you to sign.

Tell them that when your card is put into the reader it will say that a signature rather than a PIN is required. The exact wording may differ from shop to shop but it will say something along the lines of "request signature", "signature", "Pin Suppressed Card".

If the retailer is still adamant that they won't accept your Chip & Signature card then they could be in breach of the Disability Discrimination Act. This is the view of the Disability Rights Commission and APACs (the body established by the banking industry).

Mystery Shopping

In April 2005 and January 2006 we carried out Mystery shopping exercises to find out if blind and partially sighted people were being given the correct information that they would be able to continue to sign with a chip and signature card. On just under a quarter of these occasions, we were given incorrect or miss leading information.

Mystery Shopping report January 2006

Mystery Shopping report April 2005

We would be interested to hear from you if after 14 February 2006 a retailer has refused to allow you to use your Chip & Signature card. We would also like to hear from you if you are being told by your bank, building society or credit card company that you can't have a Chip & Signature card or that you have to use a PIN.

Please call us on 020 7391 2123 or email campaign@rnib.org.uk

Further help

If you have any queries or problems please contact RNIB's Helpline 0845 766 9999.

Further information on Chip & PIN

Content author: campaign@rnib.org.uk

Last updated: 20/11/2008 11:13