"RichardS" wrote in message
...


I gather that it will be possible to get Chip'n'Signature cards (as
opposed to Chip'n'Pin), though the CC providers are not particularly
forthcoming with this information.

You only need to ask, I did and there was no problem, no questions, no
argument ... instant new card.

Reason I was trying to find out about this is that I never, ever, ever
withdraw cash on my credit cards, but with several cards the only possible
way I will be able to remember PINs is to set them all to be the same, or
an easily identifiable variant - for instance on PIN on my switch/debit
card, and perhaps the reverse on all CCs.

Now (and I appreciate you probably find yourself in this situation, Mary)
my nightmare scenario is out on a bit of a bender in town, run out of
cash, need to use cash machine. Pick up card from wallet, but
accidentally insert the wrong card - a credit card - and tap in number.
Withdraw cash, get charged the earth.

LOL! That's unlikely to happen to me. Spouse does all that. Twice, perhaps
three times, in goodness knows how many years. We rarely use cash.

So, I rang round all my CC providers and asked them if I could set the
cash withdrawal limit to zero. No, absolutely not, can't be done comes
back the answer - they all say "it's written into your terms and
conditions".

Asked about this on the Motley Fool discussion boards, and answer comes
back "why not get chip'n'signature card? Solves the whole problem.".

What I can't find out is whether this type of card will actually be any
use on a day to day basis.

Why shouldn't it be?

What will happen if you forget your pin or incorrectly type it three times
is that the merchant can accept your signature instead. However, in this
scenario they will be then liable for any fraudulant use of the card, so
it is highly likely that the majority of merchants will refuse to accept a
signature. I can forsee all kinds of problems with petrol stations - you
have cards, you fill up, mistype or forget PIN, they refuse signature on a
card transaction - what do you do then?

I doubt that they'll hold you hostage!


Of course, Mary, you could remember your PIN by scratching it onto the
cards... ;-)

Oh, yes, so I could! Never thought of that, thanks :-)

Mary