topic Re: Defective CHIP issues in Credit Cards

Defective CHIP issues

Aim_High — Thu, 11 May 2023 19:32:56 GMT

My brand-new Chase IHG Premier Rewards Visa (approved March) had problems with the chip, and I'm not sure if I ever got it to be accepted. I noticed the pattern as I used it and it was declined over many transactions at many terminals. I usually used it contactless. Sometimes, I tried to swipe it when the chip was declined but the machines often instructed me to insert the card. Grrr. I finally got around to calling Chase to send me a replacement.

I was just wondering how often our members have had some problems with chip acceptance? I haven't heard too much discussion of this before on the forums and haven't experienced frequent issues with my many cards over the years.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 20:11:15 GMT

It happens with me every so often. I just growl at the card, rub it on my shirt, and try again.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Aim_High — Thu, 11 May 2023 20:20:30 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
It happens with me every so often. I just growl at the card, rub it on my shirt, and try again.

Maybe I didn't growl loudly enough.

No, I've had those temporary issues but they weren't defective chips. What I was really referring to was one card's consistent defect that you had to replace it. I've had magnetic stripe issues before or replaced card due to wear or cracking, but don't believe I've ever had to replace one due to the chip not working.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 20:35:22 GMT

No I haven't had it happen that I had to replace a card due to faulty chip. They usually crack before then. One of my current cards was issued in 2017. Still going strong.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Aim_High — Thu, 11 May 2023 20:54:42 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
No I haven't had it happen that I had to replace a card due to faulty chip. They usually crack before then. One of my current cards was issued in 2017. Still going strong.

Impressive! It must be about due for replacment anyway? Since this one was brand new, it sounds like a manufacturing defect. In general, it appears to me that the chips are more durable, reliable, and sturdy than the magnetic strips. And now my magnetic strips are more reliable as a backup payment method since the contactless or chip payments put less wear on the strips.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

FireMedic1 — Thu, 11 May 2023 21:21:26 GMT

Happens here and there. I'll pull it out. Put it back in and push down on the card so the chip makes better contact. Works everytime.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

M_Smart007 — Thu, 11 May 2023 21:24:43 GMT

@Aim_High wrote:
Defective CHIP issues

This is why I switched to;

JK ...I have encountered bad CHIP/Dirty readers and had to tap or swipe, but so far no CC defects.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

FireMedic1 — Thu, 11 May 2023 21:33:15 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:
Defective CHIP issues

This is why I switched to;

JK ...I have encountered bad CHIP/Dirty readers and had to tap or swipe, but so far no CC defects.

@M_Smart007Thought maybe this..

Ooops.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Anonymous — Thu, 11 May 2023 22:01:00 GMT

have a look at this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHF9kNwRyh4

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Kforce — Fri, 12 May 2023 01:18:42 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
have a look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHF9kNwRyh4

I might have to try that, looks like a fun worthless project.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Hex — Fri, 12 May 2023 01:37:58 GMT

@M_Smart007 wrote:
@Aim_High wrote:
Defective CHIP issues

This is why I switched to;

JK ...I have encountered bad CHIP/Dirty readers and had to tap or swipe, but so far no CC defects.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

markbeiser — Fri, 12 May 2023 02:30:29 GMT

You ain't holdin' yer mouth right!

Re: Defective CHIP issues

ChargedUp — Fri, 12 May 2023 02:55:02 GMT

My 2 cards that seem to be the most finicky as far as the chips working are my AAA Visa and my Gemini MC. They both have given me issues in chip enabled gas pumps. Strange enough, my Gemini MC gets prompted to enter a PIN number at the local 76 station when I use tap to pay, even if I select credit card on the pump first. Just hitting Enter gets an approval. Using the chip in the same pump just asks for a zip code.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Anonymalous — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:54:13 GMT

No, the cards seem pretty reliable. All the problems I've run into are with the readers, though the newer readers seem to be more reliable than the old ones. Suprisingly, the failures seem to all be in the "poke" readers, not the tap to pay. I've never had tap to pay fail with a credit card, though the amount of time needed to read it does seem to vary (not excessively). I have had tap to pay fail with debit cards, however. If one of the managers at Navy is to be believed, that's a widespread problem, and one caused by the difficulties in adapting the underlying debit card technology.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Fri, 12 May 2023 15:50:40 GMT

My PayPal chip never works so I don't use it out and about.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Aim_High — Fri, 12 May 2023 20:17:50 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
Happens here and there. I'll pull it out. Put it back in and push down on the card so the chip makes better contact. Works everytime.

Tried those tips, @FireMedic1, but thanks for the perspective. Usually, I've gotten my CHIP to work on my other cards, even if I had to try-again. Occassionally, there was a problem with a card reader but then the same card worked smoothly with the next transaction at a different terminal. So this was the first time I've had a CHIP not work repeatedly at different times and terminals.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Aim_High — Fri, 12 May 2023 20:22:11 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
have a look at this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHF9kNwRyh4

Well, that was quite interesting and informative, @Anonymous. So now, we see that the contactless method still uses the CHIP but just with the antennae wire! And my "contactless" payment always worked, so apparently the internal portion of my CHIP was fine; it was just something to do with the part where it interfaced with the reader. Thanks for sharing that video.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

crystal626 — Sat, 13 May 2023 03:29:11 GMT

My partner has to have his cards replaced no later than 6 months after he gets them because the chip stops working and eventually the mag stripe does too. I don't know what he does to mess them up but it's a constant issue.

I've only had a chip stop working once but everyone takes mobile pay now so I just use that. My partner refuses though. He hates phones.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

Lou-natic — Sat, 13 May 2023 04:53:50 GMT

I don't know if "defective" is the right word but the chip in my FNBO card is SLOOOOOOWWWWWW compared to all my others. Like "tap and pay" is more "hold it there for a hot minute and it'll pay...eventually". Just my Evergreen card, same reader but any of my other cards and it's almost instant. It's like that one chip takes longer to "charge" or something before it can work. It definitely has a noticeable delay to it that isn't there with any of my other cards for sure.

Re: Defective CHIP issues

FireMedic1 — Sat, 13 May 2023 08:30:47 GMT

@Aim_HighOne store took one of their bags put my card in it. Then placed it in the reader. It worked. And the ole rub your thumb over the chip a few times. Just like your phone. Body oils and stuff get on cards.