Chip-pin not working in Europe

[Mailak]

I've been using the PenFed chip-pin card in various countries in Asia as well as Europe. It is signature priority, so the card readers always spit out a receipt for signature everywhere. I thought, okay - when I use it at an automated machine, it will go to pin. Unfortunately, when I tried to use the card in German rail fare machines, it wouldn't work. The machines just say this card cannot be accepted. I always have to insert cash into the machines :-(

So, the PenFed chip-pin card is proving no more useful than my CSP chip-signature.

Haven't actually tried to use a non-chip card since only my chipped cards are no-FTF. Using my Schwab ATM card to make no-FTF fee-reimbursed cash withdrawals everywhere!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for info!

[nachoslibres]

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@Mailak wrote:

I've been using the PenFed chip-pin card in various countries in Asia as well as Europe. It is signature priority, so the card readers always spit out a receipt for signature everywhere. I thought, okay - when I use it at an automated machine, it will go to pin. Unfortunately, when I tried to use the card in German rail fare machines, it wouldn't work. The machines just say this card cannot be accepted. I always have to insert cash into the machines :-(

So, the PenFed chip-pin card is proving no more useful than my CSP chip-signature.

Haven't actually tried to use a non-chip card since only my chipped cards are no-FTF. Using my Schwab ATM card to make no-FTF fee-reimbursed cash withdrawals everywhere!

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Have you tried going somewhere where a chip/pin terminal is manned by a human.  It is my understanding on many chip/pin cards that you have to activate the chip/pin in a terminal that is manned by a human - so they can allow you activate/set the pin.  You may have done this already with your card, but I know with the Arrival+ I have in order for me to use chip/pin at unmanned terminals I would first have to activate this feature somehwere like a hotel - where they have an agent to allow you to activate it.

[Mailak]

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@nachoslibres wrote:

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@Mailak wrote:

I've been using the PenFed chip-pin card in various countries in Asia as well as Europe. It is signature priority, so the card readers always spit out a receipt for signature everywhere. I thought, okay - when I use it at an automated machine, it will go to pin. Unfortunately, when I tried to use the card in German rail fare machines, it wouldn't work. The machines just say this card cannot be accepted. I always have to insert cash into the machines :-(

So, the PenFed chip-pin card is proving no more useful than my CSP chip-signature.

Haven't actually tried to use a non-chip card since only my chipped cards are no-FTF. Using my Schwab ATM card to make no-FTF fee-reimbursed cash withdrawals everywhere!

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Have you tried going somewhere where a chip/pin terminal is manned by a human.  It is my understanding on many chip/pin cards that you have to activate the chip/pin in a terminal that is manned by a human - so they can allow you activate/set the pin.  You may have done this already with your card, but I know with the Arrival+ I have in order for me to use chip/pin at unmanned terminals I would first have to activate this feature somehwere like a hotel - where they have an agent to allow you to activate it.

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Yes, I have used it at multiple places with a person who plugged the card into their pin-pad reader. The machine just always spit out a receipt for me to sign. The PenFed card comes with a Pin coded in. You don't get to set a pin with them. But I am unsure about this other activation business. I sent PenFed a secure message to ask.

[Mailak]

Hmmph. PenFed just sent me a template reply about how chip is used in europe and that some merchants might want to swipe the card since it's from the U.S., blah blah. Nothing related to my questions about PIN. Like they didn't even read my message properly. Disappointed.

[youdontkillmoney]

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@nachoslibres wrote:

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@Mailak wrote:

I've been using the PenFed chip-pin card in various countries in Asia as well as Europe. It is signature priority, so the card readers always spit out a receipt for signature everywhere. I thought, okay - when I use it at an automated machine, it will go to pin. Unfortunately, when I tried to use the card in German rail fare machines, it wouldn't work. The machines just say this card cannot be accepted. I always have to insert cash into the machines :-(

So, the PenFed chip-pin card is proving no more useful than my CSP chip-signature.

Haven't actually tried to use a non-chip card since only my chipped cards are no-FTF. Using my Schwab ATM card to make no-FTF fee-reimbursed cash withdrawals everywhere!

---

Have you tried going somewhere where a chip/pin terminal is manned by a human.  It is my understanding on many chip/pin cards that you have to activate the chip/pin in a terminal that is manned by a human - so they can allow you activate/set the pin.  You may have done this already with your card, but I know with the Arrival+ I have in order for me to use chip/pin at unmanned terminals I would first have to activate this feature somehwere like a hotel - where they have an agent to allow you to activate it.

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^^^^^^^^^

That's may be an option from my travels in Europe a few years back (France & Italy) but the problem is the lines are soooo long and sooo slow but acceptable for European standards that I almost felt like I was in a socialist country, it is decidely Inconvenient to find a window with a human in it at train stations.

[UTK_GOBO]

The PIN is hard coded into their EMV cards. If you want to change the pin, they would have to send you a new card. Unilke Barclaycard Arrivel+ you can change your pin online, and then the next time you use it at an EMV terminal it will change the pin on the chip. Its signature priority, but it should have default to PIN when signature is not accepted or available. 

[sjt]

I thought Schwab charge 1% FTF

[UTK_GOBO]

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@sjt wrote:

I thought Schwab charge 1% FTF

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Schwab doesn't charge any FTF. 

[Mailak]

Tried it at multiple places with human. It always goes signature priority. Without human at a rail fare machine, it doesn't work.

Anyway, so here was my rail fare solution: Install the Deutsche Bahn Navigator app and pay by credit card using it! Show barcode on mobile ticket when they ask. No humans, no chip-pin. Need smart phone and data service. (You haven't lived till you have completed a sim card application in german along with instructions in german!)