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Credit card requires PIN?

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Wsvance
Established Member

Credit card requires PIN?

So its been a few years since I've had a credit card and what I've found since using my new mastercard is that it requires a PIN at certain merchants. And at those merchants I pulled out a VISA instead and it went through with only a signature. I didn't want to risk being charged as a cash advance.

 

Is Mastercard requiring PIN with credit purchases now at certain stores?  











Message 1 of 11
10 REPLIES 10
FinStar
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Credit card requires PIN?

Which card or specific MC product are you referencing?

Message 2 of 11
800wannabe420
Regular Contributor

Re: Credit card requires PIN?


@Wsvance wrote:

So its been a few years since I've had a credit card and what I've found since using my new mastercard is that it requires a PIN at certain merchants. And at those merchants I pulled out a VISA instead and it went through with only a signature. I didn't want to risk being charged as a cash advance.

 

Is Mastercard requiring PIN with credit purchases now at certain stores?  


Hi!  It sounds as though you have a chip and pin card that is more popular in Europe than here in the U.S. for its added layer of security with unattended kiosks in mind.

 

It is not a feature of MasterCard but of your specific lender.

 

I have a chip and pin MasterCard myself that was issued by RBFCU and one thing I have noticed is an inconsistency as to when a pin is required or not.  I think this is due to the way each individual register ir card reader is programmed but I am not certain.

 

Also, once I was using this card at a restaurant and when the server attempted to authorize the charge it required the pin.  Just be prepared to supply your pin when someone other than yourself swipes your card.

Message 3 of 11
creditfan
Established Contributor

Re: Credit card requires PIN?

I know there are two MC card chip & pin priority. rbfcu MC and target MC

to my notice I see motst small purchases do not require pin for both rbfcu and target card. However, target card always requires pin in target store no matter how small the purchase is

Message 4 of 11
UncleB
Credit Mentor

Re: Credit card requires PIN?

I experience the same at my local USPS kiosk with my USAA Limitless Visa card.  To date, that's the only place (and the only card) I have to enter the PIN.

 

Here's the old thread:  https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Domestic-Credit-Card-Transaction-Required-PIN/m-p/5364... 

Message 5 of 11
FinStar
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Credit card requires PIN?


@creditfan wrote:

I know there are two MC card chip & pin priority. rbfcu MC and target MC

to my notice I see motst small purchases do not require pin for both rbfcu and target card. However, target card always requires pin in target store no matter how small the purchase is


Diners Club Premier and Elite MCs (for those of us who still have them) are also chip + PIN, and the [BMO Harris] Premium Rewards MC, IIRC.  PIN is not usually required when using as contactless depending on the terminal.

Message 6 of 11
FinStar
Moderator Emeritus

Re: Credit card requires PIN?


@UncleB wrote:

I experience the same at my local USPS kiosk with my USAA Limitless Visa card.  To date, that's the only place (and the only card) I have to enter the PIN.

 

Here's the old thread:  https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Domestic-Credit-Card-Transaction-Required-PIN/m-p/5364... 


I've always had that experience for domestic CC transactions using the Diners CCs and the UNFCU Visa Elite, for example.  Once contactless replacements came along, not so much unless the contactless feature wasn't available at a kiosk or at a merchant's terminal.

Message 7 of 11
Wsvance
Established Member

Re: Credit card requires PIN?

The card i am referring to is First Premier MC.  It is a chip card and chip is the method of payment I used.  So far it has required PIN at Kroger and Amvets thrift store.  











Message 8 of 11
K-in-Boston
Credit Mentor

Re: Credit card requires PIN?

It's either a glitch with the stores' EMV readers thinking that your card is a debit card rather than a credit card, or may possibly be part of an agreement between the merchants' credit card processors and your financial institution. Kroger even has a page on it:

https://www.kroger.com/i/payment/chip-cards

 

(Note that the page is a bit outdated as all of the domestic card networks eliminated the need for signatures on card-present transactions a couple of years ago.  It's amazing how infrequently many merchants update their systems, though, as I still get signature slips fairly often.)

Message 9 of 11
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Credit card requires PIN?


@Wsvance wrote:

The card i am referring to is First Premier MC.  It is a chip card and chip is the method of payment I used.  So far it has required PIN at Kroger and Amvets thrift store.  


 

Didn't FP go full Chip + PIN a few years ago?

 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/First-Premier-Chip-Pin/td-p/4295022

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