Do you trust "chip and pin" cards?

People are being warned that shops could soon refuse to let them sign for purchases if they have a "chip and pin" payment card.

Currently, one in five shoppers with the new "chip and pin" credit and debit cards are still signing for their goods.

One of the main card companies says some people haven't memorised their pin numbers and also claim the new system makes them nervous.

Many card users don't use the new facility because they do not believe their banks have told them how to.

Do you use a chip and pin card? Does the new system work? Is it easy to use? Do we now have too many security numbers to remember?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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The following comments reflect the balance of comments received so far:

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Graeme Sim, UK: Do you feel safe using the new chip and pin cards? Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

All the points seem to have been made, and I intend to refuse the c&p cards for as long as I can. I want a piece of paper with my signature in my hand on it. If it is not possible then, I guess it is back to the cheque book.
Stuart, UK

Of course, it isn't a flawless system, but it is substantially safer than writing a signature that (in my experience at least) is rarely checked by the cashier anyway. An improvement to the system it is, perfect it is not.
Paul, York, UK

People are never happy with change! It has proven to be an improvement in other western countries, so what is to say it will be any different in Great Britain?
Sam, Surrey

My wife's disabled and cannot sign her name. But she can enter her pin number and this will avoid her carrying around wads of cash. The sooner this is adopted the better. It should have been done years ago.
Neil, London, UK

I was surprised, but also not surprised that the first week of asking a customer to type their number into the machine, the gentlemen shouted across the shop to his wife what he thought his number was. Don't these people listen to the warnings?
Mark Probin, Weymouth

Chip and pin isn't perfect but it would solve many of these problems AR, UK

There is no pleasing some people. I work in a shop and frequently serve customers at the tills. Often, the signature that appears on the back of the card looks nothing like what the customer is able to reproduce on the slip. Asking a customer to re-sign their name is greeted with huge offence and people start becoming defensive! Chip and pin isn't perfect but it would solve many of these problems.
AR, UK

My signature never looks the same twice, so I welcome the change - apart from one tiny little snag. I can't use my card's pin - at all. I've 'unlocked' it at a hole in the wall machine several times, but my pin is still rejected in shops. I contacted my bank. They blame the shops. The shops blame my bank (etc etc). It's very embarrassing being told my card has been refused, despite having adequate funds in my account. As a result I'm moving to another bank instead. I agree with some people's comments that more should be done to make the transaction more discreet. It would be very easy to take note of a vulnerable person's number.
Justin, Manchester, UK

Another way to "hide" the number entered is to press the keys with your middle or ring finger, while keeping your hand open. As the keys pressed are not clearly pointed too with an index finger, someone trying to read the pin will be less certain of which keys were pressed.
Jason, Belgium

I find using the keypads very easy, but agree strongly with every comment regarding the lack of privacy when typing in the pin. I used to work for a credit card call centre and my personal advice is never to have one pin for all cards. I spoke to a customer whose number had been taken over her shoulder and then after her bag was stolen the pin was tried on every card she had. Luckily she had several different pins but if not she would have lost a great deal of money.
Sara Pass, Southend on Sea

Working in a shop I'm all for chip and pin. It's much faster and it can often be quite tricky to tell if a signature is genuine or not, as many people's often look different to the ones on the cards. As for not being safe, it's no different to using a cash machine and people don't complain about them. However, I do think they should have better covers just to make people feel a bit safer.
Tom, Hastings

As soon as I am forced to enter my pin number (which I will purposefully not remember) rather than accepting a signature, I shall be getting out my 'old' cheque book! Failing that, cash and failing that, abandoned goods!
Tracey, Eastleigh

We need more privacy for pin number terminals. Most of the machines I have used in Europe seem to have more shrouding. Saying that, I have got pretty adept at masking keys by keeping fingers together so it is, I hope, difficult for a rubber-necker to guess exactly which keys I am pressing.
Steve Dixey, Cleethorpes, UK

While a good idea, it will take more awareness of security in stores to make it successful. I was in a major supermarket and the pin machine was in plain sight so I took it out of the holder to move it so no one could see and was told off by the person on the till !
Richard, UK

Receipts no longer have a signature to duplicate Mark, Liverpool, UK

Swings and roundabouts really... On the one hand, chip and pin protects cardholders by making forgery much harder - including the chip itself. Receipts no longer have a signature to duplicate, and all the new machines seem to print only part of the card number. But on the other hand, once the card is in the wrong hands I think there's more room for trouble. In many stores the card is placed in the machine by the cardholder - so the cashier can't see any glaring errors, such as a male presenting a card printed with Mrs Bloggs' name. I used to work in card security and often it was the cashiers that discovered stolen or fake cards by handling them. Without that process, detection could be harder.
Mark, Liverpool, UK

Chip and pin is only as secure as the people who use it, just like signatures before it. Chipped cards may not be clonable now, but that was also the case with magnetic stripes 20-30 years ago. The thieves will catch up. In the meantime, expect to see a rise in theft of cards, as "skimming" is stopped for now.
John, UK

The chip and pin scheme is not intended to increase security, it is merely a way for the banks to absolve themselves of responsibility when card fraud does occur. As there is no paper trail containing a verifiable signature, the banks can claim that you must have given out your pin number and so are responsible for the debt.
Giles Paterson, London, England

I was actually asked to enter my pin into a machine at a supermarket checkout where the 'cover' had been removed. I couldn't believe that the cashier thought it acceptable to ask me to enter my pin under these circumstances. Obviously some sort of training is in order there.
Maya, London

Chip and pin has to be more secure than a signature. My daughter and I have accounts at the same bank and I accidentally used her debit card to purchase all my shopping for almost two weeks before anyone checked my signature even though I was signing a different name. However, I also feel that the keypads need to be better hidden.
Pat, Gateshead

In all of the shops in which I have entered my pin number, this has been clearly visible to everyone in the queue behind me, due to bad design of the keypads. With the old system, at least a thief had to have the "nerve" to forge a signature in front of a sales assistant. No such problems in keying in a pin.
Charles, Belfast, N. Ireland

If people still want to sign for goods then they should be allowed to, it is the lack of choice that annoys us all most. Forcing us all to use this system gets up our noses, even if it is a good system. I don't personally like it as every C&P machine I have used is in clear, full, well lit view of all and sundry.
Andrew Lindop, Conahs Quay

I migrated to Australia last year and was surprised that chip and pin is used everywhere and has been for years. I can't believe that the UK has only just brought it in. However, it sounds like the UK have typically not thought clearly about security - over here the pin machines are hand held and you can turn your back on others to enter your pin.
Michael, Brisbane, Australia

It is too easy for other people to see your pin number when using this system in shops. The elderly are very vulnerable as they do it so slowly and are more likely to be mugged outside the shop. Also I have noticed a high incidence of failure of the machines in some stores.
H. Mactaggart, Stourbridge, England

It's much more secure Carla, London, formerly Portugal

We always had pins in Portugal and it's much more secure. As for the people who complain the machine is in plain sight, can't they cover the keypad with one hand while putting the number in with the other? Nothing easier...
Carla, London, formerly Portugal

After using this for a few months I was amazed at how easy it is to see people punching in their numbers. I want to know whose fault it will be if someone steals your card from you outside the store after seeing you punch in your number?
Chris, UK

I welcome the chip and pin system as a way to combat fraud. My only problem is some stores have fixed the swipe/pin unit onto the till. As a wheelchair user I am either unable to reach it, or have to punch my in my pin in full view of the queue, which negates the security aspect.
Mike Scott, Belfast, Northern Ireland

This technology has been in use in New Zealand since 1984, although it took a few more years to become widespread. Not trusting chip and pin? When I arrived in the UK from NZ in 1999 and found I actually still had to "sign" a paper receipt I felt my money was much less safe. Every dodgy waiter had a copy of my card details and my signature. And don't even get me started on card receipts which show your full card number and expiry date ...
Peter, London

These machines were introduced whilst I was working at a West End theatre. We couldn't understand how they are supposed to be more secure when anyone (and especially the person behind the counter) can see exactly what number you're entering. Why do they not come with bigger 'hoods' to safeguard our pin numbers from the unscrupulous?
Emma, London, UK

I really do wish the machines were constructed to be more discrete Pam, Surrey, UK

I don't really mind C & P but I really do wish the machines were constructed to be more discrete (the ones I've seen on France have a cowl over the top to prevent people sneaking a peek as you type in your number). Twice last weekend, I had someone squished up against me in the queue for the till and the machine into which I was expected to enter my pin was in plain sight of the person behind me! I had to (very pointedly) insist on a bit more privacy! I am also concerned that if the chip in card is damaged, I will have no other means of paying for the goods I've just bought!
Pam, Surrey, UK

The chip and pin system is great in the countries it was designed for. (In the Far East, where people have a symbol for their name instead of a signature). In the UK however, I feel it is bad for consumers. You will be typing in your pin in environments where it is not possible to prevent others seeing it. All it takes is for someone to pick your pocket on the way out of the shop, and they have your card and your pin, and will then empty £500 from the nearest cash machine before you even notice it's gone. Chip and Pin DOES, however, do a great job of protecting credit card companies as you, not they, are entirely liable for any loss if your pin is compromised by someone else.
Nathan Hobbs, Luton, UK

I welcome the chip & PIN system and I have changed the PIN numbers of my 4 credit cards so that I can remember them. The problem is that I have only once been asked to enter my PIN number. The shops (or card companies) seem to want to get signatures rather than PIN numbers, even though they have the equipment installed for entering the numbers.
Nigel, Bournemouth, UK

Great idea in principle - but most shops here are still not using it. And why is the PIN number for payment not different to the PIN for the cash machine? Also, a signature is a bit harder to fake than a PIN if someone is watching over your shoulder. Also - I hope in shop CCTV is not watching you enter it at checkouts.
AJ, Edinburgh, Scotland

As an expat who has used chip-and-pin machines for years in Belgium, I was absolutely appalled at the total lack of awareness of PIN number security at cash desks in London this weekend. It was the easiest thing in the world to read customers' PIN numbers in one leading chemist's store, where the terminals were mounted vertically at shoulder height facing the queue and in full view of security cameras. It was virtually impossible to hide your code from a good dozen people, any one of whom after stealing the card would have had full access to the customer's account. As a general guide, if terminals are not flat on the till and out of view of both cashier and anyone else, then refuse to use them.
Jel, Brussels

I deliberately want to avoid knowing the PIN for credit cards so I can't use them to get money at cash points...
Fletcher, Poole, UK

It's much quicker and certainly much more secure than trusting a signature Greg, UK in Holland

Well I have been using PIN here in Holland for the past 10 years - much quicker and certainly much more secure than trusting a signature.
Greg, UK in NL

I can't believe they expect us to type our "secret" number into a keyboard in front of all the other shoppers. Now we know why this system only cut losses by 80% in France. The other 20% of losses must have been due to rogues looking over peoples shoulders and stealing customer's PIN numbers.
James, Henley

Chip and pin is a great idea. But I have had to have a c & p credit card re-issued twice because the chip gets damaged after the first couple of uses and it's then not accepted. Oh and Craig in Stirling insult old people at your peril. You will be old one day and your ideals will be scorned by the next batch of youngsters.
Michael, Darlington UK

My bank consistently loses hard copy records and posts documents to the wrong address. They need all the help they can get but I'm not sure how competent they are to use it.
Clive, Milwaukee USA/Ex-UK

Chip and pin is fantastic. However I blocked my pin by getting it wrong 3 times. My card company say it isn't blocked. The message that comes up on the machine saying 'pin blocked. Contact card operator' must just be to make it look pretty then...
Lianne, Manchester

Here in France and previously when working in Belgium "chip and Pin" is the norm on bank debit and credit cards...no fuss no hassle, the only problem would be losing the card and someone knowing the Pin number..but this is much the same as losing my UK card and someone forging my signature...the only issue is how to remember sometimes all the different Pin numbers you have!
Phil, Nimes, France

I think chip and pin is a fab idea Lola, Leeds

I think chip and pin is a fab idea - I can't believe it took us so long to adopt it!!! I can now spend more time shopping and less time paying for it!!!!
Lola, Leeds

The French and South Africans have been using it for years, 80% reduction in fraud in France! Enough said. They need to roll it out quickly and enforce the new rules. People don't like change but this is one you can't argue against. I use it and its great.
Colin Jones, Weybridge, UK

Under the old system my signature was very rarely checked and instilled no confidence in me that if my card was lost/stolen transactions would be prevented. Under the new system I have much more confidence - but a lot of shops need to move the chip and PIN machine to allow more discretion.
Mia, North East, UK

I would happily use "chip and pin" what a pity that none of the shops I go to have the equipment - including my local supermarket
Alice, London

A great system in principle, although I'm not sure why some shops have mounted their machines at a height which makes it very easy for people to look over their shoulder. I suspect many people will change their entire card PIN's to the same number, so if their wallet did get stolen every card could be instantly abused.
Rachel, Swindon, UK

I use the C&P system. It seems to work well and be a lot quicker (when it is available) than the old printouts/signature ritual. As for too many numbers, don't most cards allow you to allocate your own number (mine seem to!) so pick a personally significant one to make it easy to remember. What could be easier?
Andy D, Oxford UK

There is nothing secure about entering a pin number in front of hundreds of other shoppers.
Keith, Sunderland, UK

How is it people can't remember a four figure PIN number? Bob, Glos, UK

How is it people can't remember a four figure PIN number? If they can't I'm amazed they can remember their own address at that rate. Chip & pin has got to be a good thing even if it only reduces fraud and not stop it altogether.
Bob, Glos, UK

I think chip-and-pin is great. It dramatically reduces the time spent at checkout. If only they would phase out cheques....old people demanding to give the exact sum of money and women with a compartment in their purse and handbag for every item of change and receipt, then we will all be laughing!
Craig, Stirling