Why does it take so long? Where’s the bottleneck? Where I lived over the last years (two countries in Europe), I don’t even have to use the physical card. I just use contactless payments with the phone. Prior to that, it was contactless with card. Even ATMs work with contactless (not all, yet). Prior to that, it was chip. I honestly don’t even recall the time when the magnetic stripe was needed. (edit) Think of this:…
> I honestly don’t even recall the time when the magnetic stripe was needed. Every time I've been to the US it's still magnetic stripe in places like restaurants/bars where the wait staff whisk your card away and then 4 days later the charge ends up appearing on your card. I saw chip and pin (or sometimes the odd chip and sign) appearing in the big shops/chains like walgreens though so I guess it's slowly changing. I…
Swiping left on magnetic stripes
171–180 of 325 posts
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#172"The magnetic stripe will start to disappear in 2024 from Mastercard payment cards in regions, such as Europe, where chip cards are already widely used. Banks in the U.S. will no longer be required to issue chip cards with a magnetic stripe, starting in 2027. By 2029, no new Mastercard credit or debit cards will be issued with a magnetic stripe. Prepaid cards in the U.S. and Canada are currently exempt from this chan…
My, really setting themselves aggressive targets huh.
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#173Earlier quoted context omitted.
The only reason I’ve started using my card lately is because Face ID is harder with a mask on.
Just in case you have an Apple Watch and weren’t aware, or you plan to get one, there’s this feature that made my life easier: Unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch when you're wearing a face mask https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212208
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#174Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is to help you so you don't forget your card in the ATM after you finish your business.
In the UK (and most of Europe afaik) the card is ejected immediately before the cash; the ejecting of the card indicates your authenticated session has ended.
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#175I use my credit card at brick and mortar merchants less and less -- even my local gas station accepts Android/Apple Pay (and presumably contactless card taps, but I couldn't get it to work with my card). Even the cafe I frequent switched to readers (I think they were Square) associated with an iPad so I add a tip and pay with my phone at the table. But what are they doing to secure online payments? Last time my card…
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#176I'll believe it when I see it. I heard signatures were going away years ago and yet I keep getting asked for signatures.
Haven't had to sign anything for 15+ years, newer cards don't even have the space for signatures (Europe/MasterCard). I do have to do the mag-swipe maybe once a year, if the chip reader is acting up (still no signature, it asks for the PIN).
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#177I'll believe it when I see it. I heard signatures were going away years ago and yet I keep getting asked for signatures.
There are some reasons it still exists, however, it is no longer required and merchants/POS systems ought to start phasing it out. In the US, the way we do tip on receipt is a lot more natural if you're asking for a signature. Without a signature, you're just handing someone a tip option, which is awkward with our current way of doing things. Some merchants opt to keep signature enabled because it gives them a fuzzy…
Most places I go now have a receipt option step that serves as a justification for the tip screen, rather than the signature. Tapping “No Receipt” for a $5 beer purchase is only a little faster and less ridiculous than signing for it.
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#178I use my credit card at brick and mortar merchants less and less -- even my local gas station accepts Android/Apple Pay (and presumably contactless card taps, but I couldn't get it to work with my card). Even the cafe I frequent switched to readers (I think they were Square) associated with an iPad so I add a tip and pay with my phone at the table. But what are they doing to secure online payments? Last time my card…
It would be a nice if one of the new fintech startups added the option in the account settings to enforce 3D Secure for all online transactions.
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#179Why does it take so long? Where’s the bottleneck? Where I lived over the last years (two countries in Europe), I don’t even have to use the physical card. I just use contactless payments with the phone. Prior to that, it was contactless with card. Even ATMs work with contactless (not all, yet). Prior to that, it was chip. I honestly don’t even recall the time when the magnetic stripe was needed. (edit) Think of this:…
The USA is a big holdup. I just traveled across the country and there are still filling (petrol) stations where the only card reader is stripe. See also other comments about the stripe being a fallback for chip as chip readers on POS terminals seem to be more fragile than magnetic stripe readers. FWIW, Contactless is very hit-or-miss for me in the US; about 1/3 the time it just doesn't work at all (even with multiple…
Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes
#180I'll believe it when I see it. I heard signatures were going away years ago and yet I keep getting asked for signatures.
There are some reasons it still exists, however, it is no longer required and merchants/POS systems ought to start phasing it out. In the US, the way we do tip on receipt is a lot more natural if you're asking for a signature. Without a signature, you're just handing someone a tip option, which is awkward with our current way of doing things. Some merchants opt to keep signature enabled because it gives them a fuzzy…
American in Hungary. Here tipping isn't expected like it is in the US. But when you pay, they bring the terminal to your table with the check, then you tell them that you want to add a tip and how much, and they type the total into the terminal before you tap your phone or card. Perfectly natural.