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Swiping left on magnetic stripes

mastercard.com

171–180 of 325 posts

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#171
post #12

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…

For us ‘Mericans, all credit card transactions at a chip reader are chip+signature. We typically only have PIN numbers configured for debit cards. And most of those can be processed successfully without providing the PIN by pressing the credit button on the terminal.

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#172
post #106

"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.

At least in Australia the magnetic stripe is already gone for all intents and purposes. I can't remember the last time I used it. The American schedule may be a little aggressive though, you guys still use cheques extensively.

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#173
post #57
post #32

Earlier 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

This will unlock your phone but not authorize Apple Pay. So the Watch is much more convenient for payments in mask mandate areas. I find it more convenient to tap when unmasked too but that’s more personal preference.

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#174
post #121

Earlier 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.

There are some in the U.S. that do this, but it still didn't stop my friend from leaving his card in the ATM and having to go through a process with the bank and wait for a new card to show. Better to just make sure you have it by stopping you from doing anything else until you have it imo.

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#175

I 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…

> what are they doing to secure online payments?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-D_Secure

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#176
post #5
post #2

I'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).

My Apple Card doesn't have a space for a signature but it also doesn't have a PIN. Does have a chip though, a combination I find routinely frustrating. Just let me use a PIN if the card has a chip!

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#177
post #2

I'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…

> 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.

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

#178

I 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…

Online transactions can be secured by solutions like 3D Secure. In the european union for european countries such solutions are already required for dome transactions. But US companies hesitate to enforce them as they make buying less convenient but much more secure. Or the CCV printed at the back of a credit card, this is impossible for bank cards in europe. But mastercard and visa prefer the convenient approach.

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

#179
post #35
post #12

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:…

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…

Not just US. Take for example Germany, the largest country in EU and most places are cash-only. Although due to coronavirus adoption of different payment methods (apple pay, contactless, card, etc) has been increasing.

Re: Swiping left on magnetic stripes

#180
post #2

I'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…

> In the US, the way we do tip on receipt is a lot more natural

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.

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