Australia: Chip-and-PIN Credit Cards?

"Sid" <don'tmailme@forget.net> wrote in message
news:13r1squ9ajq9k19@corp.supernews.com...
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> " A Mate" <maybe@somewhere.com.au> wrote in message
> news:47b03aff$0$8437$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au ...
>> Both types of cards are used; both accepted. A signature only card will
>> present no difficulties in use in Australia.
>>
>> If however you intend to use your card to withdraw cash from ATMs - PINs
>> in Australia are usually 4 digits only.

Wrong 4 & 6 the AM will recognise which.

"Alan S" <nothere@there.com> wrote in message
news:r9nvq3lvuqmp3vghjqd9mtj2s51la9479m@********...
> On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:58:56 -0800, "Stephen Dailey"
> <smdailey@seanet.com> wrote:
>
>>Which type of credit cards are more common in Australia: signature
>>(typical of the US) or chip-and-pin (typical of Europe)? I only have
>>signature-type cards; could I expect this to cause problems in Australia?
>>
>>===
>>Steve
>>Shoreline, Washington USA
>>smd98155@yahoo.com
>>10 Feb 2008, 1858 PST
>
> My Mum just received her first chip-and-pin card; also the
> first I've seen here. My Visa and MC are both signature
> cards; both can also be used as debit cards with PIN as can
> my two bank debit-only cards.

First I've heard of here in Australia too, though recently when making a
large transaction, an overseas airline booking, I was required to register
my Mastercard for a secure PIN number before I could complete the booking
process.

> You should have no problems with a signature card, provided
> that it is a card recognised by the trader. Most of the
> majors (Visa, MC, Amex, Diners) are recognised but some
> traders charge a surcharge for the last two.

Some also for the first two also unfortunately. e.g Qantas, Jetstar, Aldi,
and one of my local fuel stations (which I don't patronise any more as a
result - fuel prices are high enough without being surcharged.) I have
some sympathy for the traders with the latter cards, they don't get
reimbursed immediately and those cards charge much higher commissions.

Regards

David Bennetts

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 22:42:10 -0800,
<texan....usenet@texas...removethisbit.usacom..> wrote:

> On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 18:58:56 -0800, "Stephen Dailey"
> <smdailey@seanet.com> wrote:
>
>> Which type of credit cards are more common in Australia: signature
>> (typical of the US) or chip-and-pin (typical of Europe)? I only have
>> signature-type cards; could I expect this to cause problems in
>> Australia?
>>
>> ===
>> Steve
>> Shoreline, Washington USA
>> smd98155@yahoo.com
>> 10 Feb 2008, 1858 PST
>
> It may pay you to advise your credit card issuer that you are going
> overseas. We've had problems from time to time just going
> interstate before they are on the phone asking if we are travelling or
> ??

I don't bother calling the CC companies if i'm only traveling in the US or
Canada, but I alwasy call them before I go overseas, so no problem there..

Thanks to everyone for your replies!

===
Steve
Shoreline, Washington USA
smd98155@yahoo.com
11 Feb 2008, 2158 PST

> I only have signature-type cards; could I expect this to cause problems
> in Australia?

We had no problem with our similar VISA card last Spring