8 ms·

Signatures are no longer required with chip cards.

fredophile 7y ago
I'm travelling in Europe right now and I can tell you that signatures are definitely still required with the chip. The only exception is if I use the one card I have with contactless payment.
- thecopy 7y ago
  I live in Europe (Sweden, Germany and Switzerland) and I have never needed to sign when paying with card (i.e. the chip – never used the magnetic strip). Perhaps its because you have a foreign card?
  - woahitsraj 7y ago
    This is because US Cards have a Chip but no PIN. So the signature is the only "security measure". I've all but stopped using my US Cards for this reason unless the terminal supports contactless through apple pay
  - hanklazard 7y ago
    Correct, it’s only for Americans traveling abroad. It’s because our credit cards (finally) have chips but no pin. Apparently chip/pin would cause too much friction in the purchasing process or some nonsense like that?
    - stephencanon 7y ago
      It's even worse. I have a US card that supports chip+pin, but most terminals in Europe will preferentially use chip+signature if it's also supported. So I still end up signing when I travel.
- hvidgaard 7y ago
  You normally use a pincode. I cannot remember the last time I had to sign anything anywhere in EU when paying with a chip card.
  - rconti 7y ago
    US chip cards require a signature in Europe virtually 100% of the time, even on low-value transactions that would be under the signature threshold in the US. However, using contactless avoids signatures 99% of the time. I think I had to sign once on my last trip at a contactless terminal.
    - ghaff 7y ago
      That's actually my main use for Apple Pay. It's easier in Europe as a way to avoid having to do the signature thing (which the cashier is often not prepared for) with my US chip card. But it only works up to $30 or so.
      - hvidgaard 7y ago
        What do you mean with it only works up to $30? I pay bills of several thousands with Apple Pay without pin or signature - I am from EU, but I expect them to work the same.
        ghaff 7y ago
        Per Apple Support (US page): United Kingdom You might not be able to use Apple Pay for purchases over 30 GBP. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207435 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207435 I've almost exclusively just tried to use it in the UK and this has been my experience at convenience stores.
        hvidgaard 7y ago
        Jeez, that really limits Apple Pay. I don't carry my CC because I have Apple Pay.
- qntty 7y ago
  For American cards they are, but not for most people in Europe.
mikestew 7y ago
Might not be required, but vendors in the U. S. still ask for a signature. Hell, the local pet supply store asks for a signature when I use Apple Pay on my watch. Kinnndda missing the point of NFC there.

I'm travelling in Europe right now and I can tell you that signatures are definitely still required with the chip. The only exception is if I use the one card I have with contactless payment.

thecopy 7y ago
I live in Europe (Sweden, Germany and Switzerland) and I have never needed to sign when paying with card (i.e. the chip – never used the magnetic strip). Perhaps its because you have a foreign card?
- woahitsraj 7y ago
  This is because US Cards have a Chip but no PIN. So the signature is the only "security measure". I've all but stopped using my US Cards for this reason unless the terminal supports contactless through apple pay
- hanklazard 7y ago
  Correct, it’s only for Americans traveling abroad. It’s because our credit cards (finally) have chips but no pin. Apparently chip/pin would cause too much friction in the purchasing process or some nonsense like that?
  - stephencanon 7y ago
    It's even worse. I have a US card that supports chip+pin, but most terminals in Europe will preferentially use chip+signature if it's also supported. So I still end up signing when I travel.
hvidgaard 7y ago
You normally use a pincode. I cannot remember the last time I had to sign anything anywhere in EU when paying with a chip card.
- rconti 7y ago
  US chip cards require a signature in Europe virtually 100% of the time, even on low-value transactions that would be under the signature threshold in the US. However, using contactless avoids signatures 99% of the time. I think I had to sign once on my last trip at a contactless terminal.
  - ghaff 7y ago
    That's actually my main use for Apple Pay. It's easier in Europe as a way to avoid having to do the signature thing (which the cashier is often not prepared for) with my US chip card. But it only works up to $30 or so.
    - hvidgaard 7y ago
      What do you mean with it only works up to $30? I pay bills of several thousands with Apple Pay without pin or signature - I am from EU, but I expect them to work the same.
      - ghaff 7y ago
        Per Apple Support (US page): United Kingdom You might not be able to use Apple Pay for purchases over 30 GBP. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207435 https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207435 I've almost exclusively just tried to use it in the UK and this has been my experience at convenience stores.
        hvidgaard 7y ago
        Jeez, that really limits Apple Pay. I don't carry my CC because I have Apple Pay.
qntty 7y ago
For American cards they are, but not for most people in Europe.

mikestew 7y ago

Might not be required, but vendors in the U. S. still ask for a signature. Hell, the local pet supply store asks for a signature when I use Apple Pay on my watch. Kinnndda missing the point of NFC there.