Why don't CC cards require a PIN # like an ATM card?

[GoldenBear]

I mean, wouldn't the safety of credit cards increase by about a million times if you were required to enter a code everytime you wanted to use it? It's like a stolen CC card (either info or the physical card) would lead to nothing but trouble, but a stolen ATM card is relatively safe..

 

[gittyup]

When I was in France last year, I had to enter my PIN when using my CC at one place.

 

[Iphis]

Some do some don't. I think you can request you CC company to require it if it makes you feel more comfortable. My CC only requires a PIN number if I want to withdraw cash from an ATM otherwise I just sign the line.

 

[Webbed]

Good point. Maybe we should all switch to Debit Card.

 

[DesignDawg]

Debit card? No, don't think so. With the benefits you get with any good credit card, using a debit card is cheating yourself.

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[Pastore]

Design Dawg, how do you figure? with a credit card, if you dont have the money by the end of the month you are just about screwed with interest...

Debit cards are nice because you are gaining interest as the money is sitting in your savings account...

 

[EverClear]

alot of banks are moving from allowing debit cards to be linked to savings accounts and the other benenfits are obvious when something goes wrong.
A bank usually will not help you much if its a dispute with a debit card, but since with credit cards you have not paid the balance typically they are more likely to intervene in a bad situaution since they have yet to be paid for that purchase..

To answer the question about PINS and dedit cards, the credit cards and Visa check cards are secure if the person taking them is diligent in checking ID and signatures. People actually get mad when they are asked to show their ID --- Duh they are not responsible for BS charges on their cards so they have no incentive to be part of the security of the card. On a debit card there is more chances for them to be screwed over by it coming out of their account and making other checks bounce and so forth.

So the real short answer is that people are strange and will look out for their interests if it benefits them.

 

[cipher00]

Yup, I go with everclear. Credit card law pretty much says the first $50 is on your hook if you lose the credit card or if it's used as a fraud, and most issuers will not even go that far. The law on debit cards is not quite so clear, so you can have your account wiped out and it's your problem. As for entering pins, not a bad idea, except in those instances, such as restaurants, where they take your card away for processing (never a good idea, btw) unless the waitstaff carry around huge pin checkers (with no 802.11b, either ).

 

[Lucky]

"Debit cards are nice because you are gaining interest as the money is sitting in your savings account... "


Uh, what bank do you have that allows you to have a debit card that draws from savings? Thats contradictory to the whole point of it-thats its like an e-checks that faster and draws from your checking account.

 

[Delusion2001]

pin numbers are more easily crackable than signatures