Chip and PIN-enabled credit cards are expected to have a major impact in reducing crime. Unlike current signature-based magnetic strip cards, they cannot be skimmed.
Banks have started rolling out the new chip-enabled credit cards but merchants are still struggling to get their staff trained up.
Technically a chip and PIN card should still work using the traditional “swipe” credit card machines. Yet a family member had her chip-enabled credit card declined at a CNA at the weekend. She was told by the supervisor that it had new machines installed which did not accept chip. She tried it out at another CNA branch. Same story.
A bit worrying for CNA that, going into the festive season, it is turning away customers.
Edcon, the owners of CNA, has put it down to a training issue. The in-house point of sale machines are not EMV-enabled (chip-enabled) and it has supplied the stores with FNB point of sale terminals for chip cards until their in-house system has been upgraded. Someone, it seems, has not told the staff. No doubt CNA is not the only major store which will face these issues over the festive season.
If you encounter a problem, escalate it to management. It is more likely the staff than the machines which are the issue. Also advise your bank so it can put pressure on merchants to train their staff.