# Did you know Oct 1 is the deadline to switch to chipped credit cards? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093 "2015-09-30T23:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/1 "2015-09-30T23:38:16Z")
Don’t worry, theres no chance we’ll meet that deadline in the next few hours. 😉 They estimate we’re a couple years away. I wonder how many things this will break? [I posted a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=766932&highlight=music) a few weeks ago about encountering a credit card scanner on my music teacher’s IPhone. Seems very unlikely that can be modified to read chip cards. I’ve heard chip cards are more secure. That’s a good thing. I can’t help wondering what they will store on that chip. I wouldn’t want my purchase history there for any store to download. > **[Most people still don’t have chip-enabled credit cards, study says, and full...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2015/09/30/most-people-still-dont-have-chip-enabled-credit-cards-study-says-and-full-industry-shift-could-take-2-years/)** > > Swiping your credit card will soon be sooo 2015. That is, as soon as cardholders, retailers and card issuers all get on the same page and make the new chip-enabled cards — aka EMV or smart ca… > [@](#): > > Oct. 1 was the self-imposed deadline for the industry’s switch to chip-enabled cards from ones with a magnetic stripe that have been in use for decades. > > The chip card payment system, which have been in effect in overseas markets since the 1990s, is meant to be more secure. New cards that store personal data on chips have already been mailed out to millions of consumers this year by banks and card companies. > > Yet more than six out of 10 U.S. credit cardholders still don’t have a chip card, according to a new study by [CreditCards.com](http://CreditCards.com). > > And with the transition deadline here, only about one-fourth of retailers have made the switch to EMV (it stands for Europay, MasterCard and Visa, the first companies to initiate the system). > > “It’s been slow mainly because it’s a massive changeover with lots and lots of pieces involved,” Matt Schulz, [CreditCards.com](http://CreditCards.com) senior industry analyst, told the Daily News. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/2 "2015-09-30T23:44:14Z")
So its backward compatible. Not forward compatible? Obviously, an old magnetic scanner can’t read a chipped card. Makes sense because the magnetic strip is a security concern. People can scan it in your wallet. They wouldn’t put a magnetic strip on chipped cards. That defeats the purpose of switching to them. But, what happens at the store? I have a chipped card and they don’t have a EMV? > [@](#): > > — Your old magnetic-stripe card will still work at merchants and retailers with new EMV terminals. Wait! Why is this going to happen? 😕 > [@](#): > > — Your personal information will be more secure with chip-enabled cards, which makes it harder for scammers to steal data. > > However, industry experts expect online and mail-order fraud to rise. ---
**Author:** ![ctnguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@ctnguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctnguy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/3 "2015-10-01T00:08:40Z")
It’s backward- and forward-compatible. New EMV cards still have magnetic stripes, and new EMV terminals still have magnetic stripe readers. At least that’s how it worked when they rolled out EMV here. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/4 "2015-10-01T00:28:23Z")
I guess putting magnetic strips on chipped cards makes the transition easier. Hopefully thats just a short term thing. I’ve read the reason to migrate to chipped cards is getting rid of the magnetic strip. Because people can scan it by just standing next to you in a crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/5 "2015-10-01T00:31:56Z")
The pay points I’ve used recently know if your card has a chip. If your card has a chip, and the pay point can use it, it did not allow me to swipe the mag stripe. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/6 "2015-10-01T00:37:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I guess putting magnetic strips on chipped cards makes the transition easier. Hopefully thats just a short term thing. > > I’ve read the reason to migrate to chipped cards is getting rid of the magnetic strip. Because people can scan it by just standing next to you in a crowd. No, mag stripes can’t be scanned at a distance. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/7 "2015-10-01T00:49:54Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > No, mag stripes can’t be scanned at a distance. 😕 The mag strip vulnerability is the reason for chipped cards. Posters from Europe have smugly been crowing about their secure chipped cards for years. 15 to 20 years late, the US is finally getting off their complacent asses and converting. I guess that’s better late than never. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/8 "2015-10-01T00:58:21Z")
from 2010 and the tech used is pretty primitive. I’d expect gear in 2015 to be much smaller. > **[Credit Cards At Risk from High-Tech Pickpockets?](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/credit-cards-at-risk-from-high-tech-pickpockets/)** > > Expert Demonstrates How Your Credit Card's RFID Chip Can Help Crooks Steal Your Info Without Stealing Your Card one from 2014 [http://www.click2houston.com/news/thieves-easily-stealing-credit-card-info-by-electronic-pickpocketing/25026758](http://www.click2houston.com/news/thieves-easily-stealing-credit-card-info-by-electronic-pickpocketing/25026758) > [@](#): > > Security expert Walt Augustinowicz took a stroll along Beale Street in Memphis where, as witnessed by CBS Affiliate WREG, he was able to swipe the credit card information from passers-by. > > “If I’m walking through a crowd, and I get near people’s back pocket and their wallet, I just have to get that close to it and there’s my credit card and expiration date on the screen,” Augustinowicz told WREG correspondent Scott Noll. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/9 "2015-10-01T01:00:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > They estimate we’re a couple years away. I wonder how many things this will break? [I posted a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=766932&highlight=music) a few weeks ago about encountering a credit card scanner on my music teacher’s IPhone. Seems very unlikely that can be modified to read chip cards. No, it probably can’t be modified to read a chip card, but the same company has a reader for such cards. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/10 "2015-10-01T01:05:18Z")
Yes, where money is involved. They’ll be sure to have the new chipped card scanners available for iPhones. LOL they want that money. So, so Bad! People like my music teacher will just have to buy the new gear. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/11 "2015-10-01T01:10:28Z")
Really? Money is involved in commerce? I’m shocked. Have you thought about alerting the newspapers? Someone needs to get right on this. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/12 "2015-10-01T01:21:59Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > from 2010 and the tech used is pretty primitive. I’d expect gear in 2015 to be much smaller. > [Credit Cards At Risk from High-Tech Pickpockets? - CBS News](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/credit-cards-at-risk-from-high-tech-pickpockets/) > > one from 2014 > [http://www.click2houston.com/news/thieves-easily-stealing-credit-card-info-by-electronic-pickpocketing/25026758](http://www.click2houston.com/news/thieves-easily-stealing-credit-card-info-by-electronic-pickpocketing/25026758) You need to learn how to read, and not just look at headlines. Both of those articles were about RFID cards, not magnetic stripe cards. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/13 "2015-10-01T02:09:29Z")
**Ace** -just to clarify here. Magnetic stripe - can only be read by swiping the card in a reader. These cannot be read at a distance. EMV - a chip that is inserted into a reader that uses encryption to be much more secure than a magnetic stripe. Cannot be read from a distance. RFID - a different type of chip inserted in cards for the sole purpose of the card not having to be in physical contact with a reader. This is what your articles are about. The credit card transition is about going from magnetic stripe to EMV, not magnetic stripe to RFID. Clear? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/14 "2015-10-01T02:19:47Z")
ok, I wasn’t aware there were three types of cc. I’ve just heard the unwavering mantra of how unsecured and bad magnetic strip cards are. The drumbeat has been going on for at least a decade. Mythbusters even did a test on eel skin wallets a few years ago. They debunked that one. thank you for clearing that up. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/15 "2015-10-01T02:25:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The pay points I’ve used recently know if your card has a chip. If your card has a chip, and the pay point can use it, it did not allow me to swipe the mag stripe. This. The only place I’ve encountered a pay point chip reader so far is the local Target. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/16 "2015-10-01T02:31:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Magnetic stripe - can only be read by swiping the card in a reader. These cannot be read at a distance. > EMV - a chip that is inserted into a reader that uses encryption to be much more secure than a magnetic stripe. Cannot be read from a distance. > RFID - a different type of chip inserted in cards for the sole purpose of the card not having to be in physical contact with a reader. This is what your articles are about. And, technically, there are two types of EMV cards. The chip-and-signature cards we’re getting in the US and the chip-and-PIN cards used in Europe. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/17 "2015-10-01T02:44:19Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > The pay points I’ve used recently know if your card has a chip. If your card has a chip, and the pay point can use it, it did not allow me to swipe the mag stripe. I just ran into this at Target this week (same week as I got a replacement card; this one has a chip, the last one issued less than a year ago didn’t.) Swiped it, it told me to insert it instead. And in the same shopping trip, I went to Aldi and their reader has the chip slot…but my card didn’t seem to read in it, and I used the strip. Aldi only takes debit cards, does that have anything to do with it? Does the chip not work if the card is used as a debit card instead of a credit? ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/18 "2015-10-01T02:52:52Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Really? Money is involved in commerce? I’m shocked. Have you thought about alerting the newspapers? Someone needs to get right on this. You’ve said too much. Nice knowing you! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/19 "2015-10-01T02:56:41Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I just ran into this at Target this week (same week as I got a replacement card; this one has a chip, the last one issued less than a year ago didn’t.) Swiped it, it told me to insert it instead. And in the same shopping trip, I went to Aldi and their reader has the chip slot…but my card didn’t seem to read in it, and I used the strip. > > Aldi only takes debit cards, does that have anything to do with it? Does the chip not work if the card is used as a debit card instead of a credit? Are you sure it is a chip reader slot? I ask because after encountering the “YOU MUST USE THE BOTTOM SLOT” thing at Wal Mart, I went to my grocery store (a large enough chain) and they had new readers with a bottom slot - for EBT only. No chip credit cards there, only EBT cards. I still gotta swipe my chip card. Anyway maybe Aldi just has EBT reader slot thingies. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093/20 "2015-10-01T03:18:35Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Are you sure it is a chip reader slot? I ask because after encountering the “YOU MUST USE THE BOTTOM SLOT” thing at Wal Mart, THANK you! I went to the dentist recently and they tried the chip and said it didn’t work (it allowed them to swipe the strip and it went through). I thought, but I used it at \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ with no problem. Walmart, that was it. I wonder if she was trying to tap with the chip. Anyhoo, thanks for clearing that up for me! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-you-know-oct-1-is-the-deadline-to-switch-to-chipped-credit-cards/733093.md?page=2)