AMEX PIN still requiring signature

[levelnine]

I have a NAB Qantas AMEX/MC combo and on several occasions I have used my AMEX and entered my PIN but the terminal/receipt indicates that I still need to sign. This is quite annoying because a few retailers have thought something suspicious is going on.

What is worse, there appears to be no pattern to when this occurs. For example, at the same Woolworths petrol outlet, my PIN has worked without issue on several occasions and on other occasions it has requested I sign even after correctly entering my PIN.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

 

[nlagalle]

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

Amex haven't implemented PIN as yet, so you still need to sign.

 

[BlueAU]

Amex haven't implemented PIN as yet, so you still need to sign.

OP is using a bank branded AMEX, they come with PINs ... (I have one from ANZ)

AMEX AMEX cards don't have one (I have one too). I wish they would issue pins!

 

[yo yo ma]

My CBA Amex comes with a PIN but it doesn't work at Woolies stores (including petrol). It does work at Coles though.

 

[nlagalle]

OP is using a bank branded AMEX, they come with PINs ... (I have one from ANZ)

Yes they do, so they can be used at ATM's or if you select savings.

 

[The Beast]

I have an AMA branded Gold AMEX. When my new card came, I asked about a PIN and was told by their operative that they weren't doing this yet, and had no plans to do so...I expressed my disappointment. So, it looks as though some of the 'joint' cards which come via other providers are doing it, but 'straight' AMEX is not. The more users that make an issue of it, the more likely that they will shift, I reckon

 

[wallacej]

I have a Westpac Altitude Gold Amex, and the first few times I used it, there was no option for me to put in a pin, however, I have used it regularly now, with a pin each time, without a problem, using credit (not savings).
Just keep trying??

 

[Mal]

So, it looks as though some of the 'joint' cards which come via other providers are doing it, but 'straight' AMEX is not. The more users that make an issue of it, the more likely that they will shift, I reckon

Actually Amex issued Amex cards can have pins. My Gold Credit card has a pin, although I don't know what it is (forgotten as I never have used it). I can't recall if I asked them to send me a pin number, or they just did it.

This was back in ~2003

 

[medhead]

Amex haven't implemented PIN as yet, so you still need to sign.

Yes they do, so they can be used at ATM's or if you select savings.

Will the real nlagalle please stand up

 

[kyle]

Actually Amex issued Amex cards can have pins. My Gold Credit card has a pin, although I don't know what it is (forgotten as I never have used it). I can't recall if I asked them to send me a pin number, or they just did it.

This was back in ~2003

I think that's for cash advance at ATMs.

 

[markh]

We both have NAB issued Amex's and either can enter a PIN or requests a signature - have never had to do both ! (Never had a problem at Woolies ?)

 

[ChrisFlyer]

It actually depends on what version of the software some of the terminals are running, and also the certain model.

Eg., the majority of the Coles Group ones now allow PIN entry for Amex, however Woolies have admitted (in an email to me) that NONE of their terminals can process PIN for Amex, and instead only let you hit enter to sign instead due to "technical difficulties". The servo that the OP used where a PIN was accepted must be a franchise using their own independent EFTPOS setup, as none of the EFTPOS terminals on the Woolies network can accept a PIN.

There are however a few terminals that will let you type a PIN in, but don't submit it properly for Amex, and still require a signature. This includes some terminals issued by BWA - where one model will accept a PIN, but another will accept it but still request a signature. Same comes to mind for St George terminals, and in David Jones - where it will let you type a PIN, but still request a signature anyway...

 

[zig]

I have a NAB Qantas AMEX/MC combo and on several occasions I have used my AMEX and entered my PIN but the terminal/receipt indicates that I still need to sign. This is quite annoying because a few retailers have thought something suspicious is going on.

What is worse, there appears to be no pattern to when this occurs. For example, at the same Woolworths petrol outlet, my PIN has worked without issue on several occasions and on other occasions it has requested I sign even after correctly entering my PIN.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

I have the same problem with my CBA Amex, with about a 50% success rate using pin only. I have found it very annoying as well, so have stopped using the pin and opt for signature only.

 

[Mal]

The more users that make an issue of it, the more likely that they will shift, I reckon

Actually, users should be making a fuss to Amex about the lack of chip+pin - not just lack of pin.

Certainly it disadvantages people travelling through Europe/Asia and many other countires - eg not being able to use automated machines that accept Amex / Merchants requesting further ID etc....

 

[levelnine]

It actually depends on what version of the software some of the terminals are running, and also the certain model.

Eg., the majority of the Coles Group ones now allow PIN entry for Amex, however Woolies have admitted (in an email to me) that NONE of their terminals can process PIN for Amex, and instead only let you hit enter to sign instead due to "technical difficulties". The servo that the OP used where a PIN was accepted must be a franchise using their own independent EFTPOS setup, as none of the EFTPOS terminals on the Woolies network can accept a PIN.

There are however a few terminals that will let you type a PIN in, but don't submit it properly for Amex, and still require a signature. This includes some terminals issued by BWA - where one model will accept a PIN, but another will accept it but still request a signature. Same comes to mind for St George terminals, and in David Jones - where it will let you type a PIN, but still request a signature anyway...

Ahh, that would explain the problem I have been encountering. Thanks for the clarification. I certainly hope Woolies in particular change this sometime in the near future, particularly with so many AMEX cards entering the market through bank issued AMEX & MC/Visa combos.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Ahh, that would explain the problem I have been encountering. Thanks for the clarification. I certainly hope Woolies in particular change this sometime in the near future, particularly with so many AMEX cards entering the market through bank issued AMEX & MC/Visa combos.

I hope so too - it makes the self-serve check-out kind of annoying having to wait for someone to come and OK your signature (that looks nothing like it anyway because of the screen you write on...) haha

 

[Anna]

I was sent a PIN with my new CBA AMEX recently. There was some secret technology on it which involved carefully lifting labels and holding against a white background, blah blah. Anyway I ended up with a torn and screwed up tiny piece of paper that was no good to anyone. (It didn't help that the instructions were printed on the back of the letter so I only saw them after I had already tried to peel off the label).

Anyway I had to take the AMEX to a bank branch where I got a new PIN without any fuss. I certainly wasn't told that I couldn't use the AMEX with a PIN.

 

[Flashback]

Actually, users should be making a fuss to Amex about the lack of chip+pin - not just lack of pin.

Certainly it disadvantages people travelling through Europe/Asia and many other countires - eg not being able to use automated machines that accept Amex / Merchants requesting further ID etc....

That's when you can actually use the card anyway...... on my recent trip there were very few places that actually took AMEX! Usually restaurants, hotels etc. are the best places for acceptance due to the fact that travellers from around the globe visit them, but not Europe..

 

[Keith009]

I remember setting a PIN when I activated my credit card (issued by AMEX directly), but have yet to successfully authorise a transaction using said PIN... Is this PIN only for cash advances then?

Several retailers in the UK got a bit funny when they saw that my card didn't have the chip/pin feature. They checked my ID, and several like Reiss and D&G insisted on making a manual imprint of my card to "prevent fraud." :shock:

 

[notzac]

They checked my ID, and several like Reiss and D&G insisted on making a manual imprint of my card to "prevent fraud." :shock:

Errr... doesn't that sort of behaviour encourage fraud??