Using AMEX overseas where chip-cards are required?

[glass]

amex have about 2% currency conversion ABOVE my visa, so I rarely try to use it.
that said, doesn't amex have that blue chip card?

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just wondering if anyone knows whether or not Amex Australia have any plans to start issuing chip cards in the foreseeable future? Only asking as I'm considering planning a trip to London in '10 or '11, and thought it would be much easier if the card just had a chip (to save me from having to explain to some annoying merchants to swipe and PIN)

 

[Mal]

Just wondering if anyone knows whether or not Amex Australia have any plans to start issuing chip cards in the foreseeable future?

I reckon by the end of 2010 they'll be issued in Australia, but they aren't at the moment.

It would help me out over here in London too - sometimes I want to use my Amex, but the <perceived> hassle puts me off using it (I have a local debit Maestro card I use instead - saves on the currency conversion fee too!). Also, I believe quite a few automated machines do not accept non-chipped cards for payments these days.

I was wondering if I reported it lost while I'm in London, if my replacement card would be chip+pin. Not really sure.

Oh, and merchant agreement or not, I still see quite a few signs up in places that state "chip+pin" credit cards only.

 

[straitman]

I was wondering if I reported it lost while I'm in London, if my replacement card would be chip+pin. Not really sure.

Mal,

You could always try and let us know:!:

 

[Walter Plinge]

I used my non-chip gold Amex card in many places in the US last year - no problems. Walmart, restaurants - no problems. Someone somewhere must have recorded the number as Amex alerted to to someone trying to purchase care hire in Europe using it last month - they cancelled the card and issued another.

Chips -- my new Visa gold card arrived today. It's chipped now.

 

[haydensydney]

I'm curious how they are/will be introducing chips into Centurion cards - one must assume that embedding a chip within solid titanium would be tricky?

 

[straitman]

I'm curious how they are/will be introducing chips into Centurion cards - one must assume that embedding a chip within solid titanium would be tricky?

I'm guessing that is a problem that I will never have to deal with.

 

[Mal]

I'm curious how they are/will be introducing chips into Centurion cards - one must assume that embedding a chip within solid titanium would be tricky?

There are a few workarounds.

I know Amex issued plastic Cent cards in some countries. Also, a credit card doesn't have to have a chip (in the UK) if the bank specifically exempts it. (this can be required for disability reasons for example)

However, in the UK I believe what they did was to issue a plastic card+chip originally, and late last year re-issued them in Titanium with a chip.

I can't find any titanium pics with the chip, but presume that the card is laser cut/etched to hollow out the spot, and the chip is somehow "pasted" in. The chip part itself doesn't have to be too large.

Oh - and still trying to work out how to get my Amex card replaced, but not force a new number/expiry date. Have a few Direct debits still that might have some hassles.

 

[Maca44]

Found this on the Amex UK website which shows the chip.. https://www212.americanexpress.com/...toid=5ac03e37ad444110VgnVCM100000cef4ad94RCRD

 

[samh004]

That's not a centurion or a titanium card though. That's platinum and plastic. The titanium card is black, looks very different. This is.

 

[medhead]

I'm curious how they are/will be introducing chips into Centurion cards - one must assume that embedding a chip within solid titanium would be tricky?

Why?
They can do amaizing things with materials these days and all that is needed is to electrically isolated the chip from the card. A chip sized recess cut in the card, bond in some rubber/plastic with the chip mounted in it.

Is titanium even a conductor? Is the card even really titanium? Surely that is a piece of marketing BS.

 

[Walter Plinge]

Why?

Is titanium even a conductor? Is the card even really titanium? Surely that is a piece of marketing BS.

I think you're right. I've got a Platinum card -- and it's sure as heck not platinum. My guess is it's silver-coloured plastic ;-)