so let me understand, cards without a chip+pin, eg. a foreign credit card, cannot be accepted as payment on trains?
We would accept them on Scotrail as we do not have chip n pin yet.
so let me understand, cards without a chip+pin, eg. a foreign credit card, cannot be accepted as payment on trains?
I think that they may be concerned that if they accept them at stations, where they can verify the transaction, then customers get used to the idea that they can be used for rail travel and try to buy on board using these cards. The TOCs may be concerned that if they have a different rule for cards accepted on board versus on stations, this would actually cause more confusion for passengers. I'm not arguing either for or against the idea, it's just an idea of what the TOCs may think.I would have thought that TOCs would prefer to accept Solo and Electron at ticket offices due to lower bank charges.
Interesting. In your experience, does this cause you problems? ie, do customers think they can use Electron on board as a result of their ability to booking online using Electron?This has complicated things a little at ScotRail as electrons can now be used at stations for reference purposes with regards to having booked tickets to collect, but cannot be used to pay for them. Or something similar.
Interesting. In your experience, does this cause you problems? ie, do customers think they can use Electron on board as a result of their ability to booking online using Electron?
so let me understand, cards without a chip+pin, eg. a foreign credit card, cannot be accepted as payment on trains?
Foreign cards work perfectly, they are authorised automatically when swiped. No idea why, but the system must know from the card number that it doesn't have a chip so therefore just processes it straight away.
The chip in my credit card failed two weeks agoOut of interest, what would happen if somebody was unable to use Chip & Pin due to a disability? I know there were a couple of cases of shops round here getting in trouble as a result of refusing cards for this reason
Foreign cards work perfectly, they are authorised automatically when swiped. No idea why, but the system must know from the card number that it doesn't have a chip so therefore just processes it straight away.
Out of interest, what would happen if somebody was unable to use Chip & Pin due to a disability? I know there were a couple of cases of shops round here getting in trouble as a result of refusing cards for this reason.
Out of interest, what would happen if somebody was unable to use Chip & Pin due to a disability? I know there were a couple of cases of shops round here getting in trouble as a result of refusing cards for this reason.
According to wikipedia there is supposed to be a "Chip & Signature" card for that situation .. Presumably the chip is encoded to let the processing terminal know to request a signature than a PIN.
All,
Thankyou for the information provided which has been most useful, as suggested I have written to the TOC involved explaining the situation and offering payment.
As a holder of a 'foreign' credit card I have had a mixture of looks and reactions when using my card in the UK, although I've never tried using it to buy a ticket actually on the train.
My card (HSBC actually) is a chip & pin card but when using it at a station ticket office or a shop for example, the card goes into the machine as normal, then after a second or two I remove it and the receipt is printed out automatically for me to sign. I have no problems in using the 6 digit PIN number if required but so far in the UK I've never needed to use the PIN. I do usually say to the vendor that it is not a UK card to try to pre-empt any problems that may occur but so far there haven't been any.
I have used the same card in Australia and then I had to use the PIN (after remember it) so the PIN function is live on the card.
It's good to know we've a easy uniform global credit card system.![]()
