this post was submitted on 19 Mar 2024
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... wait, what? No way. Iirc since at least the 90s that was mandatory (at least if issued by a bank).
US credit cards still don't use a PIN. The rest of the world uses Chip&Pin or nfc contactless. The US uses magnetic strip very often, chip and no pin, and now contactless. The verification if asked, is not a PIN, it's the billing zip code (5 digit postal code of the US). Usually just petrol pumps ask.
It's also why I strongly advise any foreigner visiting Murica to learn the default zip for their card. If you use an international card (any non American card in America) it will still ask you for your zip code and if it fails, no petrol for you. And in the US you must pay BEFORE you pump so you could quite literally be stranded because of their archaic banking system.
Many European cards use 00000 or 12345. I've seen some Asian cards that use the last 5 digits of the card. Even if you have an American card if you aren't the standard boring American household that never moves, it can be a pain. The card may have its billing address (and therefore zip) set to a place you've never been. But you have to remember it.
Omg, TIL. Also kinda fascinating. Especially how credit cards aren't as universally compatible as I thought.
I was living stateside from 2018-2021, my credit card had no pin. It was chip and signature for transactions. Absolutely ridiculous system.