The chip and pin machine was first tried in Northhampton, England in May of 2003. Since the launch was so successful the machines then went nationwide in the United Kingdom in 2004. The very popular “Safety in Numbers” slogan was used to gain the trust of the public.

The transformation came as a labor intensive change to most banks and credit card companies as they scrambled to exchange older cards with the new updated cards. Many of the banks stated that they would replace cards once they were expired, however with the amount of cards not set to expire for years the pressure was placed on these organizations and cards were replaced at the consumer’s wish.

Previously, when using a credit card it required handing your card to an attendant or employee who would scan your card or imprint it. With identity theft and credit card theft at an all-time high it is not surprising to see more retailers going to a chip and pin machine for verification.

These machines often let the purchaser keep the card in their own hands while scanning and then entering their personal pin number for verification. The cards contain an embedded microchip that stores the data for each individual card. Once the card is swiped the purchaser is prompted by the machine to enter in their personal pin number and once the number is verified the transaction is completed.

Before these machines were being utilized it was not uncommon for credit cards to become cloned or copied. On top of being safer some of the greatest benefits of the chip and pin machine are the fact that they are user friendly and a stolen card is worthless without the correct 4-digit barrackpore pin code. Credit card fraud is down almost 75% since the introduction of these machines.

With the increased security it is easy to see why switching to this method is commonly accepted by almost all retailers and restaurants. To continue with the old methodology of using the previous machines these companies would be risking too much and the liability for credit loss would fall on the company. As if the benefits to the purchaser were not great enough the liability factor has all but guaranteed that all businesses will soon follow suite.

The chip and pin machine is a big advantage to companies and consumers. When a company uses other machines they become liable on many different levels. Other machines can allow the cards to be stolen, cloned, copied and/or lost. Also if a different machine is used the company could be liable for the charges applied to the card after it was used at that businesses establishment.

Customers feel safer when purchasing items or goods without having to hand over their credit card. There is no liability on the company, only the customer can lose his or her card. It is much easier for a company to gain new customers when they make them feel safer and happier.

There really is not any reason why a company would not want to have a chip and pin machine for their business. The cost is relatively low, customers prefer them and it just makes life easier.