I recall reading years ago that this would be here in the near future but we've all read about coming new things that never arrive.
Yes, I'm still waiting for my flying car.
I recall reading years ago that this would be here in the near future but we've all read about coming new things that never arrive.
I've often marveled at the lack of this simple method at restaurants. I suppose it would require good secure communications between the waiter's device and the server. But the Europeans seem to easily handle this.
I recall reading years ago that this would be here in the near future but we've all read about coming new things that never arrive.
The Chili's Restaurant chain uses tabletop payment terminals and has been doing so for more than a year.I just left a restaurant in Toronto an hour ago and that was the neatest deal using the payment device that the table to make the charge. Real simple and quick. Why can't we do this in the U.S.?
The Chili's Restaurant chain uses tabletop payment terminals and has been doing so for more than a year.
The Chili's Restaurant chain uses tabletop payment terminals and has been doing so for more than a year.
It's really nuts that the US is soooooooo backwards with this. And what about all the server time wasted taking your card going to the terminal, bringing it back, someone has to reenter the tip amount, etc., etc? All this can be done at once by bringing you the terminal. [They don't always do the tip entry - in Europe we usually left the tip in cash which seemed to be a convention, plus the Europe tips are way lower than in the US. But I have used a few terminals where you could enter the tip.].
Very, very nice!As a nice antidote for this problem, I was introduced to a pretty cool smartphone app on a recent trip.
You install the app and link it to a credit card.
When you order, you inform the server that you're using the app. The server codes your account with your name or the code number the app provides.
When you're done, there's no need to ask for your check and wait for it to be brought. You open the app and see your bill. Check that it's correct, add the desired tip, and hit the pay button.
The advantage is that the restaurant never sees your credit card -- they only get a one-time code number.
The incentive to try it was that on your first use of the app, you get an automatic $10 discount on your bill.
It's only in a small number of cities so far, but I'm sure it will expand quickly since it's so convenient to use.
Details here: TabbedOut - Pay your tab with your phone
TabbedOut may be great in the states, but what about overseas?
As a nice antidote for this problem, I was introduced to a pretty cool smartphone app on a recent trip.
You install the app and link it to a credit card.
When you order, you inform the server that you're using the app. The server codes your account with your name or the code number the app provides.
When you're done, there's no need to ask for your check and wait for it to be brought. You open the app and see your bill. Check that it's correct, add the desired tip, and hit the pay button.
The advantage is that the restaurant never sees your credit card -- they only get a one-time code number.
The incentive to try it was that on your first use of the app, you get an automatic $10 discount on your bill.
It's only in a small number of cities so far, but I'm sure it will expand quickly since it's so convenient to use.
Details here: TabbedOut - Pay your tab with your phone
Hmmm! Could there be some concern about security on Apple devices?
Just in the last week, my Chase Freedom Visa was used for a fraudulent transaction on a foreign web site.
We had a chipped card replaced last year. Right after a trip to Europe, where the card never left our sight, we had a few foreign transactions show up of online orders from Tokyo merchants. They had to change the number and replace the card. I don't remember if we used it right on our return or not.
Chips don't help prevent online fraud which is where most stolen numbers are used anyway, as far as I know. That's how our cards have always been used when someone got our numbers.
But while the customer waited for the cashier to return with her credit card and receipt, the 19-year-old employee allegedly wrote down the woman's credit card information.
<snip>
claims that the cashier was caught on camera making a purchase of $212 at a Ralph's grocery store.
Another reason we need real chip-and-pin and not chipped signature cards. Had the thief needed to enter a pin, the groceries could not have been purchased. Of course, online orders would still be possible.
Customer catches Starbucks cashier stealing credit card info | Clark Howard
W2R - Target has rolled out chip reading machines. I was there before Christmas and had to insert rather than swipe.
My local grocery store has the chip reading machine - but it's still being used in swipe mode.
W2R - Target has rolled out chip reading machines. I was there before Christmas and had to insert rather than swipe.
My local grocery store has the chip reading machine - but it's still being used in swipe mode.
Oh.... my understanding is that my debit card is strictly chip and pin. Oh well.Target's chip reading machines still require a signature. Until they implement the requirement to use a PIN, the chip is useless.