Concern over possible Chip and PIN abuse

Administrators of the Chip and PIN programme have rejected fears that the new system will be open to abuse in pubs and bars.

The new programme will be rolled out over the country following a successful trial in Northamptonshire.

It changes the process of paying for goods and services by plastic card, from using a signature as identification to typing in a four-digit PIN number into a console instead.

Despite hopes that the new system will crack down on spiralling credit card fraud figures, many licensees have got in touch with thepublican.com to voice their concern about the new system.

They fear that customers could have their PIN numbers copied down by opportunistic thieves, who could steal the card and use it without the added security measure of a signature.

A spokesman from Chip and PIN said: "Our trials in pubs were successful regarding privacy and security. They used portable pin pads connected to a wire. This then allowed customers to shield the keypad away from onlookers when they were tapping in their PIN.

"In fact, busy pubs often lead to lost, dropped or stolen cards. With the PIN system no one will be able to use the cards if they walk off with them because they won't know the PIN."

The change to Chip and PIN has been called the biggest change in the way Britain shops since decimalisation.

It is has been estimated that one in five cardholders will have new Chip and PIN cards by Christmas this year and half of UK cardholders will be in possession of the new cards by spring next year.