German credit cards go "chip and PIN"

Got my new credit card this morning and seems that it seems that they are following the UK and going over to "Chip and PIN" to supposedly cut fraud.

Evey credit card has a PIN number, course as people don't use credit cards for ATM withdrawls loads of people have forgotten them.
Want a new PIN number issued? That'll be €10 please.

Boy, that must be really irritating for the 35 Germans who own a credit card.

I've never had a personal identifiction number number automatically given to me for any of my German credit cards, (or even just a plain PIN either :-) (*) - I am aware that I could ask for one if I fancied being fleeced by taking money out of a cash machine using one.

If chip and pin comes, I hope more banks will allow the customer to change the PIN via the machine, so at least it is momorable.

(*) PIN number, LCD display etc... grrrrr...

Yeah, my credit cards have PIN numbers too, never had to use them though.

I've also had a PIN number for my credit card for many years already, but never used it even once. If I remember correctly, the PIN number was meant for ATM withdrawals only.

Yep, tom_a, same here.

yeah, most people had a PIN for the magnetic stripe only credit cards and that could be used for cash withdrawls. That PIN won't be valid for the Chip & PIN transactions. If you get a new credit card with a chip in it then they will send you the PIN as well.

and they will probably charge extra for the chip functionality...

I've just ordered one of the Free Karstadt credit cards, I wonder if it will come with chip and PIN?

No, not really. Its in the best interests of the banks seeing as liability goes back to the customer.

I have a Karstadt credit card too...it will expire in November...so interesting to see if it will come with a new pin number.

Seeing as Germany is so far behind in this, there is a good chance that it won't have a chip.