Thoughts about using Visa card with "Chip" technology ??

[AlterEgo]

I've always been of the 'never use a credit card in DR unless it's absolutely necessary' club. Like renting a car - one year I used my Amex card when we picked up the car, they put a 'hold' only, and within a couple of days someone in Arizona tried to buy an expensive airplane ticket with the card. There wasn't even a charge on the card, only the hold.

But I digress.

This week I received a new credit card from Chase, a Visa, and it has the chip embedded in the card. They tell me it is unlikely anyone will be able to clone it. They also do NOT charge an international transaction fee [I think I paid 3% when I bought some appliances at La Sirena earlier this year on a Citibank card]

My question:

1. Anyone use one of these 'chip' cards in DR with no problems?

2. Anyone use one and have problems with cloning??

[Derfish]

Ask Chip, he'd oughta know!

[paintedlbird7]

Sorry, I haven't use one, but another option is to use a prepaid Visa card?

[Randall Bell]

The issue with the Visa + chip cards in the DR is that none of the retail employees know what they are. they just 'swipe them' normal and don't use hte chip technology even thoguh the hardware is set for them. once i had to show the gastation employee and they thought i was trying to rip them off. ya tu sabais. don't expect first world things.

[VJS]

Your chip card can still be used at regular swipe terminals and thus can be cloned, minus the chip part. I haven't seen any DR card readers that use the chip technology yet, so it's irrelevant if a credit card has it.

[rubio_higuey]

I have not seen chip technology in the DR yet. Chip technology is "slide in" where you slide the card into the reader like in an ATM.

[Hlywud]

"Chip technology" is completely safe.
I used my Visa with chip in China, they are far ahead in technology.

[edm7583]

In order for a card with a chip to be effective, it would have to be swiped using a reader that can read the chip. As far as I know, this does not exist in the DR (just like it isn't seen in the US) so it really wouldn't make a difference. For some reason, US banks have not rushed to embrace this technology. (perhaps due to cost) A Prepaid visa card and normal precautions are the best way to go.

[AlterEgo]

I had a feeling there might be a "catch", especially after I read that you have to put the card into the reading chip first, and then just leave it in there - no swiping.

What I didn't realize is that it requires a special reader. Back to the basics then - no CCs in DR.

[pelaut]

My Euro card has a chip, but it also has a stripe.
When the stripe stopped working, Banca Reservas stopped honoring it along with PriceSmart and a few others.
Some read the chip.