October Deadline for New Payment Terminals

Consumers may notice a new payment terminal at area businesses, as chip-enabled credit cards are making an appearance.

Although many people haven’t received the new cards, beginning Thursday, those businesses that don’t have the machines to read them will be held liable for fraudulent purchases in the store. So what does this mean for consumers? Not much.

Reporting fraud will still work the same way and you won’t be charged for not having the new card yet. But for the business, local Owner of Wall of Books Bill Cochran said having the machine means he’s doing his part to prevent fraud.

“Just speaking for myself, I’m glad it’s just safer as just a user of a credit card,” said Cochran. “It’ll be a lot safer for everyone.”

Old versions of your credit cards will still work on the terminals but if you attempt to swipe your chip-enabled card, the cashier will be prompted to ask you to change your method. You simply insert the end of the card with the chip into the bottom slot, and wait for the card to be identified. Cochran said the process is still very simple for shoppers.

“It’s no different,” said Cochran. “It’s just the steps that are required by the customer for their protection or security but that’s nothing harder than it would be using the magnetic card. ”

Banks are trying different methods of replacement from sending them out in masses, to simply waiting for the old card to expire. If you are interested in the card more immediately you should contact your bank about the replacement.