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Are chip cards worth the wait at the checkout line?

Marketplace Staff Apr 19, 2016
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Matt Cardy/Getty Images

Are chip cards worth the wait at the checkout line?

Marketplace Staff Apr 19, 2016
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
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Visa announced Tuesday it will try to cut down the delay at checkout lines by upgrading the technology that goes into reading new chip-enabled credit cards.

The cards — which landed in U.S. credit and debit cards last year — are ostensibly more secure than old magnetized strip cards, but they can take a noticeably longer time to clear. Visa, the largest manufacturer of these cards, said it’s trying to cut that wait to two seconds.

A new software update from Visa might save consumers and businesses a total of 18 seconds per transaction for who use those new chip-enabled credit and debit card.

Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean we’ll all be getting another round of new cards in the mail. But, it does prove in part that Visa is paying attention to complaints about the chip card slowness problem.

We asked you on social media: is the trade-off worth it? So far the answer is an overwhelming yes.

Many of you noted the U.S. has been slow to adapt to the chips, and even more security is needed at the checkout line.

A few more of you said consumers should skip chips and use near-field communication and mobile payments.

On the “no” side, some noted the hassle of getting a new card, and that the chip is less relevant when most of your purchases are online. 

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