Hacker News Reader

Comment by Symbiote | Hacker News Reader

Are you sure no offline mode is supported for Chip+PIN cards?

I don't know about the Netherlands, but it's typically used where the risk is low, or making on-line transactions is inconvenient. For example, paying for a train ticket on-board a train (data signal is unreliable, the real loss to the train company is negligible) or buying fast food.

View on HN

I'm pretty sure offline is supported, unfortunately in the UK despite this some train services have online-only chip+PIN machines in their buffet car, forcing you to wait until they get good signal to pay for your food!

Tesco use offline processing in many stores.

It's visible to the customer as a much faster process -- you can remove your card around a second after you enter your PIN, instead of waiting 4-5 seconds for authorization.

I think normally cards get a limit of offline transactions before they have to do an online one. I think it's about 7 or so before an online transaction is "forced".

This seems about the correct number. It is similar to how the contactless support works. You are forced to use the traditional Chip and Pin method occasionally. It seemed to be about 5 transactions for contactless initially but I feel they have increased the limit now.

I know of one place: on an airplane. They only accept cash and creditcard because cc payments will be delayed until they have signal on the ground.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com