"It Doesn't Have a Chip In It"

Let me just start by saying I'm so annoyed and frustrated.

When we first lived here, we used our visa debit card for everything. "Yes, it's from America. " "Yes, it looks like nothing you've seen before." We had no problem with it, just the occasional comment on the design on it. (It's just a picture of the earth, flat, like a picture of a map) We would simply make our purchase, smile at the cashier, and sign the slip of paper. Simple.

When we moved back this past January, there seemed to be a new system in place. No problem. They have moved to using chip and pin cards. There is a small machine at each till (check out). You stick your card in, enter your pin...and there you have it. Well....except if you don't have a card with a chip in it. Like us. (Let me just explain here that we do have a chip and pin card now, but we only use our UK account for certain things).

For some things that we purchase, we still use our American card. The one with no chip. I have had to explain to some places that it does not have a chip in it, that they have to swipe it and I sign it...not usually a problem. I have had some cashiers tell me to still put it in the chip and pin machine, and even after telling them several times it won't work they still insist. I stick it in, it does not work, they swipe it like I first told them and it works. We do get tired of telling people "it doesn't have a chip in it, I have to sign for it" but usually it's not a problem.

Except this one store. Every stinkin' time I'm there, they act like they have never seen anything of the kind! The first time we visited this store the lady just stared at the card when I told her it does not have a chip in it she automatically said "Oh, sorry, we don't take those kinds of cards." Umm, yes you do. Another time we visited that store, the cashier had to call for the manager because she had never heard of anything like it. I mean really people, it's only been like two years since you switched over to this chip and pin thing!!! And yet another time, I got another blank stare and then she said, "We don't keep pens at the till, I have nothing for you to sign with." No problem. I've started carrying pens in my purse just for this very reason!

But today....today, just topped it all off. Cerys has not been feeling well and I needed, needed to get out of the house for a while before we all went insane. I decided to visit this particular store because apparently I forgot about all the other times my card has been questioned and I clearly needed to have something to argue about with a perfect stranger. I got the girls all settled in the buggy/cart/trolley (I don't even remember what's it's called here anymore) with their juice and some cheerios. This store is like a version of Bed, Bath and Beyond, but not really. They sell things for your home- bedroom/kitchen/bath, etc. There was nothing in particular I wanted to get today, just wanted to look at their knitting yarn and some fabric. I found some yarn in the clearance bin for only £2.95 and that's pretty good so I grabbed that and few more little items.

The girls had just gotten up from their nap when I put them in the car to go to this store, so they are not quite awake...which is why I let Bailey take this talking Elmo into the store. ( I know.) I kept asking her to not push his belly because he says "Dia means day in Spanish. Hehehehehehe" And then people would just look at us. And we do not need any more attention on us, trust me. Needless to say, Elmo talked A LOT in the store. That was inbetween me trying to tell Cerys to SIT DOWN (I let her ride in the buggy/cart/trolley because I just did) in my best clenched teeth mother voice for the 100th time.

Anyway, we proceed to check out. Another till had just been opened and I noticed it was the lady who had just stared me down for letting my kids eat cheerios in the store. I don't really care lady, it kept them quiet for 10 minutes and there was only one dropped on the floor and I picked it up! Anyway, I smiled as we walked up to her till. She scanned my items, except the clearance yarn which didn't have bar code on it (of course!) and had to call for back up. We finally got a total and I handed her the card. She points to the chip and pin machine. "No man, it does not have a chip in it, I have to sign for it." (smile) Blank stare. Darn, I should have known better!!!! "Uuummm, ummm, oookkkaay, hold on" She calls for help. The guy says "Oh, you just need to swipe it, it's the old kind of card." (Old kind of card? huh?) She asks him to do it because she doesn't know how. He swipes it, it doesn't work. They call for more backup. A grumpy manager that was just getting off work and proceeds to tell everyone in the line that she was just about to leave WHAT NOW? They both explain to her that it does not have a chip in it and it would not swipe. She says, "Oh, it's out of date, it's expired that's why it won't work" She has not even looked at my card! I leaned over and looked it and explained that no it had NOT expired. "Oh, ya, you're right, hahahahaha"

Meanwhile, Cerys is barking orders at me "I want out" , "I need milk momma" "Stop looking at my Bailey" etc etc. and Elmo is still saying "Dia means day in Spanish hehehehehe" and the people behind me are getting agitated.

My card ended up finally working and as we left the store I vowed never to go back there unless I have cash! Some dear sweet older ladies smiled and said goodbye as we left and that got Bailey going on her "BYE-BYE, BYE-BYE, BYE-BYE" and Elmo was still teaching us how to say day in Spanish. Not the really fun outing I had in mind, but oh well.