Credit Card Chips

Is the chip an integral part of the functionality of the card, or can I still use the stupid thing even if the chip has been rendered inoperable?

My understanding is that the chip is there for information storage purposes…

It all depends on which system said store uses when making a purchase. Some stores only have the card reader that reads the stripe and others have the kind that read the stripe. Its there because its impossible to copy rendering your card useless to would be fraud artists.
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If a business has a card reader, and you have a chip card they won't use the stripe. If the chip dies, you won't be able to use the card any place that has a chip reader.

Makes sense. I think I will destroy the chip and take my chances. Or maybe wrap the card in tinfoil. It will match my hat!

As far as I know the chip is just an ecrypted version of the stripe. Similar to the RFID used for security access to buildings. Where did you read that it stores info?

If the credit card companies want to store info on their customers they certainly don't need to store it on your credit card.

Edit:
http://www.moneris.com/en/MerchantServices/Chip%20Technology/Chip%20-%20FAQ.aspx

Makes sense. I think I will destroy the chip…

Why would you do that? Kind of seems like a waste to me.

I seem to recall them using the chip once on my credit card. If I recall correctly I had to enter my pin as well. But since I so rarely use the fucking thing I may be wrong.

i thought that if your card has a chip it wont work if the chip is inoperable. if you're worried about being tracked, then dont use a credit card.

CraigH, it stores the same information that is in the magnetic stripe, ie name, card number, exp. date, except unlike the stripe, it can be read without swiping the card.

Yes, you have to enter your PIN number, in lieu of a signature. No real way of proving whether it was actually you that made a purchase or not. No sig to compare.

LadyGravity, I'm not so concerned with being tracked, who would want to do that. I am however, concerned with some shifty-eyed computer-genius with his hand held card reading device, or cell-phone reader, or even laptop, receiving the signal emitting constantly from my credit card and uploading it to a cloned credit card. This scammer would never even have to set eyes on my card, it would never even have to come out of my wallet. Credit card stolen.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9875961-57.html

Yes, you have to enter your PIN number, in lieu of a signature. No real way of proving whether it was actually you that made a purchase or not. No sig to compare.

And when was the last time you actually saw someone compare the sig on your card to the sig you laid down for the purchase?

CouchSurfer, that's not what I meant. I mean if someone steals your card and makes purchases with it, there are signatures to compare so that you can prove it was not you. With a Chip and PIN system, there is no signature to compare, and the onus is now on you to prove that you did not give out your PIN to whomever stole your card, and that you are not liable for their purchases.

The solution is simple. Pay in cash.

Enduramil, that's what I do, but I still carry a credit card with me for emergencies. Guess I'll wrap it in foil.

the chip in your card is not constantly giving off a signal, it is stagnant, like the magnattic stripe, it only works when being read by a card reader….