The card, which uses a PIN number inserted in-store by consumers rather than verification via a signature, promises to cut card fraud by millions of pounds. It is claimed to be the biggest change in the way Britain shops since decimalisation.
optician reported it was in use by the profession three months ago (News, July 25) as an effort to combat the £300,000 which is lost to plastic card fraud by optical practices each year.
The pilot scheme took place in Northampton and as well as other retailers six opticians Ð Dollond & Aitchison, Eye to Eye, Intereyecare, Sheinman's, Green Opticians and Biginton & Scott Opticians Ð took part.
Hazel Blears, Home Office minister for crime reduction and policing, applauded those involved. 'The success of the trial would not have been possible without everyone coming together to work as a team: card companies, banks, building societies, retailers, equipment suppliers and the people of Northampton.'
By the end of this year it is envisaged that one in five of Britain's 42 million cardholders will have chip and PIN cards, and the national rollout will mean that 90 per cent will be using them by the end of 2004.
In retailing terms it is expected there will be 100,000 bank-owned tills switched to the system by Christmas this year, and 440,000 by the end of 2004.
'The rollout is a huge task with more than 850,000 shop terminals,' said Amanda Miller, British Retail Consortium's director of policy of retail services. 'There are 122 million cards and 40,000 cash machines being upgraded and 2.7 million retail staff being trained, so it won't happen overnight.'
The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) said the trial had found 'a real appetite' for using the new system among consumers.
Director of corporate communications, Sandra Quinn said: 'More than 80 per cent of people in the trial said they were in favour, and our latest survey shows that 84 per cent of people are quite keen.'
APACS reported that £424m worth of fraudulent transactions were made in 2002 by credit card.
david.challinorrbi.co.uk
'It's full steam ahead from today, and the switch over will mean a majority of transactions become chip and PIN by 2005.'
, an increase from the previous 12 months' figure of £411.5m.
Chip and PIN, the new credit card scheme which was used on a trial basis in half a dozen optical practices this summer, is to go national next year.
The card, which uses a PIN number inserted in-store by consumers rather than verification via a signature, promises to cut card fraud by millions of pounds. It is claimed to be the biggest change in the way Britain shops since decimalisation.
optician reported it was in use by the profession three months ago (News, July 25) as an effort to combat the £300,000 which is lost to plastic card fraud by optical practices each year.
The pilot scheme took place in Northampton and as well as other retailers six opticians Ð Dollond & Aitchison, Eye to Eye, Intereyecare, Sheinman's, Green Opticians and Biginton & Scott Opticians Ð took part.
Hazel Blears, Home Office minister for crime reduction and policing, applauded those involved. 'The success of the trial would not have been possible without everyone coming together to work as a team: card companies, banks, building societies, retailers, equipment suppliers and the people of Northampton.'
By the end of this year it is envisaged that one in five of Britain's 42 million cardholders will have chip and PIN cards, and the national rollout will mean that 90 per cent will be using them by the end of 2004.
In retailing terms it is expected there will be 100,000 bank-owned tills switched to the system by Christmas this year, and 440,000 by the end of 2004.
'The rollout is a huge task with more than 850,000 shop terminals,' said Amanda Miller, British Retail Consortium's director of policy of retail services. 'There are 122 million cards and 40,000 cash machines being upgraded and 2.7 million retail staff being trained, so it won't happen overnight.'
The Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS) said the trial had found 'a real appetite' for using the new system among consumers.
Director of corporate communications, Sandra Quinn said: 'More than 80 per cent of people in the trial said they were in favour, and our latest survey shows that 84 per cent of people are quite keen.'
APACS reported that £424m worth of fraudulent transactions were made in 2002 by credit card.
david.challinorrbi.co.uk
'It's full steam ahead from today, and the switch over will mean a majority of transactions become chip and PIN by 2005.'
, an increase from the previous 12 months' figure of £411.5m.
Chip and PIN, the new credit card scheme which was used on a trial basis in half a dozen optical practices this summer, is to go national next year.