George > wrote:

>Steve Pope wrote:

>> Dan Abel > wrote:

>>> All US credit cards have a PIN. However, it's printed on the back, so
>>> it isn't at all secure.

>> Okay, that I hadn't heard.

>Its called a "CSV". It is supposed to be used as an additional check.
>Some cheepo merchants (like tjmax) were actually storing the CSV with
>the CC number and other information in an unencrypted database. The CSV
>is only supposed to be used for the transaction and never saved.

If they saved the CSV's, then used them in later transactions,
that would probably be a violation of the merchant agreements.
The banks charge marginally less for the transaction if
the CSV is provided by the customer.

Steve